Head of Supplier and Client Payments

Why This Role Matters

You will be responsible for the strategic and operational management of supplier and client payments, ensuring effective processing, strong controls, and accurate recording of transactions across the business. The role is responsible for developing a performance culture and shared-service approach that improves service levels, strengthens governance, and reduces payment fraud risk, while remaining hands-on where needed to ensure deadlines are met.

A core deliverable is management of the transition from manual invoice processing to an invoice capture and automatic PO matching solution, embedding appropriate validation controls, improving user experience, and supporting phased rollout and adoption through training and clear operational procedures.

You will be a strong team player, highly motivated and will provide a high level of customer service. You will be technically strong and perceptive, using your analytical skills to detect anomalies and flag anything suspicious to management on an ongoing basis.

How You'll Make an Impact

• Overall responsibility for delivering efficient and effective processing and recording of payment transactions in a high volume environment.
• Provision of a pro-active client focused transaction processing service to departments, clients and suppliers.
• Develop and implement appropriate payment solutions to introduce, maintain and develop shared service principles.
• To develop and ultimately to deliver on the overall payments strategy.
• Lead and develop analysis and KPI reporting on effectiveness of payments function.
• Identify, recommend and deliver improvements to the client experience.
• Resolve operational payments issues quickly and efficiently.
• Be the main point of contact for payment service providers.
• Manage escalation of payment issues.
• Ensure appropriate payments inboxes are being managed efficiently and queries allocated and prioritised on a timely basis.
• Ensure client payments are made in accordance with requirements and contractual terms and that clients are provided with accurate and timely payment information.

Provision of Exceptional Customer Service

• Provide exceptional service to both internal and external clients.
• Work closely with the Group Financial Controller in the development and implementation of relevant Procurement Policy and procedures.
• Continually work with the business to identify process improvement, training and other requirements to improve and enforce requirements.
• Report and escalate poor practices, suspected fraud or other anomalies or risks to management as appropriate.
• Take responsibility for ensuring all users have the appropriate skills and knowledge for embedding shared service principles and secure best practice across the stakeholder population.

Staff Management

• Develop, lead and motivate the payments team to deliver high standards of operational excellence as a high performing team and a culture of best practice.
• Provide guidance, advice and support to the local teams and other regional payments teams.
• Manage the change of manual invoice matching to automated and the different skillsets required.
• Allocation of work (setting targets/KPIs, monitoring of progress, devising contingencies for situations where deadlines cannot be met).
• Oversee the process for facilitating sale single release payments in a timely manner.

What you’ll bring to the team

• Knowledge of basic accounting required.
• Knowledge of best practice processes for payments.
• A demonstrable client services ethos.
• Experience of dealing directly with clients.
• Attention to detail is essential.
• Willingness to understand what other teams do and learn how processes affect other teams/departments.
• High level of integrity and strong compliance attitude as the gatekeeper for payments.
• Proven and demonstrable communication and analytical skills and proactive experience of change management.
• Proven ability and the credibility to persuade and influence senior managers in effecting change within the function and organisation.

What’s great about working for us

• 25 days annual leave + 1 day Birthday leave.
• Christie’s Christmas office closure (guaranteed between 25th Dec – 1st Jan) – in addition to annual leave: almost two weeks to fully switch off and spend time with friends and family.
• Additional 1 week’s annual leave within the year of a 5-year anniversary i.e. 5th, 10th, 15th and so on.
• Volunteering day: Take an additional day of annual leave to volunteer for a charitable organisation that’s important to you.
• Donation matching of up to £500 per annum to help you support the organisations you care about.
• Flexible Fitness Fund - £400 per year expense allowance for health and wellness related activity (taxable).
• Access to world-renowned art: with regular exhibitions in our galleries to wander around and exclusive guided tours hosted by specialist colleagues.
• Discretionary Bonus (dependent on the business and employee performance payable in March each year).
• Generous retirement plan: We will double match your pension contribution up to 5% of your basic salary (Max 10% contribution from Christie’s).
• Private Health Insurance – no employee contribution needed, subsidised for other family members.
• Dental Insurance – (may be extended at personal cost).
• Generous Income Protection Insurance in the event of accident, sickness or injury after 12 months.
• Competitive Life Insurance policy from first day.
• Employee Assistance Programme – access to personal advice and support services including counselling.
• Eyecare vouchers (once a year).
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Christie’s Extras – discounts on over 800 retailers, holiday packages, dinners and weekly shops.
• Seniorcare by Lottie, a comprehensive eldercare solution.
• Robust family first policy: 16 weeks full pay on Maternity Leave Eligible to return to work for 80% of your agreed normal weekly working pattern while being paid as though you were working 100%, post a minimum of 16 weeks of leave.
• Dependent back-up care: 10 sessions/ days of childcare or eldercare per year.
• Christies Family Network: Our community of parents who meet regularly over breakfasts, lunch, afternoon tea.