Accounts Payable Manager

Role Overview

A leading global organization is seeking a Manager, Accounts Payable to oversee end-to-end payables operations across multiple legal entities. Reporting to the Finance Controller, this role leads a team of AP specialists, acts as the primary liaison between Finance, Procurement, and external vendors, and drives automation, process standardization, and strong internal controls - all in alignment with US GAAP and company policies.This is a great opportunity for an experienced AP leader who wants to shape a high-performing team, modernize the P2P process, and partner across the business in a fast-paced, multi-entity environment.

What You'll Do

Team Leadership & DevelopmentBuild, mentor, and manage a team of AP Specialists and Senior Associates - setting clear KPIs, conducting regular reviews, and enabling continuous skill developmentAllocate workloads effectively to ensure metric adherence across invoice processing, vendor master maintenance, payment runs, T&E expense management, and period-end close.

Invoice & Payment ProcessingOversee the end-to-end Procure-to-Pay (P2P) cycle including PO creation and approval monitoring, 2-way/3-way matching (PO-Invoice-Receipt), invoice processing with business-level approval, and payment execution via banking platformEnsure accurate and timely processing of vendor invoices across multiple business units; monitor AP aging to maintain optimal DPOReview and approve high-value payment batches; manage escalation of exceptions and discrepancies in coordination with Procurement and business stakeholdersMonitor and maintain direct debit payment trackingOversee employee expense reimbursements in compliance with company policies.

Month-End Close & ReportingLead AP month-end and year-end close - ensure all invoices are posted, accruals are raised for open POs and uninvoiced services, and AP accounts are reconciled to the GLPrepare and review AP sub-ledger aging reports, vendor reconciliation statements, and balance sheet schedules; present variance analyses and KPI dashboards to the Finance ControllerCoordinate with the GL/Reporting team to ensure AP transactions are correctly reflected in financial statements in line with US GAAP and company accounting policies.

Vendor & Stakeholder ManagementMaintain strong working relationships with key vendors and business stakeholders to promptly resolve payment disputes, debit balances, and aged creditsCollaborate closely with Procurement to streamline the P2P process, onboard new vendors, and maintain accurate vendor master dataServe as the primary point of contact for internal and external auditors on AP-related queries, providing schedules and reconciliations as required.

Systems, Automation & Process ImprovementLeverage ERP platforms (NetSuite, Oracle, Dayforce, SAP, or MS Dynamics) and travel management platforms (Concur, Navan) to drive automation of invoice capture, approval workflows, and payment processingIdentify and champion process improvement initiatives - reducing manual touchpoints, improving straight-through processing (STP) rates, and implementing e-invoicing solutionsSupport Finance and ERP upgrades, system migrations, and integration of new entities or business units into the AP platformDefine and enforce Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Risk and Control Matrix (RACM), and Delegation of Authority (DoA) for all AP processes; ensure SOX controls are operating effectively.

Decision-Making & ScopeApprove vendor payments within defined Delegation of Authority (DoA) limitsPartner with Procurement on vendor onboarding, PO lifecycle management, and exception handlingCollaborate with Finance-IT and ERP teams on system enhancements, integrations, and upgradesEngage with external auditors and tax authorities to resolve queries and provide audit support

What You'll Bring

MBA (Finance); CA Inter or CMA Inter is a strong plus7-10 years of progressive Finance & Accounting experience; minimum 3 years in a supervisory AP or P2P roleHands-on experience managing end-to-end AP operations including invoice processing, payment runs, and period-close activitiesProficiency in at least one major ERP - NetSuite, SAP, Oracle Financials, Dayforce, or MS DynamicsAdvanced Microsoft Excel - pivot tables, XLOOKUP, SUMIFS, Power Query; Power BI or similar reporting tools a plusStrong written and verbal English communication skills; able to engage effectively with senior stakeholders, vendors, and global counterpartsDemonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to identify root causes and implement lasting process fixesProven ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment

Preferred Qualifications

Experience working in a Global Business Services / Shared Services environment supporting global clientsExposure to multi-currency transactions, intercompany AP settlements, and foreign vendor paymentsPrior experience with SAP Concur or similar travel & expense / procurement platformsFamiliarity with AP automation tools (Coupa, Ariba)Experience using Claude or similar AI platforms for automation initiativesExperience in the pharmaceutical, life sciences, or technology sector

Please note that this is a confidential search. We kindly ask that all candidates keep details of this opportunity and any related conversations private throughout the recruitment process.