Assistant Manager - Accounts Payable

Reports To: Global Business Services Manager – Source to Pay

Global Business Services (GBS) is Cathay Groups trusted partner in establishing end to end processes and services to deliver value through simplification, innovation and automation.

The ultimate purpose of this role is to deliver quality services, in a cost effective and efficient way, to all business units / subsidiaries, employees and external stakeholders.

This role is accomplished by leading or participating in, for example, the:

• Standardisation and simplification of policies and procedures
• Review of existing tools on documentation and information management
• Proposal and implementation of improvement initiatives
• Improvement of GBS presence throughout internal communication channels

The Source to Pay end-to-end process begins with spend analytics, followed by identifying suppliers, sourcing, contracting, buying, ordering, matching invoices, payment, and supplier management, which supplies data to begin the cycle again with spend analytics.

The Source to Pay team within GBS structure focus on the latter steps of this end-to-end process which include broadly the following: matching invoices to PO & good receipts, process invoices for payment, and carry out reject payment resolution.

This role is to drive the team to deliver services in a cost effective and efficient way with the aim to streamline and automate the Accounts Payable processes.

Daily Operations

• Responsible for the performance of the Accounts Payable Team in Guangzhou (GGT AP team) which currently consist of a team of 9 staff, ensuring the accounts payable activities are performed within agreed procedures, standards and time scales as defined by the Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s).
• Act as escalation point for GGT AP team, assisting with complex query and case resolution.
• Coach and support the GGT AP team in ensuring the accounts payable processes are in accordance with the established Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and ensure back-end operations are efficient and effective.
• Provide regular operational feedback to the GBS Manager – Source to Pay as well as identify and escalate potential serious operational and customer issues.
• Track, measure and achieve defined department metrics.
• Apply Lean processes to ensure that GBS meets or exceeds customer requirements.
• Provide transcripts on general enquiries and resolving specific invoice-processing and payment-related enquiries.
• Provide data insights and analytics to business units on ad hoc basis.
• Given the management of sensitive data, to maintain confidentiality and observe data protection and associated guidelines where appropriate.

Process Improvement Initiatives

• Lead process improvement initiatives within GBS as well as with business units, to deliver efficiencies and benefits to internal and external customers.
• Manage enhancements in the Case Management system.
• Undertake any project work relevant to the activities of GBS as requested by the GBS Manager – Source to Pay.
• Act as a Project Manager to lead cross-functional team and project meetings and work collaboratively with all necessary individuals to achieve the goals of each given project.
• Document and monitor business processes, business rules, metrics and standard operating procedures as a result of improvement initiatives.
• Work with key stakeholders to determine areas for optimization; develop solutions to continuously improve and streamline processes and to develop value adding enhancements.
• Partner with stakeholders to implement process modifications that support changing business and compliance requirements.

Assistant Manager - Accounts Payable is expected to work with the GBS Manager – Source to Pay on projects and daily operations on a 70-30 time-allocation basis respectively, dependent on business demands.

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Accounting or relevant discipline preferable.
• 5+ years of relevant experience of which 2 years experience in supervisory role in Accounts Payable / Source to Pay administration.
• Experience within Global Business Services / Shared Services environment is advantageous.
• Knowledge of SAP would be advantageous.
• Strong skills in MS Office applications.
• Experience and/or fundamental knowledge of Airline Industry preferable.
• Demonstration of leadership skills by role-modelling, engaging the team and creating a positive environment
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Customer-centric. Ability to act consistently and fairly with GBS’ customers/business units, focusing on resolving issues and performing with a customer focused attitude
• Ability to multi-task between daily operations and project initiatives in a fast-paced environment
• Capability to work independently with strong sense of responsibility
• Strong written and verbal Chinese (Cantonese) and English communication skills
• Open-minded in adopting technologies

Cathay Pacific is an Equal Opportunities Employer. Personal data provided by job applicants will be used strictly in accordance with our personal data policy and for recruitment purposes only. Candidates not notified within eight weeks may consider their application unsuccessful. All related information will be kept in our file for up to 24 months. A copy of our Personal Information Collection Statement will be provided upon request by contacting our Data Protection Officer.