Accounts Payable Manager

Role Overview You will be responsible for leading and overseeing various financial operations and processes, ensuring compliance with controls and SOPs. Your role will require strong leadership skills, operational rigor, and proactive communication with internal and external stakeholders. Key Responsibilities - Provide leadership and oversight for escalation processes within the finance verticals across different campuses. - Identify root causes of financial issues and implement corrective actions. - Foster accountability within the vertical finance teams through regular reviews and policy reinforcement. Vendor & Invoice Management - Ensure timely and accurate processing of all invoices with three-way matching (PO-GRN-Invoice). - Validate procurement quotes and enforce vendor selection protocols. - Approve invoices only after all documentation and compliance checks are in place. - Manage marketing and advertising disbursements according to approved campaign budgets. - Handle lease obligations, including building rent disbursals with contract verification and compliance. - Process employee reimbursements and petty cash with proper verification. - Manage credit card and prepaid card usage and reconciliations. Financial Controls & Compliance - Validate transactions against approval hierarchies and audit trails. - Ensure GST, TDS, and other statutory compliance across the vendor spectrum. - Prepare and review reconciliations, returns, and statutory filings. Cost Center Accounting & Documentation - Ensure accurate mapping of expenses to the correct cost centers, departments, and campuses. - Track and analyze spend variances against budget. - Maintain audit-ready documentation and electronic records for all AP transactions. Audit Support & Process Governance - Assist in internal, statutory, and tax audits by preparing complete AP schedules and documentation. - Identify recurring issues and drive process enhancements to minimize errors and delays. - Conduct regular compliance checks and gap assessments. Systems & Reporting - Generate MIS reports, vendor ageing summaries, and fund flow forecasts. - Automate manual steps for efficiency and transparency. Stakeholder Communication - Communicate effectively with department heads, functional teams, and external vendors to resolve queries and enforce policy compliance. - Build trust-based partnerships across verticals while maintaining process integrity. Qualifications & Skills Education: - Masters in Commerce, Finance, or Accounting - CA Inter Professional Experience: - 5+ years of AP experience, preferably in multi-unit, multi-state organizations - Strong knowledge of GST, TDS, and compliance documentation - Prior ERP experience (Tally, SAP, Zoho Books, or similar) Skills & Attributes: - Strong command over financial controls and risk assessment - Excellent written and verbal communication skills - Assertive, proactive, and solution-oriented mindset - Meticulous attention to detail and documentation discipline - Proven ability to manage high-volume operations across diverse teams Job Type: Full-time Work Location: In person,