Accounts Payable Team Lead

Overview of the role
The Accounts Payable Team Lead is responsible for overseeing the end-to-end accounts payable function, ensuring invoices, employee expense and vendor payments are processed accurately, efficiently, and in accordance with company policies and regulatory requirements. The role provides day-to-day leadership to the Accounts Payable team, supports stakeholder management, drives process improvements, and ensures service delivery standards and key performance indicators are consistently achieved. The role acts as the primary escalation point for operational issues and works closely with internal stakeholders, vendors, finance teams (onshore and offshore) to maintain a high-performing and customer focused AP function.

Main duties include:

Accounts Payable Operations

• Lead and oversee the end-to-end accounts payable process, including invoice receipt, validation,
• coding, approval workflows, and payment processing.
• Ensure accurate and timely processing of supplier invoices, employee expense claims, and corporate
• credit card transactions.
• Review and approve payment runs in accordance with delegated authorities and internal controls.
• Monitor invoice ageing, payment schedules, and outstanding liabilities, and keep them reasonable and
• up-to-date.
• Manage urgent payment requests and ensure appropriate approvals are obtained.
• Oversee reconciliation activities including supplier statements, Concur-to-SAP reconciliations, and
• payment exception management.
• Ensure all AP records are maintained accurately and comply with audit and regulatory requirements.
• Support month-end and year-end close processes, including accrual reporting and AP reconciliations.
• Ensure all audit-related activities, regulatory requirements as relevant, are performed and delivered
• timely and accurately.

Team Leadership and Resource Management

• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop Accounts Payable team members.
• Allocate workload and resources to ensure service levels are achieved.
• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings, performance discussions, and development planning.
• Coordinate onboarding (and offboarding), training, and upskilling activities.
• Provide technical guidance and support to team members.
• Act as the first point of escalation for complex queries and operational issues.
• Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and customer service excellence.

Stakeholder and Vendor Management

• Build and maintain effective working relationships with suppliers, internal customers, clients, business
• units, and finance teams.
• Ensure stakeholder queries are responded to promptly and professionally.
• Resolve invoice, payment, and supplier disputes in a timely manner.
• Partner with business stakeholders to improve approval turnaround times and process effectiveness.
• Support audit activities (external, internal, regulatory) by providing relevant information and
• documentation, walkthroughs, etc.

Governance, Controls and Compliance

• Ensure compliance with company policies, financial delegations, taxation requirements, and internal
• controls.
• Maintain segregation of duties and payment control frameworks.
• Monitor adherence to AP procedures and service standards.
• Identify operational risks and implement mitigating controls.
• Ensure audit findings and action items are completed within agreed timelines.

Process Improvement and Projects

• Identify opportunities to improve AP processes, controls, and system functionality.
• Support implementation of new systems, integrations, and process changes.
• Review and maintain process documentation, work instructions, and standard operating procedures.
• Actively participate in finance transformation initiatives and continuous improvement projects.
• Use reporting and data analysis to identify trends, risks, and performance improvement opportunities.