Purchase To Pay Manager

Purchase To Pay Manager

Salary: £48,000 - £55,000 per annum (NJC SCP 26 - 31)

Location: 1 Angel Square, Manchester/hybrid working (2 days on-site per week)

Contract: Permanent, 37 hours FTE

Closing date: 23:59pm, Monday 20 July 2026

Overview of the Purchase To Pay Manager role

Sellick Partnership is currently partnered with Co-op Academies Trust to recruit a Purchase to Pay Manager. This is a key opportunity to lead and improve the Trust's purchase-to-pay function, ensuring accurate, timely and compliant processing of supplier invoices, purchase orders and payment runs across a growing organisation. The role reports to the Head of Finance and will lead Purchase Ledger Supervisors and wider P2P staff, with a focus on team development, financial control, process improvement and stakeholder support.

Key responsibilities of the Purchase To Pay Manager will include

- Lead and manage the Trust's purchase-to-pay function

- Line manage Purchase Ledger Supervisors and other P2P staff

- Oversee purchase orders, invoice processing, goods receipt matching and payment runs

- Ensure compliance with Trust policies, delegated authorities and internal financial controls

- Manage supplier relationships, queries, disputes and reconciliations

- Oversee supplier statements, credit card logs, VAT reconciliation and submissions

- Support month-end, quarter-end and year-end processes, including accruals and journals

- Contribute to audit activity, reporting, risk assessment and mitigation

- Identify and implement process and system improvements across P2P activity

Required experience/qualifications of the Purchase To Pay Manager position will include

- Relevant finance qualification, such as AAT, ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent experience

- Significant experience in purchase-to-pay, accounts payable, procurement management or senior finance operations

- Experience managing and developing a team, including coaching and performance management

- Proven supplier relationship management and dispute resolution experience

- Strong understanding of financial systems, reporting tools and internal controls

- Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage competing deadlines

- Strong communication skills with the ability to build relationships across all levels

- Experience in a regulated, public sector or education environment would be beneficial

- Commitment to co-operative values, British Values and the Ways of Being Co-op

Benefits available alongside the Purchase To Pay Manager position include (but aren't limited to):

- Competitive annual leave entitlement

- Defined benefit pension schemes, including the Local Government Pension Scheme or Teachers' Pension Scheme subject to eligibility

- Co-op colleague membership, including 30% off selected Co-op branded products and 10% off branded products in Co-op Group food stores

- Employee Assistance Programme for colleagues and members of their household

- Wellbeing support, including mental health resources, Health Assured support, Wisdom Health and Wellbeing App and Mental Health First Aiders

- Generous occupational sick pay and family-friendly policies

- Free annual flu vaccination and free eye care tests

- Commuter assistance and rental deposit loans

- Cycle to Work scheme and Nuffield Health gym membership discounts

- Professional development, induction, coaching and career progression opportunities

This is a fantastic opportunity to join Co-op Academies Trust, a values-led organisation sponsored by the Co-op Group. The Trust supports schools and communities across the North of England and is committed to creating exceptional pupil experiences, strong financial stewardship and fairer communities.

How to apply for the Purchase To Pay Manager position

If you believe you have the required experience and qualifications outlined above for the Purchase To Pay Manager opportunity, please apply within. Alternatively, if you would like a confidential chat about the role or organisation, please contact Hayley Cox at Sellick Partnership to find out more.

Closing date: 23:59pm, Monday 20 July 2026

Synonyms: Accounts Payable Manager, Purchase Ledger Manager, P2P Manager, Finance Operations Manager, Payments Manager, AP Team Leader

Sellick Partnership is proud to be an inclusive and accessible recruitment business and we support applications from candidates of all backgrounds and circumstances. Please note, our advertisements use years' experience, hourly rates, and salary levels purely as a guide and we assess applications based on the experience and skills evidenced on the CV. For information on how your personal details may be used by Sellick Partnership, please review our data processing notice on our website.