Accounts Payable Team Lead (APAC Operations)

Job description

Purpose of the Role Lead and develop Accounts Payable operations across APAC, ensuring timely and accurate invoice processing, payment execution, compliance, stakeholder management, and continuous process improvement. The role requires strong expertise in Japan Accounts Payable operations to drive process standardization, operational excellence, and stakeholder management while supporting broader APAC objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Lead end-to-end Accounts Payable operations across APAC. Serve as the AP subject matter expert for Japan Operations and ensure alignment with the AUMOVIO Accounting Standard Process Model. Lead, coach, and develop AP team members while ensuring service-level compliance. Act as the primary escalation point for AP issues involving suppliers, Finance, Purchasing, and business stakeholders across APAC, with a strong focus on Japan.

Drive process standardization, automation, and continuous improvement initiatives. Monitor and improve KPIs, including payment timeliness, backlog, exception rates, and stakeholder satisfaction. Lead root-cause analysis and resolution of invoice, GR/IR, master data, and payment issues. Support AP system enhancements, digital transformation, and workflow optimization. Ensure compliance with company policies, internal controls, and audit requirements.

Build strong stakeholder relationships and manage cross-functional initiatives across APAC. Alignment with the AUMOVIO Accounting Standard Process Model The AP Team Lead will: Drive standardization and harmonization of AP processes, particularly within Japan Operations. Ensure governance, compliance, and adherence to defined controls. Monitor end-to-end process performance through KPIs and SLAs. Promote continuous improvement, automation, and simplification.

Strengthen collaboration between AP, Purchasing, Master Data, Finance, and business stakeholders. Support digital transformation and increase touchless processing. Drive sustainable knowledge management, documentation, and capability development. Contribute to delivering efficient, scalable, customer-focused, and globally standardized business services.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field. Minimum 5 years of experience in Accounts Payable, P2P, Shared Services, or Finance Operations. Minimum 3 years of people management experience. Strong SAP and end-to-end AP process knowledge. Demonstrated expertise in Japan Accounts Payable operations, including stakeholder management, process standardization, operational excellence, and issue resolution.

Proven experience driving automation, process improvements, and transformation initiatives. Strong analytical, problem-solving, project management, and leadership skills. Business-level English; Japanese language capability is highly preferred.

Preferred Experience

Extensive experience supporting Japanese business operations and suppliers. Proven track record in reducing payment delays, improving supplier satisfaction, and increasing automation. Experience leading operational transformation, process harmonization, and continuous improvement programs. Experience managing complex stakeholder and escalation management within Japan operations.