Accounts Payable Lead (2 year FTC)

Advert Closes: Thursday 25th June

Looking for your next step in Accounts Payable leadership? Ready to shape processes, lead a high-performing team, and drive real impact? This could be the role for you.

At The Crown Estate, we’re looking for an experienced Accounts Payable Lead to take ownership of our function, leading a talented team, strengthening supplier relationships, and driving continuous improvement across systems and processes.

What you’ll be doing

As a key member of the finance team, you’ll balance operational excellence with people leadership:

Lead & inspire

• Manage and develop the Accounts Payable team, driving performance and engagement

• Coach and mentor team members through regular 1:1s and development plans

• Act as the first point of escalation for supplier and business queries

Deliver operational excellence

• Oversee end-to-end invoice processing and payment cycles

• Ensure accurate coding, timely approvals, and smooth month-end close

• Validate payment runs and support cash balancing processes

• Champion our commitment to paying supplier invoices within 30 days

Drive improvement & innovation

• Identify process inefficiencies and implement improvements through automation and system enhancements

• Develop KPIs and reporting to support data-driven decision-making

• Ensure compliance with procurement policies and audit requirements

Collaborate & influence

• Build strong relationships with stakeholders across the business

• Partner with operational teams and property managers to resolve queries quickly and effectively

What we’re looking for

• Proven experience leading an Accounts Payable team

• Excellent knowledge of invoice processing, coding, and payment procedures

• Experience with accounts payable systems and automation tools (e.g. Agresso Unit4, Proactis, Medius)

• Strong communication skills with a proactive, solutions-focused mindset

• A continuous improvement approach with strong problem-solving capability

Bonus points for experience in real estate/property or a public sector environment.

Why join The Crown Estate?

• Work in a purpose-led organisation with a long-term view

• Play a key role in transforming finance processes through technology and innovation

• Lead a team where your impact will be visible and valued

• Be part of a culture that champions development, collaboration, and continuous improvement

Our Offering / benefits:

As well as a competitive salary, pension and performance related bonus offering, we have a wealth of benefits available ranging from flexible working; market leading family policies and shopping discounts in the West End, to private healthcare; life and critical illness cover and 28 days holiday with the option to buy more. We value work life balance and your wellbeing highly, enabling you to be your best self to work.

Disability Disclaimer:

We are a proud disability confident employer and operate the offer of interview scheme Disability Confident employer scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

We are happy to offer alternative application methods or formats and can be flexible on our process to enable you to have the best opportunity.

If you have any questions about our recruitment process or would like to talk about adjustments, please contact us directly, or at careers@thecrownestate.co.uk

Please note that if we receive a high volume of applications, we may close this advert early. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.