p2p sr. manager

GENERAL FUNCTION

The Senior Manager, Procure-to-Pay (P2P), is accountable for the execution, governance, and operational leadership of the end-to-end P2P operating model for North America.

The role ensures consistent, compliant, and efficient execution across Accounts Payable, PR-to-PO processes, accruals, GR/IR, vendor liabilities, backlog management, and payment readiness, in full alignment with GAAP/IFRS, SOX, and corporate control standards.

Acts as a senior leader within the P2P organization, translating P2P leadership priorities into operational plans, performance management, and sustainable results. Partners closely with Finance, Procurement, Treasury/Cash Banking, Internal Controls, and Audit to maintain an audit-ready, low-risk P2P environment at all times.

MAJOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• P2P Operating Model Execution
• Executes and governs the P2P operating model and priorities established by P2P leadership.
• Ensures consistent application of standard P2P processes across entities and business units (PR, PO, GR, Invoice).
• Enforces discipline on 3-way match, invoice exception handling, approvals/workflows, vendor statements, backlog reduction, and payment readiness.
• Accounts Payable, process & Vendor Liability Governance
• Owns
  end-to-end process governance
  , including visibility, prioritization, aging control, and burn-down plans.
• Drives sustained reduction of overdue and aging invoices, with clear weekly and monthly targets.
• Oversees AP execution, including invoice processing, exception resolution, escalations, and service recovery.
• Ensures vendor liabilities are complete, accurate, approved, and properly supported.
• Backlog Analytics & Burn-Down Management
• Defines backlog segmentation and tracking (not due vs overdue, aging buckets, root cause).
• Establishes weekly backlog burn-down plans and monitors actual vs forecast.
• Uses analytics to identify systemic drivers (PR/PO gaps, receiving delays, pricing, tax, master data).
• Escalates and coordinates cross-functional actions to prevent backlog recurrence.
• PR / PO & Upstream Process Discipline
• Governs PR-to-PO processes, approval workflows, release strategies, and segregation of duties.
• Partners with Procurement and PO Expeditors to improve PO quality and reduce backlog-creating defects.
• Identifies and escalates upstream process failures impacting backlog, controls, or service levels.
• Month-End Close & Accounting Integrity
• Ensures timely and accurate accruals for uninvoiced receipts and services.
• Oversees GR/IR aging, reconciliation, and cleanup.
• Ensures backlog and open liabilities are appropriately reflected in financial close.
• Identify Risk and Opportunities for P&L perspective
• Expert Credit and debit / P&L and BS impacts
• Payments Readiness & Coordination
• Ensures invoices and vendor liabilities are
  payment-ready
  (accurate, approved, compliant) and coordinates with Cash Banking/Treasury for timely payment execution.
• Maintains understanding of payment methods, bank cut-offs, and settlement timelines, respecting segregation of duties.
• Partners with Cash Banking/Treasury to resolve payment exceptions or rejections and prevent recurrence.
• Controls, Risk & Compliance
• Maintains strong automated and manual controls across AP and backlog management.
• Ensures compliance with GAAP/IFRS, SOX, and internal control standards.
• Acts as a key operational contact for Internal Audit and External Audit related to AP/backlog topics.
• Expertise handling Roles, t codes and responsibilities according SOD's
• Performance Management & KPIs
• Defines and drives KPIs including backlog aging, % overdue, burn-down rate, on-time payment %, cycle time, GR/IR aging, and DPO, Debit balance, aged items, Etc
• Leads weekly backlog reviews and monthly performance reviews.
• Implements corrective actions to stabilize performance during peak periods.
• People Leadership
• Leads and develops AP/P2P Managers and Supervisors ( Wholesale, Retail)
• Establishes standard work, backlog ownership, and escalation paths.
• Builds technical capability across accounting fundamentals, PR/PO discipline, and backlog resolution.
• Continuous Improvement & Technology
• Executes CI initiatives focused on backlog reduction, automation, and exception prevention.
• Partners with IT on SAP/Oracle AP enhancements, workflows, OCR/IDP, EDI, and reporting tools.
• Uses dashboards and analytics to drive backlog transparency and accountability.
• People Development: Builds leadership pipeline; trains Supervisors and teams on policy, systems, analytics, and problem-solving; fosters a culture of accountability and customer service.
• BI/ Visual Basic, RPA knowledge
• Integrations & Transitions
• Knowledge in Due Diligence
• POC, UAT, SIT definitions
• SLA, SLP definitions

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• 8–12+ years of experience in P2P, Accounts Payable, and Accounting operations/ Purchasing
• 3–5+ years leading through people leaders (Supervisors and/or Managers).
• Strong accounting foundation: accruals, GR/IR, vendor liabilities, reconciliations, month-end close.
• Techincal Knowledge in AP / Accounting / Purchasing in SAP/Oracle
• Proven experience managing and reducing AP backlogs.
• Solid understanding of PR-to-PO processes and 3-way
• Hands-on experience with SAP (MM / FI-AP); Oracle AP preferred.
• Experience operating in SOX and audit-driven environments.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field (required).

SUCCESS MEASURES

• Sustained reduction in overdue invoices and AP backlog.
• Predictable backlog burn-down with clear forecasts.
• Improved on-time payment performance and supplier satisfaction.
• Timely and accurate accruals and GR/IR reconciliation.
• Reduced audit findings and control exceptions.
• Stable execution during month-end and year-end close.
• Design PO procedures