Procurement & Accounts Payable Manager

Procurement & Accounts Payable Manager

We have an exciting opportunity for a talented professional to join the Finance Department within the Northern Regional College as the Procurement and Accounts Payable Manager. This role will be full time, temporary until October 2026 - Maternity cover.

In this pivotal role, you will lead and manage the Accounts Payable and Procurement functions, ensuring the delivery of an efficient, effective, and customer-focused service. Reporting to the College Accountant, you will be responsible for driving best practice, maintaining strong financial controls, and supporting the wider Finance team in achieving its objectives.

This position offers the chance to make a real impact within a dynamic and supportive environment, where your expertise in procurement and accounts management will be highly valued.

Job Purpose:

The postholder will be responsible for the provision of advice and support to budget holders across the College, to assist in the planned delivery and development of the College, supporting it's College Development Plan. The post-holder will also be the point of contact for the wider College and will assist in the preparation of bids for projects, contracts and sources of revenue. This role blends both strategic financial governance with practical skills in writing compelling business cases, ideal for candidates with a keen eye for detail and a strong understanding of how financial decisions impact organisational success.

Main duties & responsibilities:

• Responsibility for the Agresso purchase ledger and all College purchases.
• Scrutinise purchase orders, purchase invoices and proposed payments, prepare and process payments in accordance with College procedures and ensure all Accounts Payable section procedures and tasks are achieved on a monthly basis.
• Implement relevant aspects of the Procurement Policy and Procedure including;
• ensuring best practice is incorporated into procurement processes;
• ensuring the College Procurement policy and operational procedures are available to all those involved in purchasing for the College;
• reviewing and updating the College Procurement policy and operating procedures;
• providing advice, guidance and training to all College staff in relation to procurement activities to ensure adherence to the College Policy and procedures and best value;
• College Procurement policy and operational procedures are complied with by all involved in purchasing for the College;
• participating in the development and implementation of a procurement strategy for the College.
• To be responsible for the procurement process within the College including;
• the production and implementation of the College Procurement plan to ensure delivery of the programme of tenders, quotations and contracts on a timely basis;
• managing and assisting with the preparation of tender documents, specifications, advertisements and provision of administrative support and procedural advice at evaluation meetings;
• coordinating tender evaluation processes and providing administration support, including preparing, updating and storing all tender documentation;
• acting as the College liaison with Construction & Procurement Division (CPD);
• providing technical advice and guidance to managers, budget holders and others engaged in procurement actions including the processes to be followed in respect of procurement activities;
• managing the maintenance of workable filing systems for catalogues, contract files, contacts, completed tenders and quotations;
• to establish and maintain robust contract management procedures and reporting any instances of non-compliance;
• to assist contract managers in resolving contract disputes / issues.
• Responsible for Finance related Contracts and/or Service Level Agreements and in conjunction with Estates Department for the contract management of Construction & Procurement Division, Property Division (CPD PD) work;
• To record and provide information on procurement, business case approval and post project evaluation activity;
• To represent the College on the NI Purchasing Officers' Network (NIPON);
• To be the liaison point for communications (and co-ordination of actions) between the procurement function, budget holders and procurement advisers in all matters relating to procurement projects and initiatives;
• To manage the day to day operations of the Procurement and Accounts team with the aim of achieving value for money in all college purchasing in line with college procedures and;
• improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Finance function through the development and application of information and computer technology;
• ensure that operational procedures used within the Procurement and Accounts team are reviewed annually and are compliant with College Policies;
• identify and implement any systems or process changes will improve the efficiency or effectiveness of the Procurement or Accounts Function;
• Ensure Procurement team members have access to operational procedures, training manuals and guidance to allow them to comply with operational procedures and effectively discharge their responsibilities;
• To assist with the operation and administration of the Financial Accounting system to ensure accurate information relating to procurement and accounts activities is available.

• To be responsible for the day-to-day management of all college audits in respect of procurement or accounts activities and to co-ordinate timely implementation of audit recommendations, and reviewing and redesigning processes where necessary.
• To provide as required training to finance and non finance staff to ensure they can carry out their responsibilities as outlined in the college procedures.
• To undertake any other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the College Accountant, Head of Finance or Chief Operating Officer.

(Full Job Description available upon request)

Essential Criteria:

• Qualified - Full member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (MCIPS)
  OR
• Non- Qualified - Applicant must have a Degree in a Business- related discipline
• Applicants must hold GCSE Mathematics and English Language at grades A -C or equivalent
• Minimum of 3 years professional experience within the procurement function of a large, complex organisation. This experience must include experience of public sector procurement and include at least 3 of the following areas:

1. Preparation of annual procurement plans
2. Preparation of tender documents to comply with NIPPP
3. Evaluation of tenders which are subject to EU regulations
4. Maintenance of a Contracts Register
5. Management of Contract disputes

• Minimum of 2 years experience of using web based procurement system with intergrated approvals
• Experience using Microsoft products
• Experience of managing a team
• Minimum of 5 years public sector experience of Northern Ireland Public Procurement Policy (NIPPP)
• Access to suitable transport for business purposed to effectively dicharge the duties of this post

Desirable Criteria:

• Minimum of 5 years public sector experience of Northern Ireland Public Procurement Policy (NIPPP)

Base Campus: To be confirmed with successful candidate

Salary:

• Qualified £41,511 per annum

• Non-qualified - £37,035 per annum

To be shortlisted for this role all applicants MUST meet the essential criteria. If you are interested, please upload your CV to the link provided, and Deirdre Hamilton will be in contact to confirm if you have been shortlisted.