P2P Team Lead (1-year contract)

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven Biopharmaceutical business that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious disease. But we’re more than one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies.

We are trusted partners who are connected and integrated across the global enterprise, working closely with all functions from Commercial to Manufacturing. It opens greater development opportunities for more responsibility on a global scale.

Global Finance Services (GFS) is at the heart of the Finance function - accountable to the AstraZeneca (AZ) Group for the design and delivery of high quality, simple to operate transactional finance processes that enable our customers to focus on AZ’s strategic priorities.

About the Department

Our Procure to Pay (P2P) team within GFS is responsible handles the end to end acquiring goods and services ensuring that the associated payments made to our suppliers, this includes overseeing the procurement process management, invoice processing, payment processing, suppliers’ relationship management, reimbursing expenses to employees, and ensuring all the procurement activities align with internal policies and compliance.

Role Summary

Join our dynamic team as an Account Payable Team Lead, where you will be a key player in achieving team objectives and supporting the P2P Operations Delivery Process Manager. In this role, you will lead a dynamic team of 3-4 analysts, motivate and develop members of the AP Process Team within the wider process team ensuring that the team operates to the highest standards of financial control, compliance and best practice, ensure quality and accurate delivery of services within agreed key performance indicators (KPIs) and as defined in the Service Level Agreement (SLA), develop knowledge and capability in team members to raise competence to expected levels to meet current and future business needs and contribute process and technical expertise to process improvement initiatives as outlined in GFS scorecard.

Typical Responsibilities

• Monitor day to day operations of Accounts Payable activities to ensure all vendor transactions are processed timely and accurately.
• Ensure timely and smooth AP Close and maintain clean subledger through proper follow up on action plans on aging items.
• Drive KPI metrics and review with the team. Maintain service delivery quality, identify improvement opportunities and drive actions.
• Build and sustain effective relationship with stakeholders (Procurement, Local Users, Local Finance) to deliver performance and implement best practice.
• Take the lead in issue resolution and escalation on Accounts Payable operational matters.
• Setting clear team objective, managing the development and performance of the team to achieve efficient processing and effective team working by taking appropriate follow-up action according to the defined process and own judgement.
• Develop knowledge and capability in team members to raise competence to expected levels to meet current and future business needs.
• Ensure a high level of understanding of the local business requirements and implement and operate financial controls and governance to a standard that ensure Sox, Financial Controls Framework and Audit requirements are met.
• Driving continuous improvement and standardization/simplification across the global Accounts Payable processes.

Essential Requirements:

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in Finance and Accounting, include minimum of 2 years’ experience managing transactional accounting teams in a performance driven environment.
• Degree in Finance & Accounting/Commerce or equivalent with professional qualifications e.g. ACCA/CPA/MIA.
• Experience in driving change and process improvement initiatives.
• Excellent communication in English and Mandarin (verbal and written)
• Strong understanding of accounts payable process and core accounting concepts.
• Knowledge and experience in SAP, Coupa, Kofax or Celonis would be an added advantage.
• An inquisitive and investigative approach with critical thinking, good problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Strong ability to resolve issues partnering with the service provider to implement change as required. 
• Able to communicate at all levels within the organisation and with strong communication and stakeholder management to drive a change agenda to delivery and benefits.
• Excellent organisation skills to coordinate multi tasks.
• May need to work globally across time zones and cultures.

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.