Manager, Accounts Payable

Your role:

Reporting to the Assistant Controller, the Manager, Accounts Payable's primary responsibility is to lead the AP team in all areas related to Global Relay's international accounts payable function and uphold the effectiveness and accuracy of the payables cycle at the Company. You will oversee the full cycle of AP processes, manage and develop a high-performing team, and partner cross-functionally to scale processes, strengthen controls, and support Global Relay's continued global growth. The Accounts Payable function at Global Relay is heavily centralized in our global headquarters in Vancouver, with additional team members in London, UK to support our operations outside North America.

Your responsibilities:

• Supervise the end-to-end accounts payable lifecycle ensuring that invoices are entered timely, accurately, processed for payment within payment terms, and correctly reconciled.
• Lead, mentor, and provide guidance to a global AP team with team members in both Vancouver and London, UK.
• Coordinate AP operations across multiple countries, legal entities, and currencies.
• Verify that invoices comply with financial policies and procedures including approvals, department allocations, and ensuring two-way match to appropriate documents (i.e. purchase orders, contracts, pre-approved budgets, etc.).
• Own vendor master data governance and fraud prevention controls.
• Manage company credit card administration processes, including monitoring usage and spend appropriateness, as well as overseeing the timely and accurate approval and reconciliation of expenditures.
• Review AP subledgers on a weekly basis to ensure timely processing and resolution of outstanding payables, including review of necessary journal entries related to accounts payable activities.
• Supervise the process of identification, approval, and release of vendor payments via cheque, credit card, EFT/ACH, and wire transfers ensuring that payments are processed on time and in a cost-efficient manner.
• Perform review of employee expenses, petty cash, and other month-end reimbursements as required by the business.
• Ensure compliance with corporate purchasing policies and applicable tax regulations (e.g. GST/HST, VAT, etc.) in a global context.
• Review monthly analysis of total cash movements, AP subledger balances, and other key AP KPIs.
• Perform analysis over complex vendor arrangements to ensure invoices are appropriately authorized for payment.
• Proactively identify expenditures requiring accrual at month-end through completeness checks on outstanding contracts, purchase orders, etc. that are in progress.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency, scalability, and accuracy that reflect the materiality of a scaling business.
• Investigate and resolve various queries made to AP from both internal and external stakeholders; following up with colleagues, vendors, department heads and managers as needed.
• Participate in ad hoc projects and initiatives when required.

About you:

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in accounts payable, with at least 2 years of people management.
• Experience managing centralized AP services for a global organization, including overseeing multiple legal entities, intercompany relationships and multicurrency operations.
• Diploma or certification in the business/accounting field is an asset.
• Proven experience in identifying and implementing accounting process improvements.
• Demonstrated ability to operate in a fast-paced, scaling environment.
• Advanced knowledge of MS Office skills (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Impeccable accuracy with numbers and high attention to detail.
• Excellent telephone etiquette and ability to write clear, concise and formal business communications.
• Ability to exercise tact and discretion and to be entrusted with confidential information.
• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to multi-task, prioritize and manage time effectively.
• Ability to work independently as well as within a team with minimal supervision.