The Opportunity
We have an exciting permanent opportunity for a Finance Manager (Payments) to play a leading role in improving and managing the Group’s purchasing, purchase ledger, expenses and supplier payment processes. This is a key position that supports financial control, operational efficiency and excellent services for colleagues across the organisation.
What you will be doing?
In this role, one of the main focuses is on running and improving our purchasing, invoice processing and payment systems. The aim is to make the whole order‑to‑payment process smoother, easier to use and fully compliant with our Financial Regulations and procurement policies.
A key part of the job is leading the Purchasing, Purchase Ledger and Expenses teams, making sure work is accurate, timely and delivered to a high standard. This includes keeping an eye on workload, processing times, coding accuracy and payment deadlines, as well as creating useful reports that help managers across the Group.
The role also involves keeping our coding structures up to date, supporting staff to post items correctly, and producing clear reports on coding performance. As a systems champion, you will help improve how we use the accounting system, reduce reliance on spreadsheets and strengthen reporting on costs, projects and suppliers.
Another important area is managing supplier set‑up processes, including checks, maintaining the approved supplier list and monitoring supplier activity. You will be responsible for reconciling supplier statements and ensuring invoices are properly ordered, approved and ready for payment as well as uploading payment files to BACS and prepare summaries for approval.
Finally, the role includes leading and supporting finance‑related projects, helping to improve financial systems and encouraging a culture of continuous improvement and new ideas within the team.
Who we are looking for?
We are looking for a proactive, analytical and collaborative finance professional who holds a recognised financial qualification such as ACA, ACCA, CIPFA or CIMA.
The ideal person will bring substantial experience of financial accounting and the effective use of accounting systems. You will be confident in producing high‑quality financial reports and able to explain complex financial information clearly to colleagues who may not have a finance background.
You will also have a strong understanding of the statutory and regulatory framework governing housing association finance, together with practical experience of VAT. Alongside this, you will demonstrate excellent problem‑solving skills, advanced spreadsheet capability, and the ability to manage competing priorities, working accurately under pressure and to tight deadlines.
Who are Wales & West Housing (WWH)?
We are one of the leading housing providers in Wales; providing affordable homes and services to more than 24,000 residents in over 12,500 properties across Wales. We formed a Group company in 2011, to include Cambria Maintenance Ltd. We employ over 450 staff at WWH and over 190 staff in Cambria, making us a major Welsh employer. As an organisation we adopt a systems thinking approach to the way we manage and deliver our services across the Group; it underpins the way in which we operate.
Want to find out more?
Why not arrange an informal conversation with Lisa Davies Lisa.Davies@wwha.co.uk, Director of Finance and you can find out lots more in the recruitment pack.
What’s in it for you?
In return for your hard work, commitment and innovation, you will enjoy an environment focused on more than just competitive pay. You’ll enjoy:
1. Salary £56,607 to £65,540 per annum
2. Choice of Defined Contribution or Defined Benefit pension, both including 3x death in service life insurance cover.
3. 25 days annual leave, increasing to 30 days with service the ability to buy and sell up to 5 days (pro rata), as well as time off for volunteering, health screening and more.
4. 9 Bank Holidays per annum, including an extra day at Christmas!
5. Opportunities to develop and grow,
6. Regular feedback, training and support from your manager and team,
7. Comprehensive support in case of sickness with a generous sick pay scheme, critical illness cover and support through an employee assistance and counselling service and a cash plan benefit,
8. And lots more!