Accounts Payable & Receivable Manager – Global Luxury Business

COMPANY:

Our client is a global luxury retailer based in London. Due to internal promotion, they are looking for a AP & AR Manager to support the Financial Controller and run a best in class team.

ROLE PURPOSE

• Lead a global accounts payable and accounts receivable book with multiple direct reports in a SAP environment.

• Accountable to ensure a full end to end accounts payable process from managing purchase orders, invoice processing, payments, statement reconciliation and vendor queries.

• Accountable for ensuring that the debtors aging is effectively maintained and monitored and for overseeing credit control for the Corporate and Wholesale distribution channels.

• Enforce compliance with the relevant company policies and procedures as well as identifying and driving improvements.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Lead all areas of the accounts payable function in multiple regions (currently UK, Hong Kong, France and US) including:
  • Management of the vendor master record and intercompany accounts
  • Management of direct debits and standing orders
  • Collaboration with all departments and levels within the company on purchase order status and recording of expense
  • Ensuring accurate payment run production within cash flow targets set
  • Reconciliation of supplier accounts for stock and non-stock vendors
  • Management of staff expenses and corporate credit card accounts
  • Performing month end close and reconciliation of the ledgers
  • Escalation point for vendor and internal queries
  • Providing relevant information to the Financial Controller and Finance Director
• Oversee the accounts receivable and credit control function and set credit limits on SAP for new and existing customers.
• Directly responsible for the following balance sheet items, including provision of month end reconciliations:

  • Accounts Payable

  • Accounts Receivable

  • Intercompany

  • Prepayments

  • Accruals

  • Fixed Assets

• Lead the set-up of new stores/regions/countries with accounts payable, cash and banking functionalities. Delegate and support your direct reports on the day to day workload.
• Review of new contracts to provide feedback to business partners and to communicate contractual requirements to the remainder of the finance team. Maintenance of a schedule setting out lease obligations in order to update for new contracts entered into and to ensure that obligations are correctly reflected within the management accounts.
• Provide day to day management of the purchase ledger and accounts receivable team, motivating and leading the team you will also lead the way in developing processes and efficiencies.
• Performance management of staff including setting objectives for the team and monthly appraisals.
• Lead the accounts payable and accounts receivable function during the interim and March year end audit process in relation to balance sheet areas of responsibility and related processes.

CANDIDATE EXPERIENCE

• A solid working knowledge of SAP and Microsoft excel essential

• Proven experience within a fast paced, high volume global accounts payable function at a Team Leader or Manager level for at least 2 years

• Some prior experience within credit control and in working with corporate/wholesale business channels

• Direct line management of two or more team members essential

• Ability to identify issues and use own initiative to solve problems

• Good communication and ability to work collaboratively with all departments and management levels within the company and external stakeholders.

• Strong organisational skills with ability to prioritise and meet deadlines

• Enthusiastic, self-motivated and hardworking individual

• College course in accounting essential, CIMA or ACCA qualification desirable