Head of Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable

Head of Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable

Full-Time 70000 - 90000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead Accounts Receivable and Payable, driving strategic financial governance and operational excellence.
  • Company: Join a dynamic organisation focused on innovation and financial resilience.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, leadership development, and opportunities for digital transformation.
  • Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on continuous improvement and team development.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of finance operations and make a measurable impact on cash flow.
  • Qualifications: Proven experience in finance leadership and strong analytical skills required.

The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.

Accepting applications until: 11 July 2026

Key Responsibilities

  • Strategic Leadership & Governance (30%)
    • Provide strategic leadership across Accounts Receivable (post-billing), Credit, Risk and Accounts Payable, ensuring robust governance, financial control and policy compliance across transactional finance.
    • Define and embed a clear working capital framework, establishing performance standards, control disciplines and accountability across AR and AP operations.
    • Act as senior escalation point for material customer exposure risks, significant supplier issues and control matters, ensuring balanced commercial decision-making aligned to Global’s risk policies.
    • Ensure audit readiness and compliance with internal control frameworks across all AR/AP processes.
  • Working Capital & Cash Performance (25%)
    • Own and drive performance across DSO, aged debt, bad debt exposure, creditor days and overall cash conversion metrics.
    • Ensure strong alignment between credit policy, collections strategy and supplier payment governance to optimise liquidity and minimise risk.
    • Partner with Commercial Finance and FP&A to enhance cash forecasting accuracy and provide data-driven insight into working capital trends.
    • Lead structured performance management routines, embedding KPI transparency and continuous improvement across teams.
  • Digital Enablement, AI & Automation (20%)
    • Drive the evolution of Finance Operations through AI, automation and advanced analytics, embedding predictive insight into working capital management and reducing dependency on manual transactional processing.
    • Refine the digital vision for AR and AP, identifying further opportunities to simplify, standardise and refine automated collections workflows, credit risk monitoring, invoice processing and payment governance.
    • Partner with Finance Transformation, Technology and FinOps Enablement teams to implement scalable, data-driven solutions that enhance control, improve forecasting accuracy and strengthen decision-making.
    • Champion a digital-first operating model that strengthens resilience, scalability and operational efficiency.
  • Operational Excellence & Process Optimisation (15%)
    • Ensure AR and AP processes are standardised, efficient and clearly documented, with strong service levels and cross-team coordination.
    • Drive simplification of hand-offs between Billing, Credit and Payables to reduce friction and improve cash realisation.
    • Embed a culture of continuous improvement, proactively identifying control gaps, process bottlenecks and service enhancements.
  • People Leadership & Stakeholder Partnership (10%)
    • Lead and develop a high-performing leadership team including the Credit & Risk Manager and Purchase Ledger Manager, fostering accountability, capability development and succession planning.
    • Work in close partnership with the Head of Billing to maintain clear accountability across revenue governance and cash realisation.
    • Build strong relationships across Commercial, Finance, Procurement, Legal and Technology to ensure alignment between operational finance processes and business objectives.

What You’ll Love About This Role

  • Think Big: Support and lead the evolution of Finance Operations, shaping how Global manages working capital, risk and supplier governance at scale.
  • Own It: Be accountable for cash collection, credit exposure and supplier payment integrity — with measurable impact on liquidity and financial resilience.
  • Keep It Simple: Design clear, scalable and efficient Finance Operations processes that reduce complexity, remove unnecessary manual intervention and enable better, faster decision-making across AR and AP.
  • Better Together: Partner with Commercial, Finance, Procurement and Technology leaders to balance growth, risk and operational excellence.

What Success Looks Like

  • Within your first 6 months, you will have:
    • Established a clear working capital governance framework across AR and AP, with defined ownership, KPIs and control standards.
    • Delivered measurable improvements in working capital, aged debt profile and creditor day performance, with improved cash visibility and forecasting accuracy.
    • Implemented meaningful automation and AI-enabled enhancements across collections, risk monitoring and AP workflows, reducing manual touchpoints and improving control integrity.

What You’ll Need

  • Strategic Finance Leadership: Proven experience leading Accounts Receivable, Credit, Risk and/or Accounts Payable functions within a complex, commercially driven organisation.
  • Working Capital Expertise: Strong track record of improving DSO/DPO, managing credit exposure, optimising creditor performance and enhancing cash flow forecasting.
  • Governance & Control Mindset: Deep understanding of financial controls, risk management frameworks and audit requirements within transactional finance environments.
  • Digital & Transformation Capability: Experience driving automation, process redesign and AI-enabled improvements across finance operations, with the ability to translate data into actionable insight.
  • Commercial Acumen: Ability to balance risk management with commercial growth, partnering effectively with Sales, Finance and Procurement stakeholders.
  • Senior Stakeholder Influence: Confidence engaging and influencing senior leaders, resolving complex issues and operating as a trusted partner to the Finance Director – Operations.
  • People Leadership & Talent Development: Demonstrated success in leading and developing senior managers, building high-performing teams and creating a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
  • Analytical & Data-Driven Thinking: Strong ability to interpret operational and financial data, identify trends and drive informed decision-making.

Head of Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable employer: Global Media Group

Join a forward-thinking organisation that prioritises strategic leadership and innovation in finance operations. As the Head of Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable, you will thrive in a collaborative work culture that values continuous improvement and digital transformation, while enjoying opportunities for professional growth and development. Located in a vibrant area, our company offers a supportive environment where your contributions directly impact financial resilience and operational excellence.

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Contact Details:

Global Media Group Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the finance industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their approach to accounts receivable and payable, and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. This will help you stand out as someone who’s genuinely interested in the role.

Tip Number 3

Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your strategic leadership and governance skills can drive performance in AR and AP. Use specific examples from your past roles to demonstrate your impact on working capital and cash performance.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us. So, go ahead and submit your application today!

We think you need these skills to ace Head of Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable

Strategic Finance Leadership
Accounts Receivable Management
Credit Risk Management
Accounts Payable Management
Working Capital Expertise
Governance and Control Mindset
Digital Transformation Capability

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head of Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable role. Highlight your strategic finance leadership experience and any relevant achievements in working capital management. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've driven performance improvements or implemented digital solutions in previous positions. Let us know what excites you about joining StudySmarter!

Showcase Your Digital Savvy:Since we're all about digital enablement, make sure to highlight any experience you have with AI, automation, or advanced analytics in finance operations. We love candidates who can help us evolve our processes and drive efficiency!

Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows us that you’re keen on being part of the StudySmarter family!

How to prepare for a job interview at Global Media Group

Know Your Numbers

As a candidate for the Head of Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable, you need to be on top of your financial metrics. Brush up on key performance indicators like DSO, aged debt, and cash conversion metrics. Be ready to discuss how you've improved these in past roles.

Showcase Your Strategic Vision

This role requires strategic leadership, so come prepared with examples of how you've defined and implemented governance frameworks in previous positions. Think about how you can articulate your vision for optimising working capital and enhancing cash forecasting accuracy.

Embrace Digital Transformation

With a focus on AI and automation, it's crucial to demonstrate your experience in driving digital enablement within finance operations. Prepare to discuss specific tools or processes you've implemented that have simplified workflows and improved efficiency.

Build Relationships

People leadership and stakeholder partnership are key aspects of this role. Be ready to share examples of how you've built strong relationships across departments, particularly with Commercial, Finance, and Technology teams, to achieve common goals.