Finance Manager - Group Payables

Overview:

The Finance Manager (Group Payables) is a high-impact ownership role. The incumbent takes full accountability for the Group's accounts payable function, driving best-in-class governance, payment controls, supplier relationships and working capital outcomes across a multi-currency, multi-entity environment.

This is a role for a technically strong, commercially curious finance professional who wants real ownership from day one. The successful candidate will lead the end-to-end supplier payment process, govern supplier master data across the Group, act as the primary control point within the AP cycle and be instrumental in shaping the future of the Group's procure-to-pay function through automation and process innovation.

Responsibilities: Accounts Payable Governance & Controls

• Own the end-to-end Group accounts payable process and all related internal controls.
• Ensure compliance with Group policies, delegated authorities and financial control frameworks.
• Maintain effective segregation of duties throughout the supplier onboarding, invoice processing and payment lifecycle.
• Identify control weaknesses or process gaps and drive corrective action to resolution.
• Act as the primary escalation point for AP-related risks, control breaches and supplier payment issues.
• Develop and maintain AP policies, process documentation and standard operating procedures.
• Champion a culture of control consciousness and accountability within the AP function.

Supplier Master Data Management

• Act as owner and custodian of the Group supplier master file.
• Review and approve supplier onboarding documentation to ensure completeness and compliance.
• Govern supplier master data maintenance across all Group entities.
• Review and approve all supplier master data changes, maintaining a full audit trail.
• Independently verify new supplier banking details and banking changes through documented callback procedures or other approved verification methods, to mitigate payment fraud risk.
• Monitor and report on supplier master file integrity and potential fraud indicators.
• Perform periodic reviews of supplier master data and dormant vendor records.

Payments, Cash Management & Working Capital

• Review and validate payment packs, supporting documentation and payment journals.
• Perform first-level release and approval of supplier payments in accordance with the Group approval matrix.
• Oversee payment execution across multiple banking platforms and currencies.
• Own and manage the Group payment calendar, communicating payment deadlines and cut-off times across the business.
• Monitor creditor obligations and ensure payments are made within agreed terms.
• Consolidate regional cash flow forecasts and assess short-term cash requirements for supplier and payroll obligations.
• Coordinate inter-account and inter-currency funding requirements to ensure sufficient liquidity per currency.
• Prepare and analyse creditor ageing reports and proactively escalate potential payment risks.
• Investigate rejected, returned or failed payments and ensure timely resolution, escalating fraud-related findings immediately.
• Communicate payment delays or exceptions to suppliers and internal stakeholders in a professional and timely manner.

Reconciliations & Financial Control

• Review and approve supplier reconciliations prior to payment release, ensuring all reconciling items are investigated and resolved.
• Administer payment beneficiary lists and payment templates across the Group's banking platforms, maintaining strict segregation of duties.
• Review employee expense claims for compliance with the Group Travel & Expense Policy.
• Analyse key operational spend categories and identify trends, risks and savings opportunities.
• Support monthly, quarterly and year-end close processes as required.

Audit & Compliance

• Prepare audit schedules and supporting documentation relating to accounts payable and cash management.
• Act as the primary liaison with external auditors on AP-related matters.
• Maintain audit readiness through accurate and complete supporting records.
• Support compliance with relevant tax, regulatory and statutory requirements affecting the payables cycle.
• Ensure sanctions screening protocols are applied to new vendors and changes to banking details.

Budgeting & Forecasting

• Support budgeting and forecasting activities through the provision of creditor, cash flow and working capital insights.
• Provide analysis of supplier spend patterns, working capital trends and payment terms performance.
• Contribute to scenario modelling and cash flow stress testing as required.

Systems, Process Improvement & Automation

• Act as process owner for the Group's procure-to-pay and accounts payable processes.
• Proactively identify opportunities to automate, streamline and strengthen controls across the AP function.
• Develop business cases for process improvement initiatives and technology investments.
• Partner with Finance, IT and operational teams to design, test and implement automation solutions.
• Lead or contribute to projects in workflow automation, payment processing, supplier onboarding, expense management and ERP optimisation.
• Define success measures and monitor the benefits realised from implemented changes.
• Drive standardisation and simplification of AP processes across all Group entities.
• Support administration and continuous improvement of the Group ERP and expense management systems.

Team Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Provide functional guidance, coaching and quality oversight to regional Finance Assistants and Assistant Accountants involved in AP activities.
• Build strong working relationships with suppliers, regional finance teams, treasury, tax and business stakeholders.
• Prepare and present periodic reporting on creditor ageing, payment performance, cash requirements, masterfile changes, control exceptions and process improvement progress.
• Represent the AP function in cross-functional projects, system implementations and process improvement initiatives.
• Act as a trusted finance partner to the business, providing clear and timely communication on payables matters.

Key Success Measures

• Payment accuracy and on-time payment performance across all Group entities and currencies.
• Zero unauthorised supplier master file changes; full audit trail maintained at all times.
• Strong external audit outcomes with no significant AP control findings.
• Effective management of working capital, liquidity and payment obligations.
• Successful delivery of automation and process improvement initiatives, with measurable efficiency gains.
• Reduction in manual intervention, processing cycle times and control exceptions.
• High quality supplier and internal stakeholder experience.
• Proactive identification and escalation of risks

Qualifications:

• CA(SA) Qualified with 2+ years post-articles experience.
• Demonstrated interest in or exposure to process improvement, automation, or finance transformation.
• Experience in or exposure to multi-currency or multinational environments.
• ERP system experience (Business Central or similar).
• Strong foundation in accounting principles, internal controls, and financial governance.
• Sound understanding of accounts payable processes, supplier master data controls, and payment risk management.
• Knowledge of fraud prevention controls applicable to supplier payments and banking detail changes.
• Understanding of working capital, cash flow, and basic treasury management concepts.
• ERP systems knowledge and an understanding of process design and workflow automation.
• Advanced Excel skills with proficiency in data analysis and reporting.
• Curiosity and aptitude for finance technology, automation tools, and digital transformation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a commercial mindset.
• Excellent writ