Senior Accounts Payable Specialist

Location: Central Helsinki

Contract: Fixed term (at least 12 months, with possible extension)

Assignment start: Preferably August

Work model: Hybrid

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Senior Accounts Payable Specialist to join our finance team. In this role, you will play a critical part in ensuring financial accuracy, operational excellence, and compliance across accounts payable and related financial processes. You will collaborate with internal stakeholders and external partners while driving process improvements and supporting business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

✅ Financial Operations & Control

• Manage financial processes within established frameworks to ensure accurate and timely outcomes
• Monitor aged balances and ensure overdue items are investigated and resolved efficiently
• Oversee dunning activities to maximize the collection of outstanding payments

✅ Credit Control & Collections

• Act as a point of contact for complex payment issues and liaise with key customers or partners
• Drive effective resolution of escalations and minimize financial risk

✅ Risk & Compliance

• Monitor financial and operational risk parameters, identifying deviations and escalating when necessary
• Ensure adherence to internal policies, regulatory standards, and industry best practices
• Support fraud and financial crime investigations through data gathering and evidence analysis

✅ Process Improvement & Quality Assurance

• Coordinate testing, inspections, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Implement corrective actions and monitor effectiveness to enhance process efficiency and accuracy

✅ Reporting & Documentation

• Prepare and manage complex financial documentation and reports
• Analyse data and provide insights to support decision-making and special projects

✅ Stakeholder Management

• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to drive understanding and alignment
• Support meetings, initiatives, and communications to enhance stakeholder engagement

✅ Problem Solving & Analysis

• Identify issues and proactively develop effective solutions (technical or operational)
• Make informed decisions based on financial analysis and business insight

✅ Continuous Development

• Stay current with industry trends, regulatory changes, and financial technologies
• Actively participate in professional development and training

What We’re Looking For

Experience & Skills

• At least 5 years of solid experience in Accounts Payable, Finance Operations or similar, preferably from an international organisation of considerable scale
• Academic degree in finance, accounting or similar
• Full fluency in Finnish and English (additional languages are considered meritorious)
• Strong understanding of financial controls, compliance, and risk management
• Proven ability to analyse financial data and improve processes
• Experience handling complex stakeholder interactions and issue resolution
• Strong skills in MS Office and financial systems (Preferably SAP and Basware)

Personal keys to success

• Accountability: Takes ownership and consistently delivers on commitments
• Financial Acumen: Uses financial data to drive decisions and performance improvements
• Business Insight: Understands how finance impacts broader business objectives
• Stakeholder Focus: Balances multiple priorities and builds strong relationships
• Decision Making: Makes timely, well-informed decisions and escalates appropriately
• Integrity & Trust: Demonstrates professionalism, honesty, and reliability
• Process Optimization: Continuously improves efficiency and quality
• Tech Savvy: Embraces and leverages new financial technologies
• Interpersonal Skills: Communicates effectively across diverse teams
• Adaptability: Thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment

Why Join Us?

• Opportunity to work in a dynamic, international environment
• Exposure to complex financial operations and process improvement initiatives
• Professional development and career growth opportunities
• Collaborative and supportive team culture

About Sanoma Learning

How do you prepare students for the world, engage their curiosity and inspire them to grow? That is the main question of teachers all around the world. At Sanoma Learning, it has always been our mission to help to find and develop best-in-class answers to this question. If you join us, it means that you embark on an exciting journey to help shape the future of learning for primary, secondary and vocational education. We believe that your journey is our success as a company.

Sanoma Learning is a leading K12 European learning company, operating in 12 countries. Our learning products and services enable and support teachers and schools to develop the talents of every child to reach their potential. By offering printed and digital learning content, as well as digital learning and teaching platforms for primary, secondary and vocational education, we want to grow our positive impact on learning across Europe. With over 3000 employees, we help shape the future of education for 25+ million of students.

So, are you ready to start your journey to help shape the future of learning and help teachers to support all students to reach their potential?

Sanoma Learning is an equal opportunity employer; we are committed to inclusion and diversity, ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or any other characteristics.