Purchase Ledger Manager

Location: Coventry

Kite Packaging was founded in 2001 with a unique vision and a philosophy of employee-ownership. We were a true greenfield start up and have grown quickly to be the 2nd largest packaging distributor in the UK. In recent years Kite has been awarded ‘Top 50 Fastest Growing Companies in the Midlands’ and ‘The Sunday Times Track 100 Fastest Profit Growth in the UK’. In 2023 Kite was awarded ‘Packaging Company of the Year’ at the 2023 UK Packaging Awards.

Our growth has consistently been the best in our sector, and we have by far and away the strongest balance sheet of any of our competitors. Our ownership model gives us a long-term view on investing and a passion for reinvesting in both the business and our greatest asset our ‘people’. Turnover in 2024 was £169m and operating profit was £30m.

We operate through three clearly defined decisions

• Environmental Division. The Division supports its customer-members in complying with the Packaging Waste Regulations. Kite is the only packaging distributor in the UK which offers this added-value service to its customers and it is in principle an auditing and consultancy business.
• Regional Distribution Centres. Kite's 8 RDCs, which operate on a geographical territory basis, provide service & solutions to large customers who generally require mainly customer-specific packaging products. This division looks after the packaging requirements of some of the UK leading manufacturers and we offer the very highest level of technical support through our dedicated teams of engineers and account managers.
• Kite-on-line. KOL sells and supplies a comprehensive range of standard packaging products to B2B customers, on either a pre-paid or credit account basis, via its website - kitepackaging.co.uk - and fulfils orders from its National Distribution Centre in Coventry.

Specific Responsibilities

You will be responsible for the management of the purchase ledger with the support of purchase ledger team. You will be working with the management accounts team and report to the Group Finance Manager.

The role will specifically cover the following areas:

• All aspects of processing transactions in the purchase ledger from invoice capture to invoice query management, supplier payment management and payment runs.
• You will be responsible for a team of 3 purchase ledger clerks
• You will ensure the efficient processing of invoices and the time management of queries
• You will be liaising with 10+sites that procure stock and incur overhead costs
• You will seek to find improvements to a newly implemented D365 system with is a fully integrated ERP system
• You will set up strict protocols for supplier management and payment routines being vigilant to fraud and errors
• You will interface with the management accounts team to help with timely preparation of accruals, GRNI reports and overhead forecasting
• Process and pay employee expenses and ensure tax treatments are managed effectively
• Respond to employees if they have any queries relating to their expense
• Respond to queries from suppliers
• Management of credit card processing of sundry expenses
• Effectively manage the process of costing process around imports & landed costs and the payment of foreign suppliers
• Support the Finance budget process by providing the appropriate information
• Support the Finance audit process
• Work with the treasury function to develop payment strategies to enhance cashflow forecasts
• Highlight commercial opportunities within the purchase ledger such as increasing payments terms, settlement discounts and supplier rebates
• Ensure all early settlements discounts are obtained

Requirements

• Good team management skills
• Able to develop members in the team
• Excellent mathematical skills and strong analytical skills
• Competent with Excel spreadsheets
• Good understanding of VAT and other taxation rules
• Excellent time management skills and ability to work to deadlines
• Excellent attention to detail
• Good organisational skills and multi-tasking ability
• Good verbal communication
• Capable of working with minimal supervision
• Honesty
• Good record-keeping skills
• A team player

What you’ll get:

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Standard working hours: 8:30am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday
• 22 days’ annual leave, increasing by one day per year (up to 25), with the option to buy/sell up to 3 days
• After 6 months:
  • Life insurance
  • Company pension scheme
  • Cycle to Work scheme
  • Optional private healthcare scheme
• The option to become a shareholder in the business after 6 months employment

Covering letters and CV’s should be emailed to: Joey Turner, Recruitment Manager.  jturner@kitepackaging.co.uk