We are looking for a senior finance professional to join our newly created Shared Service Centre in Warsaw, Poland.

Leadership and Team Management:

• Lead and manage a team of accounts payable professionals across multiple European locations.
• Provide guidance, mentorship, and support to team members, fostering their professional growth.
• Set clear performance expectations and conduct regular performance reviews

Process Improvement:

• Continuously evaluate and enhance accounts payable processes to maximize efficiency and accuracy.
• Develop KPIs for the Accounts Payable function to track performance and efficiency.
• Develop and implement Service Level Standards and conduct Accounts Payable internal service surveys at appropriate times
• Identify areas for automation and implement them bringing and adopting best practice processes
• Collaborate with key stakeholders such as Procurement, Finance and SAP CoE teams
• Ensure compliance with local tax regulations and accounting standards.

Vendor Management and internal stakeholder management:

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key vendors and suppliers as well as key internal stakeholders
• Support Procurement in negotiating payment terms and discounts to optimize cash flow while maintaining positive vendor relations.
• Ensure that vendor and internal stakeholder inquiries and disputes are promptly resolved.
• Assess and deliver any necessary trainings, collaborating with Procurement, to the business and functional owners on improving the understanding of the Procure -to-Pay process and the role of Accounts Payable

Financial Reporting:

• Prepare and present accounts payable reports and analysis to senior management on a regular basis.
• Collaborate with the Finance team to ensure accurate financial data is provided for reporting purposes, in particular: prepayments, accruals and goods/services received for which no invoice received yet.
• Ensure a monthly review of all vendor ageing is performed and any past due balances are followed up and any debit balances fully justified and appropriately resolved

Compliance and Audit:

• Ensure compliance with internal policies and procedures as well as external regulations.
• Coordinate and support internal and external audits related to accounts payable, including SOX.

Cash Flow Management:

• Manage cash flow projections related to accounts payable to support financial planning and budgeting.
• Develop, implement and Monitor payment schedules and prioritize payments as needed.
• Monitor Days Payable Outstanding and ensure payments are optimized and done in accordance with company payment timelines or those contractually agreed.

Strategic Planning:

• Contribute to the development of the company’s financial strategy, particularly in areas related working capital optimization.
• Participate in long-term planning and cost reduction initiatives.

• Accounting/Business/Finance Bachelor degree with minimum 8+ years of Accounts Payable experience, including ideally in Accounting and Procurement functions too
• Multinational finance environment with a proven track record of leadership and driving process improvements, ideally within the life sciences/pharma industry
• Strong understanding of USGAAP, European accounting standards, tax regulations(especially VAT)
• Ability to lead and effectively manage a diverse team in a hybrid working model
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for building vendor relationships and internal stakeholder collaboration
• Proficiency in accounting software and ERP systems (e.g., SAP 4 Hana)
• Strong presentation skills and ability to articulate clearly in a compelling manner the interests, evolution and status of the Accounts Payable function
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Project Management experience a plus
• Desire to work in a fast paced, changing (currently unstructured) environment
• Excellent communication skills combined with cultural sensitivity, excellent spoken/written English – any other languages a plus
• Computer Skills: SAP S/4 (required) Hana, Ariba, Excel, Power BI, Concur, Workday, on -line banking