Accountant - Payment

JOB SUMMARY

The Accountant - Payment is responsible for the accurate and timely execution of day-to-day payment operations within the Shared Services environment. This role focuses on processing payment runs, handling vendor payment queries, and ensuring adherence to established procedures, internal controls, and SLAs.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Primary Business Partners:

• Accounts Payable (Invoicing Team)
• Shared Services Center Leadership
• Corporate and Regional Procurement Operation Team
• Regional and Local Finance & Accounting teams

Interfaces With:

• Operational and Commercial Teams
• Internal and external auditors
• 3rd party vendors/contributors
• Global Technology Support Teams

JOB SPECIFIC TASKS

Payment Operations

• Prepare and execute payment runs (bank transfers, cheques, electronic platforms) accurately and within SLA timelines.
• Validate payment proposals, ensuring:
• Correct due dates
• Appropriate approvals obtained
• Compliance with payment controls and policies
• Process urgent and ad-hoc payments with proper approval.
• Monitor and follow up on payment rejections and bank errors, escalating where required.

Accounts Payable Processing Support

• Support invoice readiness for payment (basic checks on completeness and accuracy).
• Coordinate with invoice processing team to resolve issues impacting payment timelines.
• Liaise with upstream teams to resolve issues that may delay payments.
• Ensure invoices are processed accurately to avoid payment delays or penalties.

Vendor & Bank Management

• Respond to vendor queries on payment status and remittance details.
• Assist with sending payment remittance advice.
• Support maintenance of vendor banking information following control procedures.

Reconciliation & Reporting

• Perform basic payment and bank reconciliations.
• Monitor overdue invoices and highlight issues.
• Track payment performance against KPIs (on-time payment %, exception rates).

Shared Services Operations & Controls

• Overall accountability for the shared services delivery of core financial processes
• Adhere strictly to company policies, SOPs, and SOX controls.
• Ensure complete documentation and audit trails for all transactions.
• Escalate control gaps or unusual transactions.

Continuous Improvement & Transformation

• Support process improvements and automation initiatives.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Preferred Education and Experience

• Diploma / Degree in Accounting or Finance
• 1–3 years AP or finance operations experience
• Basic knowledge of payment processing and ERP systems
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow procedures
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial systems

COMPETENCIES, BASIC SKILLS, PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Managing Execution

• Driving for Results – Meets deadlines and delivers high-quality outputs.
• Planning and Organizing – Prioritizes tasks effectively during close cycles.

Building Relationships

• Collaboration – Works effectively across teams and geographies.
• Customer Focus – Provides responsive support to internal stakeholders.

Learning and Applying Professional Expertise

• P2P Knowledge – Applies AP processes and controls effectively
• Continuous Improvement – Drives efficiency and automation
• Business Acumen – Understands impact of AP on cash flow and operations