At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic finance team managing accounts receivable and payable for a thriving business.
- Company: Join a £100M+ turnover company in Harlow with a collaborative office culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid work flexibility, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a fast-paced environment with excellent career advancement opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by optimising cash flow and improving financial processes.
- Qualifications: Experience in finance management and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 50000 £ per year.
Looking for an experienced Accounts Manager to lead a team of 5, including 2 in Purchase Ledger, 2 in Credit Control, and 1 in Sales Invoicing for a £100M+ T/O business in Harlow. This role will be office based (can offer 1 day hybrid flexibility).
Role Overview
We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Head of Accounts Receivable & Payable, responsible for leading the Group's end-to-end transactional finance operations, ensuring efficient management of sales ledger, credit control, purchase ledger, supplier payments, and cash flow optimisation. The role is accountable for maintaining robust financial controls, improving working capital performance, and driving process efficiencies.
Key Responsibilities
- Leadership & Team Management
- Lead, develop, and manage the Billing, Credit Control, and Accounts Payable teams.
- Set clear objectives, performance metrics, and development plans for team members.
- Build a high-performing transactional finance function focused on service, accuracy, and efficiency.
- Accounts Receivable / Sales Ledger
- Oversee accurate and timely invoicing, billing, cash allocation, and reconciliation processes.
- Ensure debtor balances are actively managed and aged debt is minimised.
- Monitor AR KPIs including DSO, overdue debt, collections performance, dispute resolution, and cash forecasting.
- Drive process improvements to accelerate invoice-to-cash cycles.
- Credit Control & Collections
- Own credit control strategy, customer credit risk assessment, and collections policies.
- Establish and enforce credit limits, payment terms, escalation procedures, and bad debt controls.
- Manage aged debt recovery and support legal escalation where required.
- Monitor provisioning and bad debt exposure.
- Accounts Payable / Purchase Ledger
- Lead supplier invoice processing, approval workflows, reconciliations, and payment execution.
- Ensure supplier payments are accurate, timely, and aligned with agreed terms.
- Optimise payment cycles to support working capital objectives while maintaining supplier relationships.
- Cash Flow & Working Capital
- Support cash flow forecasting through effective management of receivables and payables.
- Drive working capital improvement initiatives.
- Other
- Maintain strong internal controls across transactional finance activities.
- Support internal and external audits.
- Drive automation, standardisation, and continuous improvement across AR/AP processes.
- Provide regular reporting and insight to senior finance leadership.
- Improve reporting, workflow efficiency, and data quality.
Key Skills & Experience
- Team management and leadership experience in Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Credit Control, or Transactional Finance.
- Strong understanding of sales ledger, purchase ledger, credit risk, collections, and cash management.
- Proven track record of improving processes, controls, and working capital performance.
- Excellent analytical, leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
- Strong understanding of internal controls and audit requirements.
- Proven experience in aged debt reduction.
- Team engagement and productivity.
AR & AP Finance Leader — Cash Flow & Working Capital in Harlow employer: Operations Resources
Join a dynamic and forward-thinking company in Harlow, where we prioritise employee development and foster a collaborative work culture. As an AR & AP Finance Leader, you will not only lead a dedicated team but also benefit from a competitive salary and the flexibility of hybrid working arrangements. Our commitment to continuous improvement and innovation ensures that you will have ample opportunities for professional growth while contributing to the success of a £100M+ turnover business.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land AR & AP Finance Leader — Cash Flow & Working Capital in Harlow
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance sector, especially those who might know about opportunities in AR and AP. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to job openings that aren't even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your leadership skills. Since this role involves managing a team, be ready to share examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past and improved processes.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your analytical skills! Be prepared to discuss how you've used data to drive decisions in cash flow management or working capital improvements. Numbers speak volumes in finance roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace AR & AP Finance Leader — Cash Flow & Working Capital in Harlow
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the role of AR & AP Finance Leader. Highlight your experience in managing teams and improving processes, as these are key for us. Use specific examples that showcase your skills in accounts receivable and payable.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share your passion for finance and leadership, and don’t forget to mention how you can drive efficiencies in our transactional finance operations.
Showcase Your Achievements:When detailing your past roles, focus on your achievements rather than just responsibilities. We want to see how you've improved working capital performance or reduced aged debt in previous positions. Numbers speak volumes!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Operations Resources
✨Know Your Numbers
Make sure you brush up on key financial metrics relevant to the role, like DSO and cash flow optimisation. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you understand the financial landscape and can lead a team effectively.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past. Think about specific challenges you faced and how you motivated your team to achieve their goals. This will demonstrate your capability to build a high-performing finance function.
✨Understand the Business
Research the company’s financial health and recent developments. Knowing their turnover and any challenges they face will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in contributing to their success.
✨Prepare for Process Improvement Questions
Be ready to discuss how you've driven process efficiencies in previous roles. Have concrete examples of how you improved workflows or reduced aged debt, as this aligns perfectly with the responsibilities of the position.
