AP Lead

Position Description:

Lead and coordinate Accounts Payable (AP) operations for LATAM within a Global Business Services (GBS) model ensuring efficient service delivery through a hybrid model (in-house BPO provider). Responsible for operational performance vendor management SLA compliance and alignment with standardized processes.

This position will be responsible for a team of Analysts and Senior Analysts

Key Responsibilities

Service Delivery & Operations

Oversee end-to-end AP operations:

invoice processing 2/3-way match payments reconciliations and vendor queries

Ensure SLA compliance across both in-house team and BPO provider

Monitor backlog productivity and service quality

Support month-end close activities

BPO Management & Governance

Act as primary point of contact for the BPO provider

Monitor BPO performance against SLAs KPIs and contractual obligations

Conduct regular governance meetings (weekly/monthly reviews)

Manage escalations and ensure timely resolution of issues

Validate billing and service scope delivered by the BPO

Drive continuous improvement initiatives with the BPO partner

Team Coordination (In-house)

Coordinate daily activities of internal AP analysts

Allocate workload between in-house team and BPO

Provide guidance training and operational support

Ensure alignment in ways of working and process adherence

Quality Risk & Controls

Ensure compliance with internal controls and policies (including SOX if applicable)

Monitor risks such as duplicate payments errors and non-compliance

Ensure audit readiness across in-house and outsourced operations

Process Standardization & Improvement

Ensure adherence to GBS standard operating procedures (SOPs)

Identify process gaps and inefficiencies across both delivery models

Support automation and process improvement initiatives (OCR RPA workflows)

Stakeholder Management

Act as key contact for Finance Procurement and local market teams

Manage expectations and service performance across stakeholders

Provide updates on performance and issue resolution

Reporting & Performance Tracking

Track and report KPIs across in-house and BPO operations:

o SLA adherence

o Invoice cycle time

o On-time payment rate

o Backlog levels

Provide insights and recommendations to improve performance

Qualifications

Education

Bachelors degree in Accounting Finance Business Administration or related field

Experience

57 years of experience in Accounts Payable

Experience in GBS / Shared Services environments

Experience managing or working with BPO providers (highly preferred)

Prior experience coordinating teams

Skills & Competencies

ERP systems (SAP Oracle or similar)

Intermediate/Advanced Excel

Strong understanding of AP processes and controls

Experience with automation tools (a plus)

Solid people leadership and stakeholder management skills.

Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.

Ability to operate in a fast-paced high-volume environment.

Continuous improvement and service-oriented mindset.

Languages & Systems

Intermediate to advanced English

Experience with SAP

Advanced Excel and reporting/dashboarding tools.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Orientation and push for results.

Customer focus

Frustration resistance.

Analytic capacity.

High communication capacity.

Teamwork.

Creative problem resolution.

Managing skills

Follow up.

Leadership and responsibility.

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