The Accounts Payable Manager plays a critical leadership role within Finance Operations, owning the end-to-end Accounts Payable function to ensure accurate, timely, and well-controlled processing of supplier payments and employee expenses. Managing a team of four, this role is responsible for driving operational excellence across both stock and non-stock accounts payable activities, maintaining strong internal controls, and ensuring compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements.
As AP systems super-user, the Accounts Payable Manager also supports ongoing automation and system enhancements (including D365 and Mail Manager), ensuring processes remain efficient, scalable, and aligned to business needs.
Reporting into the Senior Manager, Finance Operations, this position works cross-functionally with Buying, Merchandising, Logistics, Distribution Centre and Finance teams to ensure strong financial governance, accurate reporting (including GRNI and control accounts), and seamless end-to-end operations.
Team Leadership & Performance Management
- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 4 (2 Accounts Payable Assistants and 2 Accounts Payable Specialists), fostering a high-performance and accountable culture.
- Hire, train, and supervise team members, supporting ongoing development and succession planning.
- Set clear objectives and monitor individual and team performance through weekly and monthly KPIs.
- Proactively manage team workload and capacity planning, particularly during peak trading periods, to ensure uninterrupted service levels.
- Communicate AP performance, risks, and improvement initiatives to senior leadership, ensuring transparency and informed decision making.
Accounts Payable Operations
- Oversee end-to-end invoice processing and approval workflows, ensuring invoices are accurately coded, authorised, and processed in line with internal controls.
- Oversee stock invoice processing workflows, ensuring alignment between purchase orders, goods received, and invoicing.
- Manage the weekly supplier payment process, ensuring payments are accurate, timely, and in accordance with agreed payment terms.
- Maintain and enforce supplier payment terms in line with commercial agreements.
- Oversee employee expense processing, including corporate credit card transactions, ensuring compliance with company expense policy.
- Manage shared AP inboxes, ensuring all incoming invoices and supplier communications are actioned promptly.
- Manage the supplier onboarding process, including verification of banking details.
- Oversee and maintain accurate supplier master data within the finance system, ensuring data integrity.
- Ensure regular supplier statement reconciliations are completed, with timely resolution of discrepancies and queries.
- Lead the resolution of complex or escalated supplier disputes, minimising operational disruption while maintaining strong relationships.
- Build and maintain effective relationships with key suppliers and internal stakeholders to improve service levels and communication.
Financial Controls
- Own and actively manage the GRNI account, including daily review and investigation of aged items in collaboration with Buying, Merchandising, Logistics and DC teams.
- Manage the monthly Accounts Payable close process, including preparation of suppliers control account and GRNI balance sheet reconciliations.
- Perform aged creditor reconciliations to ensure the accuracy of outstanding liabilities.
- Provide weekly forecast of suppliers’ payments to support the preparation of the Daily Cashflow .
- Support internal and external audits by preparing documentation and responding to AP-related queries.
Systems, Process Improvement & Governance
- Ensure strong internal controls across the AP function, maintaining compliance with company policies, audit requirements, and regulatory standards.
- Review and update, as required, AP policies, procedures, and controls to support business growth and scalability.
- Drive continuous process improvement and automation initiatives, including ongoing D365 and Mail Manager enhancements.
- Act as AP system super-user, supporting configuration, workflow optimisation, upgrades, and user training.
- Carry out a- hoc accounting and finance tasks as required by the Senior Finance Manager.
- Proven experience in an Accounts Payable leadership or management role.
- Demonstrated experience managing and developing a team.
- Strong understanding of end-to-end Accounts Payable processes, including payment runs, supplier statement reconciliations, and GRNI.
- Strong Excel skills and confidence working with data from multiple systems.
- Ability to analyse and present insightful data in a meaningful way.
- Experience working with both stock and non-stock suppliers (retail experience highly desirable).
- High attention to details with strong organisational and problem-solving skills.
- Confident communicator, able to work effectively with both internal and external stakeholders
- Proactive, hands-on approach with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
At The White Company, we value our employees for always going the extra mile for every one of our customers; we reward this with great benefits and competitive salaries.
- Discount -Up to 50% discount and access to regular Sample Sales
- Holiday - 25 days rising to 28 with length of service
- Holiday Buy – opportunity to buy up to 5 days holiday
- Pension Scheme - enrolled in our Group Personal Pension schemes upon joining the business.
- Bonus - In addition to our competitive salaries, all our employees are entitled to join a discretionary bonus scheme (based on policy eligibility)
- Wagestream Money Management app - access to Wagestream gives you power over your pay and supports financial wellbeing
- Continued Development – We offer structured support from our own in-house Learning and Development Hub
- Salary Sacrifice scheme for Electric vehicles (dependent on grade and meeting policy eligibility)
- Continued Development - Inclusion on our Leadership Development Programme (eligibility for contracts of 6 months plus Grade D & E roles only)
- Continued Development – We offer structured support from our own in-house Learning and Development Hub
- Private Healthcare with additional Babylon Digital Healthcare (based on contract duration)
- Life Assurance
- White City House (Soho House Group)Tenants Membership at a discounted rate, offering access to facilities in the House
Additional Benefits
- Fruit basket daily
- Tea and coffee provided
- Working from Home - option to work from home on Mondays and Fridays
- Social - Christmas party/social events throughout the year
- Seasonal Sample Sales
- Volunteer Day - with a charity of your choice
- Great Location - Close to transport links - over ground Shepherds Bush station /underground White City & Wood Lane stations. Westfield shopping centre with shops restaurants/bars/cinema and gyms
At The White Company we are committed to creating an inclusive culture that welcomes and celebrates a diversity of backgrounds and identities.
We are working together to ensure our environment is one where people can bring their authentic selves to work, where their contribution is valued, ability enhanced, and perspective appreciated. Where difference is respected, encouraged, and celebrated. Where you can feel you belong.
We are committed to an active Equality Diversity and Inclusion Policy, which starts with our recruitment and selection process.
We'd love you to join us on our journey.
We are committed to building a sustainable legacy that will enable a brighter future for people and our planet.’ We believe this should be reflected in everything we do
