The Role

To lead the Accounts Payable team in providing an efficient and customer focused payables service, ensuring effective P2P processes and compliance are in place.

Ensuring both internal and external customer needs are met whilst adhering to SLAs and enabling suppliers to be paid as per the agreed terms.

As the leader within the team, the role will include supporting the team with 1-2-1`s, PDPs, appraisals, and any other line management support.

They will also need to support with mentoring the less experienced of the team, supporting in ensuring processes are adhered to and documented and being a support for escalation within the Team as well as covering times of absence.

The Accounts Payable Manager will play a key role in working closely with the AP team and wider finance function. Following the recent implementation of Oracle Fusion, the focus will be on embedding new processes, streamlining existing ways of working, and ensuring the highest standards of accuracy and control. This role will drive improvements in process efficiency, compliance, and data quality, while aligning AP activity with the wider finance objectives.

Encouraging the development of a strong team culture across the whole of finance, with an open mindset to change and a determination to succeed.

This role reports to the Group Financial Services Manager.

This is initally a 6 month Contract, with permenant opportunites.

What You`ll Be Doing

• Improve compliance for Accounts Payable across the group on the purchase to pay process
• Enforce `No PO No Pay` policy
• Ensure all suppliers are paid right first time
• Working closely with suppliers, purchasers and Procurement to improve `straight through processing` count

• Ensuring all processes are captured in up-to-date process notes
• Supporting the team during busy periods and during absences
• Support in developing strong relationships with key suppliers
• Continue to build on relationship with internal and external stakeholders to review processes and identify areas of improvement
• Working closely with the wider Financial Services team to increase compliance
• To ensure all CIS processing is kept up to date
• To reconcile all AP Control Accounts on a monthly basis and resolve any differences
• To lead the team to review all key supplier statements on monthly basis and resolve any reconciliation differences promptly
• Create monthend packs for the board.

What We`re Looking for in You

• Strong attention to detail
• Excellent numeracy skills
• Ability to work together in a team
• Ability to prioritise workload to meet agreed deadlines
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent stakeholder management - both internal and external
• Advanced knowledge of Outlook, Excel, Word
• Excellent knowledge of Accounts Payable best practice
• Previous line management experience

Desirable Requirements

• Experience of an ERP, preferably Oracle Fusion
• Detailed understanding of basic financial treatments and accounting
• A self-starter who can demonstrate initiative
• Good interpersonal skills
• Willingness to learn
• An ability to communicate at all levels and develop excellent working relationships

What You`ll Get in Return

• A discretionary annual bonus so you can share in the company`s success
• 25 days` paid holiday and an annual holiday buying scheme, with 5 additional days awarded for long service
• A generous pension scheme - employer contributions between 5% and 11% depending on how much you save
• Various benefits to support your health and wellbeing including a Healthcare Cash Plan, an Employee Assistance Programme, a Wellbeing platform and a Gym benefit that you can share with your family and friends
• Enhanced Family Leave including 18 weeks full pay for birthing parents and 4 weeks for non-birthing parents
• Lots of other great benefits including an annual ShareSave scheme, Employee Life Assurance, a discounts portal and more!

About Unite Students

Founded in 1991, Unite Students is a FTSE 100 business and the UK`s leading provider of purpose-built student accommodation. You can find us in 25 leading university towns and cities, with 74,000 students calling US home! We are driven by our values, culture, and a commitment to develop diverse and inclusive teams, filled with positive energy and new ideas.

Instinctive inclusion. We know that to create and maintain a happy healthy organisation, we have to work hard to ensure inclusion isn`t just what we do but who we are.

People make Unite Students. Employees, students and neighbours all contribute to building environments where we can all thrive.

Room for Everyone

We`re proud to be an employer that embraces individuality, and we`re passionate about building inclusive teams. We focus on creating a collaborative culture where you can be you, where your voice is heard, and where you can truly belong. We take great pride in being rated Gold Investors in People and are constantly striving to provide the highest standard of learning and development opportunities and professional pathways for our people. Building a home for success, for both our employees and students, requires exceptional people with a passion for creating room for everyone, doing what`s right, keeping US safe, and raising the bar. Join us as we build better experiences for students that live with us.

We are US.