Director, Accounts Payable

Overview

The Director of Accounts Payable in the Enterprise Services Center (ESC) is responsible for strategy formulation, operating model design (and service delivery), and prioritization of all related initiatives, as well as day to day operations within the function.

The Director has full responsibility for ensuring payables transaction processing, including corresponding payment, for goods and services are properly authorized and accounted for in a timely manner in compliance with corporate policies.

The Director Will

• Operate the day-to-day Accounts Payable function and department. This includes ensuring all controls are in place and adhered to, team staffing is appropriate to fully service the function, and that compliance with all regulations and company policies is properly achieved.
• Collaborate with all key stakeholders including field operations, corporate department heads, corporate finance, legal, auditors (internal and external); ensure stakeholder satisfaction is routinely measured and that actions are taken to make corrections and add improved value on a consistent basis.
• Oversee the design, development, and deployment of standard processes across the enterprise. The Director provides stewardship, in collaboration with other key stakeholders, to assure that quality, operating, financial, and customer satisfaction objectives are achieved.
• Approve, document, and communicate any approved exceptions from standard processes and policies.
• Collaborate with stakeholders, ESC leaders and AP direct reports to determine key performance indicators and operational metrics to measure and report quality and efficiency of processes. This includes determining the most appropriate information capture process and reporting frequency to establish target objectives for continuous process improvement and/or to meet strategic changes in business objectives.
• Evaluate, recommend, prioritize, and oversee deployment of relevant enabling technology. This will include identification of emerging software tools, feasibility evaluation (economic and functional), potential automation, analytical data benefits and coordination of deployment.
• Recommend new services could include vertical extension of scope into thought and knowledge-based work, as well as horizontal expansion across geography or internal functions.
  
  

Other Areas May Include

• Credit Card Administration
• Program consisting of 3,400 credit card holders.
• Recommend and implement process improvements.
• Liaises with key stakeholders, including Procurement and UK team
• Master Data Management
• Ensure master data within the ERP follows financial reporting requirements
• Manage access provision for the company, including the SOD process.
• Manage month-end/quarter end close process
• Audit Coordination:
• Act as the liaison between the ESC and internal and external audit to coordinate SOX Reviews and audit responses
• Review and provide guidance for updating all documentation for the ESC as required (including Internal Control Process Flowcharts, Department Protocols, Desk Level Procedures and System Operating Manual.)
• Review, distribute and implement SOX guidance as it is issued and modify procedures and controls.
  

INTERNAL REPORTING RELATIONSHIP(S)

Reports to: Vice President, Enterprise Services Center

Direct Reports (probable)

• Senior Manager of Accounts Payable;
• Supervisors of Accounts Payable (3)
  
  

EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIP(S)

• Collaborates with Procurement division stakeholders to evaluate end to end process health metrics, as well as to evaluate process improvement and technology enhancement ideas.
• Collaborate with process stakeholders (such as IT, the project management office, etc.) to identify current and future service delivery opportunities, evaluate technology design modifications, identify/communicate legitimate policy exceptions, and consider enabling technology.
• Liaises with other key stakeholders as to the performance of the service delivery network.
• Liaises with other key stakeholders regarding financial controls and regulatory compliance. These stakeholders would include Auditors (internal, external – financial statement, municipal, federal, etc.), Financial Reporting, Tax, Financial Planning and Analysis.
  
  

POSITION ACTIVITIES AND TASKS

Strategy (25%)

• Develop strategy and establish policy of a global nature for the P2P process, identifying and documenting regulatory exceptions and other genuine exceptions.
• Establish strategic 3-year plan with underlying assumptions pertaining to sourcing, process, technology, and workforce development.
• Design internal organization and/or outsource relationship (where applicable) with capability to deliver against strategic objectives.
• Collaborate with various functional leadership to identify investment in relevant technology to drive efficiency and improve service levels.
• Liaise with external peer group and professional associations to identify trends in processing, technology, service offerings, and sourcing and emerging markets.
  
  

Execution (50%)

• Accountable for coordinating with the transition team to assure successful migration of all in scope activities to the consolidated locations, either captive or outsourced.
• Accountable for assuring successful implementation of standard global processes and enabling technology, evaluating end-to-end process performance and affecting necessary design or execution adjustments.
• Monitor and assure achievement of annual operating budget and key performance metrics.
• Monitor and ensure achievement of customer service requirements as defined by both formal Service Level Agreements as well as Customer Satisfaction (Net Promoter) surveys.
• Assure Change Management plans related to both sourcing transition and process modification are developed, implemented, and executed.
• Assure that the appropriate internal control environment and SOX compliance are maintained along with compliance to all legal and regulatory requirements.
  
  

Building Capabilities (20%)

• Mentor and coach direct reports and assist direct reports in managing their teams.
• Implement formal career path and succession plans in conjunction with the Corporate Finance to identify and develop key talent for future roles.
• Assure achievement of all objectives related to workforce management, including turnover, talent development, and diversity.
• Evaluate emerging financial/processing practices and technology for applicability to ABM.
• Evaluates and recommends placement of high performing talent in leadership roles within the internal and/or captive organization.
  
  

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS *

Education Level Required

Undergraduate degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or similar field.

Education Level Preferred

MBA or MS in Finance or Accounting

Experience Required

• 10+ years related business, Accounts Payable, Accounting, Finance or transaction processing experience. Preferably in a shared services environment.
• 5+ years’ experience in the management of a large team in a financial processing organization
• Project Management experience in the area of technology implementation.
  
  

Experience Preferred

• Experience with End-to-End Process Ownership in Finance Shared Services environment with strong understanding of KPIs, SLAs and other process metrics.
• Practical Accounts Payable (procurement, vendor management, payables) operations experience.
• Familiarity with Lean/Six Sigma concepts to support process continuous improvement.
• Experience with formalized change management programs is highly preferred.
• Experience with other transaction processing activities (i.e., record-to-report, order-to-cash, finance supply chain) is highly preferable.
• IT system implementation and P2P process automation (RPA, AI/machine learning) experience is desired
  
  

Technical Knowledge And Skills

• Proven managerial abilities and leadership capabilities.
• Proven effective communication capabilities with all levels of Finance personnel and with the Finance Leadership
• Proven knowledge of U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, along with demonstrated ability to analyze financial information and provide solutions to issues.
• Ability to lead a team and an organization from a strategic level, while managing concurrently details on multiple concurrent tasks while meeting various deadlines.
• Proficient in MS Office Suite of programs.
• Preferred experience with Oracle Fusion.
• Proven ability to work both individually and within a team environment, build strong relationships and maintain rapport with peers, Corporate Finance and Executive teams.
• Excellent oral and written communication.
• Proven project management ability.
  
  

CERTIFICATION(S) AND LICENSE(S)

CPA or other professional designations a plus

Benefit Information

ABM offers a comprehensive benefits package. For information about ABM’s benefits, visit ABM Employee Benefits | Staff & Management