Accounts Payable Manager in Manchester

About Us

At Travel Counsellors, our customers, communities, and colleagues are at the heart of everything we do. For over 30 years, we've empowered 2,200+ independent travel agents worldwide, helping them build successful businesses while providing deeply personal, human connections with their customers. Supported by a talented team of over 400 people in our Support Offices, we create unique travel experiences that keep customers coming back. Named the Best Place to Work in Travel (2022) and ranked in the Sunday Times Best Places to Work (2023, 2024 & 2025), we’re expanding rapidly and looking for exceptional individuals to join our Head Office team.

About The Role

PLEASE NOTE: This is a 16-month fixed‑term contract position. The Accounts Payable Manager is responsible for leading and evolving the end‑to‑end Procure‑to‑Pay (P2P) function across Travel Counsellors UK, ensuring the delivery of a high‑performing, scalable and well‑controlled operation. This role owns the full AP lifecycle, including Accounts Payable, Purchase Ledger, Virtual Credit Card (VCC) transactions, reconciliations, and associated finance support processes. The role holder will drive continuous improvement, automation and transformation across processes, systems and ways of working to support business growth within a fast‑paced and evolving environment. A key focus of the role is building a high‑performing team, setting clear standards for delivery, and embedding a culture of ownership, accountability and continuous improvement. The AP Manager will work closely with Finance, TC Support teams and senior stakeholders across the business to influence outcomes, improve efficiency and ensure a seamless supplier and customer experience. Success in this role requires a resilient and adaptable leader who can navigate complexity, manage competing priorities and lead change at pace.

Principal Accountabilities

• Direct line management of Team Leaders across AP, VCC and Reconciliations, Compliance, and Purchase Ledger providing leadership, guidance, coaching and support.
• Set team and individual objectives for the wider team that are aligned to operational and strategic KPIs, embedding a strong performance culture.
• Each colleague to have at least one BAU OKR and one stretch OKR per annum (monitored quarterly) that contributes to the operational KPIs.
• Conduct monthly 121s with first reports using OKRs, quality data, productivity & performance data, competency evidence and feedback to have constructive conversations to improve their team’s performance, behaviours, colleague engagement and satisfaction.
• Ensure this rigorous approach to performance management is embedded across the team and maintained across all colleagues.
• Lead recruitment, performance and development of colleagues ensuring a scalable, high‑performing team.
• Act as a senior stakeholder contact, influencing cross‑functional teams and improving end‑to‑end processes.
• Own the end‑to‑end Procure‑to‑Pay function ensuring accurate, timely and controlled delivery, including invoice processing, payment approvals, and supplier reconciliations, and VCC reconciliations.
• Establish robust governance, controls and compliance frameworks across all processes.
• Drive delivery of Finance KPIs including AP payments, VCC transactions, reconciliations and reporting.
• Help define and deliver the P2P transformation roadmap including automation and process optimisation.
• Identify and implement efficiency improvements, removing duplication and driving standardisation.
• Maintaining accurate records and ensure compliance with company policies and relevant regulations.
• Preparing and presenting regular accounts payable reports to senior management using data and MI to drive insights, performance and decision making.
• Ensure audit readiness and proactively manage risk across the function.

Required Experience

• Proven experience leading high‑volume P2P / AP function.
• Experience managing layered teams.
• Track record of transformation and automation.
• Strong stakeholder management capability.
• Resilient and adaptable in fast‑paced environments.
• Travel industry experience preferred but not essential.

Our Benefits

• Competitive salary + annual bonus.
• Flexible hybrid working.
• Career development opportunities.
• 25 days holiday (increasing to 28 after 5 years).
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity pay.
• 1 day paid charity day.
• Company events and incentives.
• 3× salary death in service benefit.
• Pension scheme.
• Private Medical Insurance or Healthcare Cash Plan.
• Free breakfast and beverages.

Inclusive Recruitment

Travel Counsellors is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on race, gender, disability, or any protected characteristic. We provide accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the hiring process and will make every effort to accommodate reasonable adjustments where required. We believe diverse perspectives strengthen our team and encourage all to apply.