Role purpose:

To deliver world class service excellence to both internal AFG stakeholders (procurement, finance etc.) and external stakeholders (suppliers, banks). Drive process innovation/automation, standardization, cost optimization, motivate and guide large workforce. Leverage and build banking relationships across the country.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide day-to-day direction and leadership to entire accounts payable team and promote employee growth.
• Create an environment and embed a culture that fosters business process improvement continuously. Identify and recommend necessary improvements in AP processes and ensure deployment.
• Drive initiatives to create high performance teams. Monitor and manage performance measures as defined by the service management framework.
• Provide extraordinary customer service in addition to budgetary accountability.
• Work in collaboration with wider finance and corporate teams to ensure business requirements and corporate policies are adhered to.
• Drive group policy compliance impacting AFG stakeholders as well as suppliers to drive controls whilst promoting growth.
• Responsible for the completeness, accuracy, and timeliness of all AP SSC activities.
• Maintain strong customer relationships to ensure immediate resolution of problems as well as being responsive to future needs; manage customer problem resolution and escalation.
• Meet or exceed agreed service level agreements.
• Define SOW to strengthen a transparent RACI.
• Control costs by managing the overall budget of I2P cost centre and team, monitor savings objectives.
• Manage relationships with key stakeholders and within the governance framework assist in the negotiation of service level agreements.
• Ensure internal controls are executed and maintained, coordinate audit and compliance activities.
• Coach and develop talent within I2P team, drive superior performance from all team members.
• Influence upstream business processes impacting downstream I2P processes for driving efficiencies and controls around the end to end I2P process.
• Drive automation around the I2P processes resulting in significant productivity improvement and cost save.
• Work closely with group treasury team to support implementation of key transformation initiatives such as SWIFT, in house banking and supply chain financing.

Qualifications:

• Education: Recognized professional accounting qualification.
• Minimum experience and knowledge: 10-15 years in managing finance shared service centre or equivalent. Implementation of setting up a finance SSC and experience in creating an environment of continuous improvement (CI) framework embedding CI focus and culture in teams.
• Additional qualifications in IFRS and LEAN/6 Sigma are preferred.
• Experience of SAP and related financial systems is highly preferred.
• Understanding of SSC best practices.
• Ability to achieve results in a dynamic, consistently changing, and demanding environment. People management and development skills.
• Knowledge and practical experience of change management models and practices.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.