Accounts Payable Specialist

John Crane, a business of Smiths Group, is a global leader in mission-critical flow control solutions for energy and process industries that enable efficient and sustainable operations. Our products include mechanical seals and systems, couplings, bearings, filtration systems, and predictive digital monitoring technologies. 

We have a global network of more than 200 sites in over 50 countries and employ more than 6,000 people worldwide. We partner with our customers to help them keep their operations safe, reduce downtime, improve efficiency, and meet the latest environmental standards. 

John Crane is part of Smiths Group. For over 170 years, Smiths has been pioneering progress by engineering for a better future. We serve millions of people every year, helping to create a safer, more efficient, productive, and better-connected world across four global markets: energy, security & defence, space & aerospace, and general industrial. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Smiths employs approximately 16,000 colleagues in over 50 countries. 

Job Purpose: The Accounts Payable Specialist is an important role in the Accounts Payable team to ensure the accurate processing and payment of vendor invoices and the operation of the related financial controls. The team uses the Esker Accounts Payable system to read all vendor invoices and integrate with SAP ERP system. The Accounts Payable Specialist will focus on supporting particular internal customers and work closely with stakeholders to resolve queries and issues to ensure invoices are processed accurately and paid in accordance with the agreed terms.

Responsibilities:

Duties will include but are not restricted to:

• Participate in SES Yellow Belt projects to improve processes and efficiency.
• Verify invoice information against purchase order details.
• Perform independent validation of vendor bank account information.
• Investigate and resolve supplier invoice and payment-related queries.
• Prepare SAP payment proposals and upload payment files to banking platforms.
• Review GRIR (Goods Receipt / Invoice Receipt) reports and follow up on missing invoices.
• Create and maintain employee vendor records in SAP.
• Lead weekly review meetings with Finance Controllers and Procurement teams.
• Support internal and external audit requirements.
• Work closely with Purchasing teams to resolve invoice and procurement issues.
• Clear AP-related bank reconciliation items in a timely manner.
• Reconcile vendor statements with SAP records.
• Review aged Accounts Payable balances and provide actions and comments for resolution.
• Process, reconcile, and clear direct debit transactions.
• Monitor the Concur SAP Cockpit and resolve any related issues.
• Provide support for additional Accounts Payable activities as required.

Technical Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• 5 to 7 years of Accounts Payable experience in a complex international organisation.
• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field.
• Strong working knowledge of SAP ECC6.
• Good understanding of international banking platforms, payment systems, and foreign currencies.
• Knowledge of VAT, GST, and other indirect tax requirements.
• Experience using OCR technology for invoice processing.
• Experience working in a Shared Service Centre environment.
• Ability to quickly learn new systems, tools, and processes.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Good verbal and written communication skills in business English.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills, especially Excel, including VLOOKUPs and Pivot Tables.
• Strong numerical and accounting knowledge.
• Excellent organisation and task management skills.

Planning and Decision Making:

•   The ability to work to deadlines and on different shifts, as applicable
•   A flexible approach and the ability to work on own initiative is essential.
•  A good team player

Impact and Scope: 

•   Ability to work in a Shared Service Centre environment for multiple companies from various countries 
•   Ability to cope with month end reporting, tight deadlines
•   Ability to create and maintain a good working environment within the finance team, independently manage actions and to resolve disputes

Key Internal and External Relationships: 

• Reporting to the AP Supervisor and interacting with Head of Accounts Payable SSC, as needed
• Local Procurement teams for resolving blocked invoices
• Financial Controllers for the approval of payment proposals and bank payments
• Contact with vendors to resolve queries and validate changes to sensitive financial information

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Group, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career’s website (Careers - Smiths Group plc)