Job Description
Accounts Assistant, Payables
Advert Reference Number:  1157
Job Location:  Milton Keynes
Department:  Treasury Services
Salary:  £24,685 to £26,707
Closing Date:  22 October 2025
Weekly Working Hours:  37
Contract Type:  Fixed Term Contract
Fixed Term Contract: End Date:  FTC for 12 Months
Welsh Language:  Not Applicable

Change your career, change lives

The Open University is the UK’s largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education. Find out more about us and our mission by watching this short video (you will be taken to YouTube by clicking this link).

About the Role

We are currently seeking an Accounts Assistant to join us in our busy Treasury and Financial Operations team. We provide support to the University and the specialist teams in Finance and Business Services for transactional processing, administration, reconciliation, controls and assurance, working to agreed procedures.

Key Responsibilities

  • Process supplier invoices and credit notes from receipt to available for payment.
  • Process service entry sheets in SAP Ariba.
  • Manage supplier invoice queries through to resolution.
  • Manage changes to supplier details.
  • Carry out supplier statement reconciliations; investigate and resolve differences.
  • Process payments.
  • Adhere to transactional VAT rules.
  • Maintain compliance with GDPR, Student Data Retention and other OU policies.

About You

Essential:

  • Experience of Accounts Payable processing.
  • Possess good book-keeping skills and knowledge.
  • Ability to support and drive continuous improvement with transactional processes.
  • Ability to build and maintain relationships effectively.
  • Ability to adapt to new financial systems and processes.
  • Ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines and to prioritise a variety of tasks.
  • Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills both written & oral including telephone.
  • Knowledge and application of IT skills.
  • Understanding of VAT rules.
  • Understanding of confidentiality and GDPR relating to data management.

 

Desirable: 

  • Some exposure to SAP 4/HANA or Ariba would be preferred but not essential

Support with your application

If you have any questions, or need support or adjustments relating to your application, the recruitment process, or the role, please contact us on 01908 541111 or email careers@open.ac.uk quoting the advert reference number.

What's in it for you?

At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance. Get all the details of what benefits we offer by visiting our Staff Benefits page (clicking this link will open a new window).

Flexible working

We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.

It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where you can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. We’d expect this to be three days per week (Tuesday - Thursday).

Next steps in the Recruitment process

Interviews are anticipated to take place in early November. 

Early closing date notification

We may close this job advert earlier than the published closing date where a satisfactory number of applications are received. We would therefore encourage early applications.

How to apply

To apply for this role you will need to;

  • Submit your CV which clearly evidences how you meet the skills and experience required.
  • Complete the additional application questions within our online application form.

 

You can view your progress and application communications when you are logged into our recruitment system.  Please check your spam/junk folders if you do not receive associated email updates.

Information at a Glance
Share this job

Contact us

If you have any queries or questions about the recruitment process, or regarding your application, please contact: Careers@open.ac.uk.

Looking for Associate Lecturer (AL) roles?

Please use our AL home page to find AL vacancies.

Search AL vacancies now >

The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential.  We recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and culture, and that this difference brings great strength.  We strive to recruit, retain and develop the careers of a diverse pool of students and staff, and particularly encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services and staff networks.