Purpose of the Role
The Senior Accounts Payable Manager will lead transformation and delivery of Accounts Payable operations based in Mumbai, supporting EMEA and APAC regions.
This role is critical in establishing a high-performing, scalable AP function, embedding a culture of:
- Accountability and ownership
- Continuous improvement and innovation
- Proactive issue resolution
- Best-in-class customer service to internal stakeholders and suppliers
The role will ensure robust financial controls, standardised processes, and operational excellence across the end-to-end Purchase-to-Pay (P2P) cycle.
Key Responsibilities
Service Delivery & Operational Leadership
- Lead AP operations (invoice processing, payments, escalations, query resolution) across EMEA & APAC
- Ensure delivery against SLAs, KPIs, and accuracy targets with a focus on quality and timeliness
- Act as escalation point for complex supplier and stakeholder issues
- Oversee payment cycles, cash flow alignment, and compliance with approval matrices and policies
Build & Scale the AP Function
- Play a key role in implementing and improving the AP operating model across EMEA & APAC
- Recruit, onboard, and develop a high-performing AP team
- Establish clear structures, roles, responsibilities, and career pathways
- Drive effective workload allocation aligned to global demand and regional complexity
Culture & Leadership
- Build a high-performance, customer-centric team culture focused on ownership, accountability, and collaboration
- Lead and inspire teams driving engagement and retention
- Promote a mindset of proactivity (not reactivity)—identifying issues before they impact stakeholders
Continuous Improvement & Transformation
- Lead initiatives to standardise, simplify, and optimise AP processes
- Identify opportunities for automation, efficiency gains, and cost optimisation
- Drive implementation of SOPs, process taxonomy, and best practices
- Leverage data and metrics to identify trends, reduce defects, and improve service delivery
Stakeholder & Supplier Management
- Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders (Strategic Sourcing, Treasury, Tax, wider Finance)
- Ensure a high level of service and responsiveness to business queries
- Drive improvements in supplier experience, reducing aged queries and disputes
Governance, Risk & Compliance
- Ensure adherence to global finance policies, controls, and audit requirements
- Maintain a robust control environment across AP processes
- Support internal and external audits, ensuring timely and accurate deliverables
- Monitor and mitigate financial and operational risks
Performance & Reporting
- Establish and track KPIs (e.g., cycle times, backlog, query ageing, payment accuracy)
- Provide regular reporting and insights to senior finance leadership
- Use data to drive accountability and continuous improvement
Key Skills & Experience
- Significant experience in Accounts Payable / P2P operations within a global or multi-region environment
- Proven track record of building or transforming AP functions
- Experience leading multi-country teams across EMEA & APAC
- Strong background in process improvement, automation, and system implementation
- Strong leadership and team development capability
- Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills at senior level
- Data-driven decision making with strong analytical capability
- Ability to operate in a fast-paced, complex global environment
- Strong communication skills with global stakeholders
- Customer-first mindset—delivers high-quality service with a solutions focus
- Proactive and forward-thinking—anticipates issues and drives outcomes
- Continuous improvement mindset—challenges the status quo and drives change
- Ownership and accountability—acts decisively and takes responsibility
- Collaborative, inclusive, and culturally aware leadership style
Please note that this role is based at Mumbai.
