Accounts Payable Associate

We thrive on challenge and change. We rise to challenges together. 

Accounts Payable Associate

Location: Spalding – however, Newark will also be considered 

Business Area: Finance  Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract (6 months)

Working Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm – however part time and job share applications will be considered. 

Salary: Competitive plus pension, life assurance  

Holidays: 25 days plus bank holidays 

We're the biggest name you've never heard of. You've probably eaten our food - you just didn't realise it. We make innovative fresh products, with around 18,500 colleagues working across the UK, US and China. We’re the market leader in the UK fresh prepared food industry supplying meals, salads, desserts, pizza and bread to leading grocery retailers (including Tesco, M&S, Sainsbury's and Waitrose). We’re ambitious. We’re full of ideas. And we’re ready for more people who share our values and passion for quality to join us. 

The Role 

We’re proud to offer you a career with real scope for development. To reward your hard work and ambition as a talented Accounts Payable Associate with plenty of support and opportunity to empower you to drive your own success and create a career you can be proud of too. 

In this busy and exciting role, you will be responsible for the day-to-day processing of invoices, payments, query management, reporting and other AP related tasks. The role involves transaction processing based on the allocation by the Team Leader / Manager and following established Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to execute the tasks within agreed SLAs and KPIs. 

Accountabilities 

Invoice Processing 

• Perform invoice processing with corresponding purchase orders and delivery receipts 
• Process Non-PO invoices arising through Non-PO expenses e.g., utilities, rent, tax payments, etc. 
• Perform Credit or Refund Processing 
• Perform Accounts Payable reporting and reconciliations 

Payments 

• Perform standard and ad-hoc payment processing activities, including processing and completing credit notes 
• Prepare payment run, identifying invoices for payment, determining the invoices excluded from payment, analysing parked invoices, and determining the date which invoices should be paid 
• Ensure all controls and governance requirements are fulfilled and appropriate evidence is retained 
• Ensure payment runs are completed in a timely manner 
• Resolve issues arising from the payments process 
• Update supplier financing portal in a timely manner to ensure supplier agreements are adhered to 

Query Resolution 

• Leads on resolving any queries or discrepancies related to purchase orders, such as pricing discrepancies, quantity changes, or late deliveries 
• Leads on resolving queries and issues related to the settlement of purchase invoices in line with payment terms, or contractual obligations 
• Resolve escalations from internal customers and respond to supplier enquiries, ensuring issue and error resolution in line with agreed SLAs 
• Correspond with Team Leaders if further escalation on queries is required 

Audit and Internal Controls 

• Support internal and external audits as required 
• Adhere to all documented procedures, internal controls, governance and policy requirements at all times  
• Prepare reports on Accounts Payable data, KPIs, aged payables, and cash flow projections and share with the PTP Team Leader 

Communication and Change Management 

• Offer support to team members (where necessary), and actively contributes to collaborative and high-performing team culture 
• Identify continuous improvement opportunities based on role accountabilities 
• Cultivate effective relationships with key stakeholders and suppliers 
• Engage with the PTP Team Leader and Manager on PTP-related updates, issues, progress, and challenges 

About you 

Ideally, you will have previous experience within a similar role and a sound understanding of the end-to-end Accounts Payable process – a history of working with ERP systems, specifically with SAP S/4 HANA would be highly desirable. 

Strong written and verbal communication skills, an excellent service delivery attitude, attention to detail, proficiency of Microsoft Office products and the ability to manage time effectively to meet tight deadlines whilst managing multiple tasks – will all be key. 

If you have a strong understanding of accounting concepts and/or are currently undergoing professional accounting qualification (e.g., AAT/ACA/ACCA/CIMA) this could be the perfect role for you. You might by working as a Accounts Payable Clerk, Sales Ledger Clerk, Procure  to Pay Administrator, Purchase Ledger Clerk, Accounts Assistant or be looking to start your career in finance with previous administration experience. 

Come and join our fast paced and dynamic work environment and positively contribute to the growth and transformation of our shared services team. 

What you’ll receive 

As an equal opportunity employer, we’re committed to providing a safe and rewarding environment for you to thrive in. This is why we work hard to deliver benefits, rewards and wellbeing offerings that are important to you. 

You’ll enjoy: 

• A stakeholder pension scheme 
• Personal accident Insurance 
• Free independent mortgage advice 
• Employee assistance programme 
• A range of voluntary benefits 
• Holiday purchase scheme 
• Additional life assurance 
• Dental & hospital cash plans 
• Discounted tutoring for children 
• Access to financial learning tools 
• Affordable loans via your salary 
• Proud to be and loyal service awards. 

Plus, a commitment to your wellbeing that includes emotional, physical and financial support services delivered by our fantastic team of wellbeing champions.