Payments Team Leader

We are looking for a driven and detail-focused Payments Team Leader to join our Finance team, taking responsibility for the effective management of supplier invoices, purchase ledger and weekly payment runs. You will ensure robust financial controls are maintained, business partner with stakeholders to support compliance and understanding, and oversee the efficient processing of invoices through our Housing Management system, OCR and Purchase to Pay platforms. Drawing on your breadth of experience, you will continually review and improve processes, realise system development opportunities and provide the leadership, guidance and support your team needs to deliver an accurate, timely and high-quality payments service.

We own and manage c.8,000 homes in the east of England, working closely with other agencies and stakeholders within our communities. We build on the good foundations we have in place in being a customer-centric organisation, investing in our existing homes - including our zero-carbon journey - as well as building new homes.

A lot of our roles come with options around home and office flexible working, as well as a generous annual leave allowance and other benefits.

Outline of key responsibilities...

• Provide effective line management to a team of three Payment Assistants, offering support, training and development opportunities to ensure adequate cover and high performance across the team at all times
• Oversee, manage and complete checks on the weekly payment run, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and full compliance with financial controls and standing orders
• Oversee and manage the shared payments mailbox effectively, ensuring correspondence is responded to within agreed service level agreements and the inbox is regularly cleansed and kept up to date
• Oversee and manage creditor account reconciliations, including monthly supplier accrual postings and any other account corrections as required
• Process payments outside of the weekly BACS run, including rent refunds, compensation payments and other ad hoc payments as required
• Produce monthly statistics on invoices processed for publication on the intranet, supporting transparent and effective internal communications
• Continuously review and improve payment processes and systems, identifying development opportunities and ensuring workflows are streamlined and efficient

We are looking for someone who has...

• Proven experience of working within an accounts payable function, with a solid understanding of basic accounting principles and financial controls
• The ability to interpret and communicate complex financial information clearly and accessibly to non-finance colleagues and stakeholders at all levels
• Experience of working with IT packages for Purchase to Pay and general ledger systems, with the confidence to identify and realise system development and process improvement opportunities
• A proven ability to build strong and effective relationships across a wide range of people within the business, with excellent written and verbal communication skills for liaising with internal and external stakeholders
• A natural leader with a genuine passion for developing others, sharing knowledge and experience to build capability and foster a high-performing, collaborative team culture

In return, we are offering...

• An annual salary of £36,815.01
• We are committed to providing a healthy work-life balance for employees and their families, as such we operate hybrid working conditions from home and our office in Bury St Edmunds. There is an expectation to work at least 1 day per week in the office.
• Flexible working around a 37 hour week
• Annual Leave - 28 days per year, (plus bank holidays) increasing to 32 days when you reach your 3rd year with us. To give greater flexibility around your holidays you can also buy, sell or carry over up to 5 days of annual leave each year
• Pension – between 7% - 12% dependant on individual contribution
• Life assurance - a payment of X3 your salary.
• Annual Flu Jab - provided each winter to all employees.
• Electric Vehicle salary sacrifice scheme - plus we currently have free electric charging points
• Competitive medical cashback plan

At Havebury we operate a no closing date policy and evaluate candidates upon application. Therefore please apply without delay.

Due to the nature of some of our roles involving work with vulnerable members of society, this post may be subject to a Basic Criminal Disclosure, which will be carried out when a conditional offer is made.

Please ensure you fully answer the questions on the application form.