Senior Accounts Payable Officer

**Senior Accounts Payable Officer**

Reporting to the Accounts Payable team leader, the Accounts Payable Senior will conduct research, critical thinking and analysis to resolve ledger discrepancies and communicate professionally with suppliers and internal stakeholders.

**GREAT PLACES - THE BUSINESS**

Great Places Housing Group is a modern, forward-looking profit-for-purpose organisation. Our vision is to create great homes in great communities none of which would be achievable without the great people in Great Places’ workforce. Whilst social purpose is very much at the core of what we do we balance this responsibly with a commercial perspective to ensure our vision is sustainable in the longer term.

**CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITIES**:

- To ensure the responsibilities of the post are carried out in a way that reflects the standards, vision and values of Great Places;
- To deliver value for money and manage resources effectively and efficiently, ensuring that targets (financial and non-financial) are met;
- To promote Great Places to employers, sector bodies, and the local community, developing effective partnerships with employers, the funding agencies and other representative bodies;
- To observe all policies / procedures / working practices / regulations and in particular to comply with Great Places Equality and Diversity Policy, Health and Safety Policy and Safeguarding Policy;
- To undertake appropriate training and staff development; and
- To identify and develop individual contribution in the delivery of the Great Places competency framework.

**PURPOSE OF ROLE**:

- Ensure all suppliers are paid accurately and on time
- Resolve account discrepancies on business critical accounts and communicate with suppliers and colleagues
- Meet with suppliers to reduce invoice output and introduce systems of consolidated invoicing where appropriate
- Identify training needs and work with IT Trainer to tailor course content
- Act as quality assurance over the AP team to ensure compliance with company policy, regulatory and legal guidelines
- Co-ordination of regular account reconciliations
- Ensure departmental procedure guides are up to date and accurate, in line with business policy
- Cover for AP Team Leader as required

**KEY RESPONSIBILITIES**:

- Help to reduce the number of days between date of invoice and payment date, ensuring payment terms are met
- Be a main point of contact for colleagues to provide updates on supplier accounts
- Monitor supplier accounts using aged creditor reporting
- Maintain schedule of supplier account reconciliations ensuring key accounts are reconciled on a regular basis
- Work closely with the AP Team Leader to highlight areas for process improvement, or training needs
- Promote the Finance Team to the wider business through reliable, efficient and professional service
- Work to ensure the risk of duplicate payments is minimised and invoices are processed in line with internal procedures
- To actively ensure that Accounts Payable policies and procedures are kept relevant and up to date
- Ownership and management of supplier master data ensuring accurate records are kept for all suppliers
- Completion of month end processes, including closing of AP ledgers

**QUALIFICATIONS & PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS**:

- Customer Services trained
- Any relevant accounting qualifications would be an advantage (AAT/CIMA/ACCA)
- Qualified to minimum GCSE grade C or equivalent in English and maths

**EXPERIENCE & SKILLS**:

- Use of full range of Microsoft Office
- Strong administration and customer care background is essential
- Previous Accounts Payable experience is essential
- Creation of and implementation of training plans for colleagues/team members
- Housing sector experience would be advantageous however not essential
- Ability to complete tasks in an accurate and timely manner when working under pressure
- Attention to detail
- Good written and verbal communication
- Effective liaison with colleagues and supplier to give/find information and resolve problems
- Organisation and ability to time-manage work load
- Able to deliver a high standard of customer service
- Ability to develop and project a positive image of Great Places through written and oral skills
- Understanding of KPI’s and statistical analysis particularly with use of Excel

**PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES**:

- Ability to work in uncertainty and on complex issues
- Strong customer service skills
- Ability to work as part of a team as well as on own initiative
- Professional and value led with integrity, inclusivity and respect for diversity
- Commitment to work in partnership with others for the benefit of Great Places