Purchase Ledger Lead (6 Month FTC)

• You're AAT Qualified (or equivalent) - Yep, you've got the financial chops! Whether it's AAT or its equivalent, consider it checked.
• Team Whisperer: you've led teams in the shared services arena. Think of it as the team conductor-keeping everyone in sync!
• High-Growth Guru: Been there, done that! You thrive in environments where change is the name of the game.
• Purchase Ledger Pro: Supplier invoices, managers, colleagues-You've got the whole purchase ledger dance down. Cha-cha-cha!

• Ensuring accurate processing and approval of supplier invoices
• Execute accurate and timely weekly settlement runs for supplier invoices and employee expenses
• Manage the groups credit card programs to ensure credit card expenses are uploaded to the required systems and completed promptly. Close liaison with card holders required for any queries.
• Ensure all daily, weekly and month accounts payable procedures are performed to support the SLA's agreed with relevant business units
• Handle queries and disputes with appropriate business engagement in a timely and professional manner
• Attend meetings across the organisation to ensure operational functions are aware of reconciliation issues and promote timing resolution and safeguarding against future issues
• Ensure proportionate reporting and oversight is supported for accounts payable activities that are operated both within and outside of finance
• Provide analysis of creditor items showing monthly ageing and supporting business ownership for resolution
• Identify and recommend process and system changes for first line control failures
• Adherence to the Group accounting policies and procedures
• Support activities in other finance teams as required
• Senior contact for Operations / Suppliers and responsible for providing them with an efficient service
• Conduct colleague management duties including: Delivering coaching and feedback to direct reports to achieve KPI's and SLA's, and conducting regular performance reviews, including probationary reviews and annual appraisals as necessary. Deal with all colleague issues including monitoring absence and conducting disciplinaries, Assist the recruitment process where necessary.
• Maintain accurate and up to date Process Notes and ensure cross training is completed within the team
• Responsible for the timely and accurate processing of the Finance Ops inbox, which consists of internal and external queries
• Ensure compliance with company and other relevant standards / regulations at all times. Also, to ensure that your team are aware of their responsibility to identify and report risk.
• Comply with the requirements, and act in accordance with, the Group Code of Conduct and Fitness and Propriety policies at all times

• Preferable industry knowledge of the financial services / regulated industry in the UK
• Awareness of internal and external fraud that is prevalent in finance departments and the financial services sector
• Experience in running a team within a shared services function
• Experience in organisations of high growth and change
• Experience in purchase ledger functions, managers, colleagues and external suppliers
• AAT qualified or equivalent, or significant relevant equivalent experience
• Strong ability and preference in reconciliations of data and ability to summarise and present key findings
• Strong analytical skills and ability to drive process improvement, based upon analysis of data
• Work effectively under pressure and think clearly and logically in challenging situations
• Proficient in Microsoft applications
• A good level of oral and written communication skills, communicating effectively with managers, colleagues and external suppliers
• Good time management and organisation skills

• Results driven with a constant eye on the detail but understand the audience.
• Empathetic approach to leadership with an ability to get the best out of a wide range of stakeholders.
• A driven attitude to deliver controlled change and rapidly overcome obstacles.
• An agile approach to project management and able to rapidly react to changes in business priorities to take advantage of emerging business and customer opportunities
• Self-motivated and enthusiastic
• An organised and proactive approach
• Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
• A flexible approach and positive attitude
• Strives to drive business improvements to contribute to the success of the business

First Central Insurance & Technology Group