Manager, Accounts Payable

WPP • Dallas, TX

6h • Hybrid

About The Position

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands, uniting cutting-edge media intelligence, data solutions, creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions, and expert strategic counsel. They have been building valuable brands for 50 years with global reach across 100+ markets. WPP is committed to fostering a culture of creativity, belonging, and continuous learning. As a highly valued member of the operations team, the Accounts Payable Manager will have a proven track record in a previous AP Manager role in a Global organization. The ideal candidate is customer-focused, a strong and clear communicator, problem solver, resilient, and determined, capable of motivating and influencing a team to deliver offshore quality Accounts Payable services to tight timelines and in line with vendor and T&E processes. The role requires strong business sense and commercial awareness in managing internal stakeholders. They will lead the design of processes, systems, and organization aligned with the WPP Group target operating model, global process and organization design standards, chosen specialized tools, and WPP policies. The Manager will actively manage the AP team both onshore and offshore, supporting team members’ growth through training, mentoring, coaching, target setting, and performance review. This role will also participate in bringing the vision of the WPP transformation program to life in the North American market, with a particular focus on the Finance function, and participate in the design and deployment of a new ERP, Workday, across WPP in North America.

Requirements

• Have a minimum 5 years AP Manager experience within an international organization.
• Energetic, detailed oriented, able to adhere to deadlines in a timely manner.
• Strong communication skills for negotiation & reconciliation.
• Proven track record in leadership and control to manage and motivate a payable team.
• Commercially focused with a strong service approach.
• Confidence in dealing and building relationships both internally and externally.
• Well organized with strength in prioritizing.
• Flexible attitude to achieve results.
• Calm under pressure.

Responsibilities

• To provide leadership and management of the Non Media AP Team, responsible for recruitment, training & motivation and development needs of the team.
• Managing the payable process; responsible for monitoring and overseeing the payables and T&E teams ensuring the accurate matching and reconciliation of payable activity in order that vendors are paid to contracted terms and by the specific country industry deadlines.
• Ensure that invoices and statements are fully reconciled to a timely and consistently high standard.
• Reporting of Payable progress throughout the month, particularly where the region adopts Pay when Paid, disbursement forecasts, month end Group AP, query reports and KPI reporting.
• Participate in the design, implementation, and also maintainance of various systems to improve on service automation and streamlining.
• Review and ensure the integrity of payment files, approvals and encryption.
• Overseeing the accuarte and timely reporting of queries derived from account reconciliations and Liaising with the applicable Business Unit contacts in order to resolve queries and issues quickly and efficiently.
• Manages Operational Performance offshore team.
• Perform annual staff appraisals & objective settings as directed by senior management.
• Assist the Head of Financial Operations Manager, where required, with employee annual salary reviews based upon performance.
• Ad-hoc projects as directed by the senior management team.
• Provide holiday and sick cover for colleagues as directed to do so.
• Conduct one to one meeting with each team member to review objectives and performance.
• Ensure monthly (at least) review meetings are being actioned effectively between the SSC and the Business Unit and Head of Financial Operations Manager.
• Maintain contact and good working relationships with all Business Unit Finance Directors and CFO’s through regular review meetings and conference calls to ensure optimum service is being provided aligned to the SSC SLA.
• Discuss problem areas that are impacting payables.
• Full preparation of monthly reporting commitments consolidated into Group reporting packs, KPI and AP Ageing.
• Report all DEBIT balances providing explanations for the DEBIT. For material DEBIT balances, escalate to the Business Unit FD/CFO and the SSC Head of Financial Operations.
• Working to tight deadlines to achieve monthly Group targets set.

Benefits

• Passionate, inspired people – We aim to create a culture in which people can do extraordinary work
• Scale and opportunity – We offer the opportunity to create, influence and complete projects at a scale that is unparalleled in the industry.
• Challenging and stimulating work – Unique work and the opportunity to join a group of creative problem solvers.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees