Assistant Finance Manager - Accounts Payables

Business Context

Unilever Asia Private Limited (UAPL) is one of Unilever s Global Centre, in Singapore. UAPL hosts several key centralised business models (CBMs) under its roof - namely Unilever International, Global Procurement Operations for Raw Material and Finished Goods, Global Commodity Risk Management and the Global Marketing Category/Brand teams. UAPL finance has the vision to be a Future-Fit Customer-Centric finance function that is at the heart of decision making and playing a co-pilot role in adding, creating, and preserving value for Unilever.

Primary Job Location : Bengaluru/ Chennai / Mumbai

The Role:

We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Accounts Payables Lead to join our finance team. The role will be based in India and will report to the Finance manager within the UAPL controllers team. The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing the accounts payable process, ensuring timely and accurate payment of invoices, and maintaining strong relationships with Purchase to Pay stakeholders. This role requires strong leadership skills, excellent organizational abilities, and a deep understanding of accounting principles. The successful candidate will be supported by a third-party Accounts Payables operations team and will also be in regular contact with the Global Purchase to Pay team on strategic initiatives and ongoing policy update and compliance.

This is your opportunity to really develop your financial accounting, reporting and control skills as well as providing objectivity and challenge to the business. Working in a Financial Controlling Team will give you broad exposure to the rest of the business as you build partnerships with the business as a trusted change agent, actively driving the cash agenda for the business.

Main Accountabilities

Operations:

• Oversee the entire accounts payable process operated by third party service provider, including invoice processing, payment approvals, and vendor management.

• Ensure timely and accurate processing of invoices and payments.

• Align, implement and ensure compliance with Unilever s global accounts payable policies and process models.

• Ensure and assist with the month, quarter and Year end period closing processes.

• Partner the colleagues from various Business Models to drive improvements, highlighting opportunities to extend supplier financing.

Reporting and analytics

• Ensure accurate and timely internal reporting for both statutory and internal reporting of the Accounts payables.

• Lead and review Payables forecasting for UAPL across the short, medium and long-term and planning relevant funding requirements.

• Co-ordinate and ensure documentation in place to transact for supplier financing

Governance and Compliance

• Lead monthly reviews with third party service providers to ensure quality delivery of outsourced operations and to progress on the agreed continuous improvement initiatives to deliver best in class process

• Maintain policies and procedures that impose an adequate level of control over Accounts payables operations.

• Responsible for the compliance to Controls related to Accounts payables as listed in the Global Financial Control framework (GFCF) and the simplification of the actual operation of controls.

• Responsible for liaising with audit teams on OCA, SOX, Corporate and external audits for all AP areas

Future fitting and digitalizing AP

• Streamline and continuously improve to simplify the AP processes-proactively identifying and closing gaps and increasing efficiency. Collaborate with other departments to resolve invoice discrepancies and improve payment processes.

• Lead or be involved in Global projects affecting AP activities.

• Support and lead the digitalizing initiatives in the Accounts Payables and Purchase to Pay domain.

Candidate Profile:

Responsible for Accounts Payables operations and governance, the candidate must possess the necessary accounting qualifications and past exposure to Accounts Payables operations and is expected to have 5 years+ of holistic experience in different aspects of Finance and Accounting . The candidate must possess strong quantitative abilities and excellent written and oral communication skills. They are strategic, analytical thinkers who are driven by results and can innovate and develop creative financial solutions.

Experience Required:

• Prior experience in Accounts Payables is key

• Working knowledge of SAP and experienced in working in an SAP environment.

• Additional experience in Compliance/Audit roles is beneficial.

• Advanced knowledge in Microsoft Excel (complex formulas, power pivots, visualizations, etc).

• Experience dealing with multiple currencies and exchange rates

Soft Skills

• A high degree of integrity, personal self-discipline and a strong work ethic.

• Strong communication skills and ability to respond and deliver under pressure

• Must be a team player with a positive attitude and open mind.

• Ability to build effective working relationships and communicate at all levels within the organization