AP Tower Lead, APAC

The Accounts Payable (AP) Tower Lead for CooperVision APAC Finance plays a key leadership role in managing and optimising the Accounts Payable function within the Global Business Services Centre (GBSC). This role is responsible for overseeing Accounts Payable activities delivered through the GBSC, including invoice processing, employee travel and expense (T&E) processing, vendor master coordination, payment execution, and AP‑related reporting. The position focuses on ensuring timely and accurate processing, strong controls, and consistent service delivery, while driving efficiency, compliance, and continuous improvement within the defined AP scope.

As the lead for AP within the GBSC, this position collaborates closely with the APAC Accounting Director, regional finance teams, and cross‑functional stakeholders to support financial close activities, audit readiness, and working capital outcomes related to payables. The AP Tower Lead serves as a primary liaison between the GBSC and the broader organisation on AP‑related matters, ensuring clear communication, effective issue escalation, and timely resolution of operational challenges.

This position offers an opportunity to play a meaningful role in strengthening the operational effectiveness and control environment of a global finance shared services organisation, particularly across APAC markets, while contributing to the overall stability and performance of the company’s finance operations.

Operational Management
 

• Oversee Accounts Payable activities delivered within the GBSC scope, including invoice processing, employee travel and expense (T&E) processing, vendor master coordination, payment execution, and AP‑related reporting.
• Ensure timely and accurate processing of invoices and expense claims in accordance with service level agreements (SLAs), policies, and control requirements.
• Monitor AP work queues, backlogs, and exception items, ensuring issues are addressed or escalated appropriately.
• Coordinate with regional finance teams, procurement, HR, and business stakeholders to resolve invoice, payment, and vendor‑related issues.
• Review AP aging, open items, and payment status to support working capital management and cash visibility.
• Act as the key contact for regional finance teams, business units, and auditors on AP‑related operational matters within the GBSC scope.

Lead and Manage the AP Team
 

• Lead and guide a team of AP accountants, ensuring consistent and accurate execution of daily AP activities within the shared services environment.
• Foster a collaborative and high‑performance team culture through coaching, training, performance feedback, and knowledge sharing.
• Ensure appropriate resourcing, workload allocation, and coverage to meet operational deadlines and period‑end close requirements.
• Promote continuous learning, cross‑training, and skill development to strengthen team capability and resiliency.

Reporting & Analytics
 

• Track and review key AP performance metrics, such as invoice cycle time, expenses period accuracy and payment timeliness.
• Provide regular operational updates to finance leadership, highlighting performance results, risks, and mitigation actions.
• Leverage data and trend analysis to identify recurring issues, root causes, and process improvement opportunities within AP operations, supporting effective cash planning and availability during quarter‑end periods.

Process Improvement and Automation
 

• Identify and drive process improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and scalability of AP operations within the GBSC scope.
• Support implementation of system enhancements, automation, or digital tools impacting AP processes.
• Drive process standardisation across markets in line with approved global or regional templates and work instructions.

Governance, Controls and Compliance
 

• Ensure AP operations comply with Sarbanes‑Oxley (SOX) requirements, internal control frameworks, and corporate finance policies.
• Support internal and external audits by coordinating documentation, responses, and follow‑up actions related to AP processes.
• Ensure consistent application of controls and procedures across the AP team and GBSC operations.

Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration
 

• Work closely with regional finance teams, procurement, HR, treasury, and business stakeholders to address AP‑related operational matters.
• Build strong working relationships with key stakeholders to support service delivery, issue resolution, and change initiatives.
• Collaborate with other finance towers and enabling functions (e.g. IT, FP&A, Treasury) to support cross‑functional dependencies and improvements.

Other jobs assigned by APAC Accounting Director.

Requires OT during holiday for monthly closing.
 

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field. Professional accounting certification (e.g., CPA, ACCA) is a plus.
• Proven ability to lead and inspire a team to achieve performance goals, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong knowledge of AP processes, ERP systems (e.g., Oracle, SAP), and financial controls.
• Ability to resolve complex AP issues and disputes with a focus on root cause analysis.
• Proficiency in reporting tools (e.g., Power BI, Excel) for AP performance tracking and analysis. 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for stakeholder engagement and customer interactions.
• Experience working in a GBSC environment is preferred.
• Strong ability to find out current/future risks to prevent accounting/process deficiencies and strong problem solving and project management skills.
• Good English proficiency and additional Asian language capabilities (e.g. Japanese) to support other APAC markets would be an advantage.
• Collaboration/teamwork/respect-each-other mindset in a humble/friendly way.
• Strong ethics as a finance professional.
• Familiar with Oracle and Hyperion

Work Environment

• Normal office setting with desk/chair and PC.
• Must be able to travel on an ad-hoc basis.

Experience

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in Accounts Payables, with at least 5 years in a leadership or supervisory role.
• Hands-on experience in US/local GAAP accounting and SOX audit management
• Experience in foreign affiliated companies who carry inventory of products.
• ERP enhancements/implementation experience as a plus (Oracle preferred).