Account Assistant (Payables)

Exciting new opportunity in travel retail, supporting a fast-paced retail and food service business, where every day brings new opportunities to grow and make an impact!

Job purpose:

We’re looking for an Accounts Assistant to join our team on a, supporting the smooth and efficient running of our UK & Ireland finance operations. You’ll play a key role in maintaining accurate financial records, processing payments, and ensuring suppliers are paid on time. This role suits someone with great attention to detail, a can-do attitude, and a passion for keeping things running seamlessly behind the scenes.

Contract: 37.5 hours per week

Benefits: Simplyhealth cash plan, Retail Trust, life insurance, and up to 25% in-store discounts

Key Responsibilities:

Invoice Processing

• Process a high volume of supplier invoices with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ensure correct coding, VAT treatment, approval routing, and supporting documents.
• Match invoices to purchase orders and follow approval workflows.
• Flag discrepancies or missing information promptly.

AP Inbox Management

• Monitor the AP inbox throughout the day.
• Keep inbox organised and ensure invoices and queries are handled within agreed timeframes.
• Prioritise urgent items such as reminders, payment‑run requests, or supplier chases.

Supplier Communication

• Respond to supplier queries in a clear and professional manner.
• Resolve issues around pricing, invoicing errors, missing POs/approvals, or payment timing.
• Maintain positive relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders.

Payment Run Support

• Prepare fortnightly payment runs by identifying approved invoices ready for payment.
• Check supplier bank details, due dates, and invoice accuracy before inclusion.
• Support the review process by ensuring all required documents and approvals are complete.
• Assist with updating payment files and communicating payment statuses when needed.

AP Reporting

• Help maintain aged creditor reports and follow up on long‑outstanding items.
• Identify duplicate invoices, incorrect balances, or coding issues and resolve them.
• Support clean‑up of supplier accounts to make sure ledgers are accurate and up to date.

Qualifications:

• Experience using SAP desirable
• 2 years relevant experience
• Experience of dealing with large volume of complex invoices
• Experience of dealing with multi-currency

Key Skills:

• Good understanding of double‑entry, invoicing, and reconciliations.
• Solid Excel skills (filters, lookups, pivots desirable).
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy under time pressure.
• Clear, professional communication with both internal teams and external suppliers/customers.

Our values: Can you feel the HEAT?

Whatever role you deliver for Lagardère Travel Retail, part of your responsibility is to represent and uphold our company values everyday:

HONESTY – Working ethically | Fostering a culture of openness | Treating each other fairly | Being considerate
EXCELLENCE – Delivering first class customer service | Upholding high store standards | Showcasing prestigious brands
AGILITY – Working in a fast-paced environment | Adapting well to change | Always striving to improve
TEAM SPIRIT – Working together as one team | Supporting each other | Being active partners in our wider communities

Our company:

One of the two divisions of the Lagardère group, Lagardère Travel Retail is a pioneering global leader in the travel retail industry and the only operator to have established a comprehensive and world-recognised leadership across multiple business activities.

Cumulating more than 170 years of experience in travel retail since the opening of the first bookstore in 1852 at Paris Gare de Lyon, we deliver new experiences for travelers every day.

Operating over 5,000 stores across Travel Essentials, Duty Free & Fashion and Foodservice in airports, railway stations and other concessions in 42 countries worldwide, we generated €5.2bn sales in 2022.

At Lagardère Travel Retail we believe an inclusive and diverse culture can help businesses and people thrive. We are committed to create a work environment where our people can fulfil their potential and be themselves and to support each and every one of them in achieving their ambitions. We welcome and consider all applicants regardless of their background and can ensure all candidates will receive a fair and equal treatment.