Accounts Payable Team Leader in Middlesbrough

Your new company

Due to restructuring, this prestigious logistics group has a number of new permanent opportunities across the finance function. Including a need for an experienced Accounts Payable Team Leader to join them.

Your new role

The AP Team Leader supports the effective and efficient operation of the Group's Accounts Payable function. The role provides daily supervision of workflow, acts as the primary escalation point for AP processors, ensures adherence to procedures and controls, and supports the delivery of accurate, timely processing across the full AP cycle. The AP Team Leader provides operational cover for the AP Manager when required, ensuring continuity of service and strong process compliance.

Summary of Main Responsibilities

• Oversee daily Accounts Payable activity from invoice receipt through to payment, ensuring work is completed accurately and on time.
• Allocate and monitor workloads across AP processors, balancing volumes and ensuring all queues are appropriately managed.
• Act as first-line escalation point for complex queries, non-standard invoices, supplier issues, blocked invoices and unmatched receipts.
• Monitor adherence to AP and procurement processes, ensuring standards are followed and issues are escalated promptly.
• Support review of delegation of authority queries and ensure invoices follow the correct approval path.
• Ensure AP activities are carried out in accordance with business standards, procurement procedures and control frameworks.
• Highlight recurring issues, inefficiencies and process gaps, proposing improvement opportunities to the AP Manager.
• Support updates to AP procedures, training materials and ways of working to enhance service delivery.
• Liaise with Procurement and other departments to resolve process issues and contribute to an improved purchase-to-pay cycle.
• Conduct pre-run checks and validations to support accurate payment runs, escalating issues as needed.
• Support the monitoring and clearance of unmatched cash payments.
• Prepare and coordinate inputs for month-end processing, including GRNI review and commentary.
• Support reconciliation activities and assist with intercompany and other ad hoc reporting requirements.
• Provide clear summaries and status updates to the AP Manager to support accurate month-end close.
• Provide day-to-day guidance and coaching to AP processors, supporting development of skills and consistent practice.
• Deliver training to new and existing team members to ensure adherence to standards.
• Facilitate short daily huddles to confirm priorities, monitor progress and raise operational issues.
• Work collaboratively with Procurement, Goods Receiving, and other internal teams to resolve queries and promote good working relationships.
• Support positive supplier relations by ensuring timely, professional handling of escalated enquiries.
• Provide operational cover for the AP Manager when required, including coordination of daily AP activity and oversight of key tasks to ensure continuity of service.

What you'll need to succeed

• Strong working knowledge of end-to-end Accounts Payable processes.
• Good understanding of procurement and purchase procedures and how they interface with AP.
• Strong IT skills including spreadsheet use and Oracle Fusion systems.
• Proven experience within a mainstream AP function with exposure to supervising or coordinating work.
• Confident communication and ability to liaise effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Well-organised team player with a positive, proactive approach to problem-solving.
• Calm and structured when dealing with issues or high-volume periods.
• Forward-thinking, able to spot opportunities for improvement.
• Supportive, dependable and able to lead through influence rather than authority.

What you'll get in return

An attractive salary and benefits package, along with hybrid working.

What you need to do now

If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now. If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.