Overview
Job Purpose / Overview: This role is critical to supporting construction operations and the wider business by ensuring a seamless, accurate, and well-controlled central finance function, with a primary focus on accounts payable, procurement support, and operational cash management. Working closely with construction and site teams, and suppliers, the Project Accounts Payable & Operations Lead ensures that central financial processes enable the timely and efficient delivery of construction projects. The role will manage the full lifecycle of the Accounts Payable function, with a particular focus on validating and processing construction-related costs as well as central costs incurred by the business, managing supplier relationships, and maintaining accurate cost tracking for ongoing site activities. It also plays a key role in ensuring financial control over procurement, invoice approval workflows, and VAT compliance. This position suits someone who thrives in a hands-on, high-growth, construction-centric environment and who is motivated to build strong working relationships with site staff, suppliers and the wider business.
Contextual Information
Operating Environment: The position works across finance, operations, procurement, and external contractors/vendors. It requires hybrid working between Edinburgh HQ and operational sites, with regular travel and the ability to manage competing priorities and workflows independently.
Principal Accountabilities
* Supply Chain & Procurement Support (End-to-End): Act as the primary finance point of contact for construction project teams and site-based personnel.
* Validate construction-related invoices, including subcontractor payments, materials, plant hire, and services, ensuring proper PO matching and budget coding.
* Collaborate with project managers to ensure accurate cost allocations and support monthly cost reporting.
* Manage purchase requisitions (PR) and purchase order (PO) processes, ensure budget, coding, and compliance checks are followed, confirm delivery of goods/services with site teams, and act as supplier contact for delivery and invoicing queries.
* Accounts Payable: Full ownership of AP lifecycle: invoice matching, processing, and reconciliation.
* Maintain accurate supplier master data, onboard new construction vendors, and perform compliance checks (e.g. insurance, CIS registration where applicable).
* Execute fortnightly payment runs and maintain supplier correspondence; ensure timely execution of payment runs, prioritising project-critical supplier payments and proactively addressing invoice holds.
* Review AP ageing reports and follow up on outstanding items.
* Treasury & Cash Management: Initiate bank payments and support cashbook reconciliations; assist with cash flow forecasts and facility planning; work closely with the Financial Controller and Project Finance to plan cash movements and drawdowns for construction funding.
* Financial Controls & Balance Sheet Ownership: Perform monthly reconciliations for AP, cash, and accruals; maintain documentation and escalate risks or anomalies; track and report liabilities related to ongoing construction commitments.
* VAT & Compliance Support: Support VAT return preparation and submission; reconcile VAT accounts at month-end; assist with CIS monthly submissions.
* Site Travel: Attend operational sites regularly (approx. every two weeks or more as needed) to assist with invoice validation, delivery confirmation, or financial discussions with site managers; build strong working relationships with site personnel, suppliers, and external contractors to ensure finance operations support field delivery.
This list is not exhaustive. All of the above activities require:
* Attention to detail
* Strong internal control awareness
* Cross-functional collaboration
* Independent task prioritisation
Dimensions
* Cross-site and cross-functional engagement
* Financial responsibility for AP processes and treasury support
* Working closely with Finance, Growth, and Site Operational teams
Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications & Experience
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
* End-to-end finance operations knowledge (procurement, AP, treasury)
* Strong Excel and financial system skills
* Excellent communication and organisational skills
* Understanding of financial control environments
Desirable
* Experience with Sage Intacct or similar ERP
* Construction industry experience
* Understanding of HMRC VAT rules
Qualifications & Experience
Essential
* 3+ years' experience in a finance/operations role
* Hands-on AP and treasury lifecycle exposure
Desirable
* AAT qualified or studying ACCA/CIMA
* VAT reporting and compliance experience
Key Competencies
* Financial accuracy and integrity
* Ability to work independently and meet deadlines
* Collaborative and proactive communication
* Prioritisation and workflow management
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