Accounts Payable Executive | Finance Team | Odgers Executive Search in London

You don’t need finance experience to apply – if you’ve got strong admin skills, we’d love to hear from you. The overall purpose of an Accounts Payable Executive is to ensure all supplier invoices are accurately processed, approved, and paid on time. They help maintain strong supplier relationships and support accurate financial records and cash flow control.

Outcomes

• Invoices are processed accurately and on time – all supplier invoices are coded correctly, approved promptly, and paid within agreed terms, with minimal errors or rework.
• Month‑end closes run smoothly – AP deadlines are consistently met, reconciliations are accurate, and required information is provided to Finance on time.
• Strong supplier relationships are maintained – queries are handled professionally and efficiently, reducing disputes and escalations.
• Controls and compliance are upheld – company policies, approval limits, and audit requirements are followed consistently with no material audit issues.
• Cash flow visibility is improved – payment schedules, accruals, and liabilities are kept up to date, supporting effective cash flow management.
• Processes become more efficient over time – opportunities to streamline AP processes, reduce manual work, or improve accuracy are identified and acted on.
• The team can rely on consistent quality – work is dependable, priorities are managed well, and colleagues can trust the accuracy of AP data.
• Performance is measured through clear service indicators such as invoice turnaround times, percentage of invoices paid to terms, aged query volumes, reconciliation completion, and month‑end deadline adherence.

Skills

• High attention to detail and accuracy when processing large volumes of financial data.
• Strong organisation and prioritisation skills, particularly around payment runs and month‑end deadlines.
• Clear written and verbal communication with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Good Excel and data-handling skills, including reconciliations, filtering, and basic formulas.
• Confidence using finance systems and adapting to new tools and processes.
• Ability to identify exceptions, investigate issues, and follow through to resolution.

Competency

• Takes ownership of tasks and follows them through to completion.
• Works in a methodical and disciplined way, maintaining accurate records.
• Remains calm and dependable during busy periods and competing deadlines.
• Uses sound judgement when handling sensitive financial information and control issues.
• Builds effective working relationships across Finance and the wider business.
• Looks for practical ways to improve processes, reduce rework, and increase efficiency.

Technical Accounts knowledge

An ideal candidate would have working knowledge of:

• End‑to‑end Accounts Payable processes, including invoice receipt, verification, coding, approval, and payment.
• Purchase invoice processing, including 2‑way and 3‑way matching of invoices, purchase orders, and goods receipts, plus handling non‑PO invoices and approval exceptions.
• Payment runs (weekly/monthly), including BACS or international payments.
• Supplier statement reconciliations and resolving discrepancies.
• Supplier onboarding and master data controls, including new supplier setup, verification of bank detail changes, and maintenance of accurate supplier records.
• Duplicate invoice/payment prevention and awareness of fraud risks, including escalation of suspicious invoices or supplier bank change requests.
• Aged creditors review, including monitoring old outstanding items, debit balances, and unresolved supplier queries.
• VAT basics, including: Input VAT vs non‑recoverable VAT, different VAT treatments for common expense types, checking invoices for VAT compliance.
• Month‑end activities, such as: Accruals for unpaid invoices, providing accurate AP data to Management Accounts, expense processing, including staff or contractor expenses, policy compliance checks, and corporate card reconciliations where applicable.
• Internal controls, approval limits, and audit requirements.
• Experience with finance systems and invoice workflow tools, including ERP systems, OCR or scanning platforms, and approval workflows, with the ability to identify automation and process improvement opportunities.

Behaviours

• Accountability – Delivers work to a high standard, takes ownership, and follows through on commitments.
• Accuracy – Works carefully and consistently, ensuring financial information is complete and reliable.
• Collaboration – Builds constructive relationships with suppliers, colleagues, and the wider business.
• Judgement – Applies common sense and control awareness when resolving issues or escalating concerns.
• Continuous Improvement – Seeks opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce manual work, and strengthen controls.

Accountability and Responsibility

• Process supplier invoices accurately and efficiently – Receive, review, code, and process supplier invoices in line with company policies, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and appropriate approvals.
• Manage matching, approvals, and invoice exceptions – Perform 2-way and 3-way matching where required, follow up on missing approvals or supporting information, and resolve invoice exceptions promptly.
• Manage payment runs and meet supplier terms – Prepare and execute payment runs accurately and on schedule, ensuring suppliers are paid in line with agreed terms and cash flow requirements.
• Maintain accurate supplier records and reconciliations – Set up and maintain supplier accounts, verify new supplier details and bank account amendments in line with internal controls, and complete regular creditor statement reconciliations.
• Handle supplier queries and issues professionally – Act as a first point of contact for supplier queries, investigating and resolving issues efficiently to maintain positive working relationships.
• Support the month-end close and financial reporting – Provide accurate AP information for month-end, including accruals, outstanding liabilities, and reconciliation support, while meeting Finance deadlines consistently.
• Uphold controls, compliance, and fraud prevention – Follow approval limits, VAT requirements, and audit controls rigorously; review invoices and payment requests for duplication, unusual activity, or control exceptions; and escalate concerns promptly in accordance with policy.
• Contribute to process improvement and efficiency – Identify opportunities to streamline AP processes, reduce manual effort, improve data quality, and strengthen ways of working across the function.