Global Finance Senior Manager – Accounts Payable in Manchester

About Freshfields Freshfields is a global law firm with a long‑standing reputation for excellence, innovation and collaboration. We advise many of the world’s leading organisations on their most complex and business‑critical matters. Our success is driven by our people, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels supported, valued and able to do their best work.

The Global Finance function Our Global Finance function provides robust financial control across our international operations while acting as a trusted commercial advisor to the firm. We partner closely with the business, influencing strategic decision‑making and supporting sustainable, long‑term growth. We operate as one inclusive Global Finance team, working collaboratively with a shared culture and a clear sense of collective purpose.

The role We are seeking a Global Finance Senior Manager – Accounts Payable to provide strategic and transformational leadership across the firm’s end‑to‑end purchase‑to‑pay (P2P) cycle. This is a senior, high‑impact role with responsibility for the operational integrity, control environment and future evolution of our global Accounts Payable function. Based in our Manchester Global Centre, you will lead a large, globally focused team spanning Manchester, Bratislava and Raleigh. Your remit will include supplier invoice processing, employee expenses and highly sensitive partner payments, delivered within a complex, multi‑currency environment. Beyond day‑to‑day excellence, you will shape and execute a strategic agenda focused on automation, efficiency, working capital optimisation and continuous improvement.

Key responsibilities

• Leadership & team management Provide inclusive, visible and strategic leadership to a large global Accounts Payable team, fostering a culture of accuracy, accountability and continuous improvement. Set and track clear KPIs to drive efficiency, on‑time payment performance and adherence to SLAs. Lead resource planning, recruitment and performance management to build and sustain a high‑performing, engaged team.
• Operational excellence & process management Own the end‑to‑end P2P process, ensuring accurate and timely processing of all supplier invoices (matter and non‑matter related) from receipt through to payment. Take full accountability for the global Travel & Expenses process, balancing policy compliance with a positive user experience for lawyers and staff. Manage the highly confidential partner payments, distributions and expenses process with absolute discretion and precision. Lead the adoption of automation and optimisation initiatives, including OCR, workflow tools and RPA.
• Controls, compliance & risk Design, implement and continuously enhance a strong, global P2P control framework, including segregation of duties. Ensure compliance with global tax requirements (including VAT and withholding tax), approval matrices and firm policies. Act as the senior point of contact for internal and external audits across AP and T&E, ensuring high‑quality, timely responses. Proactively identify and mitigate payment fraud and operational risks.
• Stakeholder management & reporting Partner closely with Treasury to deliver accurate cash outflow forecasting and support working capital management. Work collaboratively with Strategic Sourcing to ensure a seamless journey from contract to payment. Act as a trusted advisor and escalation point for partners, budget holders and suppliers. Provide clear, insightful reporting to senior leadership on metrics such as DPO, payment performance and spend analytics.

What you’ll bring

Essential Significant experience in a senior AP or P2P leadership role, ideally within a global law firm or comparable professional services partnership. Proven ability to lead, develop and motivate large operational finance teams (20+ FTE) within a global services environment. Deep technical expertise across the P2P lifecycle, including multi‑currency invoice processing, global T&E platforms (e.g. Emburse, SAP Concur) and confidential partner payment structures. Demonstrable success delivering process improvement and automation initiatives. Experience working with a major legal ERP system (e.g. Elite 3E or Aderant Expert). A strong control mindset, with experience designing and embedding robust frameworks to prevent fraud and error.

Desirable Hands‑on experience with Basware. Experience with procurement systems such as Coupa. Exposure to advanced automation tools (OCR/RPA). Formal project management or process improvement qualifications, or equivalent experience.

Inclusion Freshfields is an equal opportunities employer and all applications received by the firm will be considered on the basis of their merit alone. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background. All offers of employment will be conditional on the candidate having/securing the right to work in the UK and providing the firm with evidence of that right (as required by the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006) prior to employment commencing. Freshfields is a Ban the Box employer. We ask applicants to disclose criminal convictions only when a conditional job offer is made. A conviction does not automatically lead to withdrawal of the offer: we make decisions on a case‑by‑case basis and take a number of factors into account (eg the role you are applying for and the circumstances of the offence). You would have the opportunity to discuss the matter with us before we make a decision.