Accounts payable manager

Accounts Payable Manager

Reporting Lines and Key Interactions

Reports to the Head of Finance and works closely with Procurement, IT, suppliers, and banking institutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and manage the Accounts Payable team, setting clear priorities, expectations, and performance standards.
• Ensure the effective and efficient delivery of all Accounts Payable operations, maintaining high levels of accuracy, compliance, and service.
• Oversee month‑end, quarter‑end, and year‑end closing activities, ensuring timelines and quality standards are met.
• Act as the primary point of accountability for Accounts Payable, ensuring adherence to policies, controls, and accounting standards.
• Drive continuous improvement across processes, systems, and team capabilities.
• Lead and contribute to projects impacting Accounts Payable, including process optimization and system enhancements.
• Provide day‑to‑day leadership, coaching, and development to the Accounts Payable team.
• Maintain appropriate oversight of operations while actively supporting key tasks when required, especially during peak periods or complex cases.
• Oversee vendor payments, including wires and foreign currency transactions, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Monitor Accounts Payable ageing and proactively manage payment cycles and outstanding balances.
• Ensure completion, accuracy, and review of balance sheet reconciliations related to Accounts Payable.
• Ensure compliance with travel expense and Corporate Credit Card policies, taking corrective action where required.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with internal stakeholders, suppliers, and banking partners.
• Ensure consistent and accurate invoice processing and booking across the team.
• Lead or contribute to cross‑functional initiatives with Accounts Payable impact, ensuring alignment and delivery.

Requirements

• Degree in Finance, Accounting, or Business Administration.
• Professional accounting qualification (e.g., ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) or Swiss Brevet Federal in Accounting.
• 10 years of relevant professional experience, including proven experience managing and developing teams in Accounts Payable or a similar finance function.
• Strong track record of leading teams while remaining operationally credible and hands‑on when needed.
• Excellent technical accounting knowledge, including Swiss VAT and cost accounting principles.
• Strong systems and ERP experience, with the ability to drive process improvements.
• Experience leading or contributing to finance transformation or process improvement initiatives is highly desirable.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills across functions and seniority levels.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and problem‑solving skills.
• Fluent in English (written and spoken); French is an advantage.
• Pragmatic, proactive, and solution‑oriented, with strong leadership presence and a results‑driven mindset.