Accounts Payable Lead

Job Overview

The Accounts Payable Lead, located in Malaysia, is responsible for managing the comprehensive accounts payable operations for the company’s Australian business sector. This role ensures that supplier invoices and payments are processed correctly, punctually, and in accordance with compliance standards. The position oversees daily accounts payable functions, manages month-end closing procedures and reporting, addresses escalations, and fosters process enhancements while adhering to group internal controls and policies. As a vital liaison for stakeholders, the AP Lead aids in audits and plays a significant role in promoting efficiency, accuracy, and ongoing improvement throughout the procure-to-pay (P2P) cycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the complete invoice processing cycle, which includes reviewing, approving, and guiding the offshore team in preparing invoice batches and payment runs.
• Guarantee precise coding, approvals, and timely processing in alignment with group-standard accounts payable and General Ledger protocols for both external and intercompany vendors.
• Supervise the AP inbox and workflow queues to ensure processing service level agreements (SLAs) are met.
• Address invoice discrepancies (such as pricing or quantity mismatches and missing approvals) in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
• Manage urgent and escalated payment requests, responding swiftly to inquiries from vendors and internal business partners.
• Track aged payables and consistently follow up on outstanding items.
• Analyze and resolve GR/IR and unmatched purchase order reports by facilitating discussions with relevant stakeholders.
• Collaborate with the Procurement team on vendor setup and modifications.
• Engage with stakeholders regarding supplier payment listings and expenditure forecasts.
• Reconcile the accounts payable subledger with the General Ledger at the end of each month.
• Address intercompany reconciliation challenges in partnership with teams throughout the organization.
• Review aged creditors and deliver summary reports to the supervisor.
• Minimize parked invoices and ensure adherence to cut-off procedures.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual tax reports (e.g., Payroll Tax, BAS, Withholding Tax, FBT) in compliance with statutory obligations, ensuring timely submission and payment to prevent penalties.
• Interface with internal and external auditors, tax authorities, and regulatory agencies as necessary.
• Assist local and regional teams with forecasts, expense and capital expenditure trend analyses, global reporting commentary, and the preparation of consolidated reports.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related discipline, or possess a relevant professional accounting qualification.
• 3–4 years of experience in a business environment, preferably in accounts payable or the procure-to-pay process.
• Experience in generating financial and Management Information System (MIS) reports, along with participation in budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis.
• Proficient in SAP and highly skilled in Microsoft Excel.
• Comfortable operating within a consolidation software environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, maintaining the highest accuracy standards.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to foster relationships across various stakeholders.
• Highly organized, self-driven, and adept at managing competing priorities.
• Willingness to work additional hours during critical business deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with reporting tools like Clarity, Hyperion, or Power BI.
• Knowledge of Australian tax and statutory compliance (BAS, FBT, Payroll Tax, Withholding Tax).
• Experience overseeing or managing an offshore or shared services accounts payable team.
• Background in intercompany reconciliation within a multinational or group context.