Interim Finance Officer

Job Title: Finance & Accounts Payable Specialist

Location: Manchester twice a week - rest remote.
Contract Type: Contract

Overview:
We are seeking an experienced Finance & Accounts Payable Specialist to join our team. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in managing Purchase Ledger and commissioning processes, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant financial operations. This role offers the opportunity to work closely with senior officers, Procurement, and Legal teams, providing robust support and improving financial processes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Maintain the Purchase Ledger/Accounts Payable function, including raising purchase requisitions/purchase orders, logging invoices, processing approvals and payments, and goods receipting.

• Manage the commissioning (spend request) process, maintaining and updating the commissioning log, tracking new requests, and liaising with Procurement and Legal teams to ensure seamless progression.

• Monitor Finance email inboxes for queries, commission requests, and invoices, taking appropriate action to ensure timely resolution.

• Perform bank reconciliations, cost transfers, and banking journals in accordance with timetables.

• Prepare supplier payment runs, including journal entries and supporting documentation.

• Maintain up-to-date supplier information and verify bank details in line with internal requirements.

• Process invoice requests and raise invoices as needed.

• Undertake ad hoc finance activities to support the team and improve operational efficiency.

Essential Skills & Experience:

• Excellent working knowledge of Purchase Ledger and Accounts Payable processes.
• Advanced Excel skills for managing models, reports, and templates.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and take initiative.

• Meticulous attention to detail, strong problem-solving, and data analysis capabilities.

• Methodical and logical approach to work.

• Experience providing robust challenge and tailored support to senior officers and stakeholders.

Desirable:

• Experience in the public sector.