Accounts Payable Team Leader

iQ is one of the UK's biggest providers of student accommodation, committed to giving our 34,000 students in 85 sites across 29 UK cities their best year yet.

Our London and Manchester based support teams are the cog that keeps the iQ wheels turning, providing our brilliant site teams with everything they need to deliver a fantastic student experience every day.

iQers are a pretty special bunch. Our team is bursting with independent thinkers and problem solvers, who join us to explore what's possible and build a career as part of a diverse, fun and supportive team. If you have people skills, personality and potential then you have all the makings of a great iQer.

Ensuring a process of continual improvement.

Role Summary:

As part of the Group reporting and controls team of 24, the role manages an onsite assistant as well as the remote outsourced Accounts Payable team (QX). The role is also the primary contact for all internal teams to manage and support the purchase order and payment processes for both site and corporate centre teams.

Although based in our London Bridge based corporate centre, the role also requires periodic visits to the teams at student accommodation sites.

Ownership, control and leadership:
• Manage, advise and lead the outsourced accounts payable team to ensure efficient, optimal and well controlled deliverables. Also manage one team member based out of corporate centre
• Implement process and control improvements where required and ultimately drive and deliver an efficient and high-quality service to both the business and its stakeholders.
• Create a culture of open communication both within the immediate team, the wider finance team and other stakeholders within the business.
• Ensure the documentation and development of processes and controls, further automating these to the extent possible and ensure efficiencies within the outsourced accounts payable function in India
• Work with the IT team to streamline the purchase to pay system with an emphasis on continuous improvement.
• Instill disciplines within the business of taking responsibility to deliver on deadlines as needed, especially around the financial month and year end.

Day to Day Transactional:
• Maintain the purchase ledger ensuring purchases are appropriately approved and suppliers are paid according to terms. As necessary, liaise with suppliers (including councils/utilities/maintenance) to ensure payments are made in a timely manner.
• Work closely with Procurement team to assist supplier onboarding and suppliers checks as required
• Manage payment timetable and bank approvers ensuring deadlines are met
• Review and distribute invoice register KPIs working closely with stakeholders to optimise scores for payments, purchase orders and invoices.
• Work with the Treasury department regarding new and existing bank accounts
• Oversee and ensure the process of regular supplier statement reconciliation and difference resolution.
• Assist end users with ledger coding, workflows, display types, expense types, transaction types and VAT rates working where necessary with the business partner team.

Stakeholder engagement:
• Developing relationships with individuals across the business from sites through to corporate centre.
• Deal with invoice queries and issues raised by key stakeholders, but aim to enable most queries to be dealt with by the outsourced provider.
• Delivery of regular on-site training on the purchase to pay process across the property portfolio and ensure adherence to this process.
• Work closely with the Procurement team in respect of supplier onboarding.
• Assist end users with coding, workflows, display types, expense types, transaction types and VAT rates.
• Lead and work closely with the outsourced Accounts Payable team (QX) on all ad-hoc issues including both AP and Treasury.

Other:
• Ensuring robust controls around the AP cycle are in place and adhered to, as well as ensuring documentation thereon.
• Year-end audit support including related auditor queries.
• Ad-hoc projects e.g. onboarding new properties purchased or built by the group.
• Ensuring a process of continual improvement

Skills Experience:
• Prior experience in an accounts payable function
• Experience in other financial roles is welcomed, particularly in transactional accounting.
• Ability to meet multiple deadlines and multitask, using initiative to prioritise.
• Prior experience of working with an outsourced transactions team beneficial.
• Solid general education background with sound numerical skills.
• Outgoing and proactive in engaging with iQ team members across the business.
• Diligent in sticking to process with attention to detail, but also seeking out ways to improve and simplify.
• Good communication skills, coupled with an analytical mind.
• Strong teamworking and personal skills, happy to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Excel.
• Accounting qualification (or part-qualification) advantageous, although not essential.

We operate a hybrid working model with 3 days in the office and 2 days working from home / site location.

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