Finance Services SME (24-Month FTC) in Castleford

We are currently looking for x2 Finance Services SME's to join either the AP or AR finance team.

The Finance Services AP and/or AR SME provides subject matter expertise for Accounts Payable and/or Accounts Receivable processes, controls, policies and systems, supporting the design, implementation and optimisation of Northern Powergrid's Finance transformation programme.

The role acts as the primary business representative for AP and/or AR, ensuring business requirements, operational processes, controls, reporting needs and compliance obligations are accurately reflected within system and process design. The SME will work closely with Finance, IT, external implementation partners and other Finance SMEs to deliver an integrated end-to-end solution.

The role is empowered to make some day-to-day programme decisions relating to AP and/or AR design, configuration, processes, controls, testing outcomes and operational readiness, escalating only where strategic or cross-functional decisions are required.

Along with a competitive salary of between £35,546 - £41,049 we also offer great benefits such as:

• 25 days holiday
• Flexi-Time

Principal Accountabilities

• Act as the programme Subject Matter Expert for Accounts Payable and/or Accounts Receivable processes.
• Support the definition, documentation and validate business requirements, process designs and future-state operating models for AP and/or AR.
• Represent Finance Services in design workshops and solution walkthroughs, ensuring business requirements are appropriately reflected in system design.
• Make some functional decisions relating to AP and/or AR process design, controls, business rules and configuration within agreed governance frameworks.
• Collaborate with SMEs across General Ledger, Treasury, FCC, Projects, Procurement, Reporting and
• Data workstreams to ensure end-to-end process integration.
• Review and approve functional designs, test scenarios, defect resolutions and process documentation within the AP and/or AR workstream.
• Lead AP and/or AR testing activities including system integration testing, user acceptance testing and business readiness assessments.
• Support data migration activities including mapping, validation, reconciliation and cleansing of supplier, customer and transactional data.
• Ensure appropriate financial controls, audit requirements and regulatory obligations are embedded within future-state processes.
• Support end-user training, knowledge transfer and business adoption activities.
• Identify opportunities to simplify, standardise and improve AP and/or AR processes and controls.
• Support period-end, month-end and year-end processes, ensuring AP and/or AR activity integrates effectively with wider Finance operations.

Experience and Knowledge

• Significant practical experience in Accounts Payable and/or Accounts Receivable processes within a large, complex organisation.
• Strong understanding of end-to-end Purchase-to-Pay (P2P) and/or Order-to-Cash (O2C) processes.
• Desirable to have experience supporting Finance transformation, ERP implementation, process redesign or system-enabled change initiatives.
• Experience operating within a controlled financial environment with strong governance and audit requirements.
• Proven ability to represent business requirements and challenge solution designs where required.
• Experience working with multiple stakeholders across Finance, Procurement, Operations, IT and third-party suppliers.

Essential Technical and Professional Skills

• Educated to A-Level standard (or equivalent), with a minimum of two A-Levels
• Strong understanding of financial controls, compliance and audit requirements.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving and process-mapping skills.
• Ability to evaluate solution options and make informed business decisions.
• Strong workshop facilitation and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to understand impacts of AP and/or AR design decisions on adjacent Finance processes.
• Strong communication skills, capable of engaging both operational teams and senior stakeholders.
• Competent user of Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
• Experience of Oracle Fusion, Oracle ERP, SAP, Microsoft Dynamics or similar enterprise finance systems would be advantageous.

Personal Attributes

• Recognised expert within AP and/or AR processes and controls.
• Commercially aware and able to balance operational needs with programme objectives.
• Strong decision-maker with confidence to challenge constructively.
• Collaborative and capable of building effective relationships across multiple workstreams.
• Focused on standardisation, simplification and continuous improvement.
• Maintains a strong control and governance mindset.
• Delivers high-quality outputs within programme timescales.
• Able to manage ambiguity and support delivery through periods of organisational change.

Additional Information:

We reserve the right to close this advert early dependent on number of applications

Applicants are considered on the basis of their suitability for the post irrespective of sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender re-assignment, race, age or disability, in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.