Join a leading Saudi holding company driving large-scale EPC telecom infrastructure projects across the Kingdom.
The Payable Section Head will lead the accounts payable function, ensuring accurate, timely, and controlled processing of supplier and subcontractor invoices and payments across a fast-growing telecom infrastructure and EPC environment. The role requires a hands-on AP professional capable of strengthening payable controls, improving invoice processing efficiency, managing vendor relationships, optimizing payment cycles, and ensuring accurate AP reporting and compliance.
Key Accountabilities:
- Lead the overall Accounts Payable function, ensuring accurate, timely, and efficient processing of supplier, subcontractor, and service-provider invoices and payments.
- Oversee the complete Procure-to-Pay (P2P) cycle, from purchase orders and goods/service receipts through invoice verification, approval, posting, and payment.
- Ensure invoices are properly matched against purchase orders, contracts, delivery notes, and supporting documentation before processing.
- Monitor and control the accounts payable aging, ensuring timely settlement of outstanding obligations while optimizing payment timing and working capital.
- Review and resolve invoice discrepancies, including price variances, quantity differences, duplicate invoices, missing documentation, and unmatched transactions.
- Manage supplier and subcontractor payment schedules in coordination with Procurement, Finance, Commercial, Project Management, and Treasury teams.
- Ensure accurate processing of project-related supplier and subcontractor payments, including milestone payments, advance payments, retention, and contractual deductions.
- Monitor vendor accounts and ensure accurate and timely supplier statement reconciliations and resolution of outstanding balances.
- Oversee AP-related bank payments, payment batches, payment approvals, and supporting documentation, ensuring compliance with established authorization controls.
- Ensure accurate recording and classification of AP transactions in the ERP system, including invoices, credit notes, debit notes, accruals, and prepayments.
- Maintain strong controls over vendor master data, including vendor creation, amendments, banking details, and supporting documentation.
- Establish and maintain effective AP policies, procedures, approval workflows, and internal controls to minimize financial and operational risks.
- Monitor AP performance through regular reporting and dashboards covering invoice volumes, aging, overdue balances, payment status, unmatched invoices, and processing efficiency.
- Coordinate with Procurement and business stakeholders to improve invoice turnaround time, three-way matching, purchase order compliance, and vendor payment processes.
- Support month-end and year-end closing activities, including AP reconciliations, accruals, provisions, cut-off procedures, and outstanding liabilities.
- Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards, tax requirements, company policies, and internal control frameworks.
- Support internal and external audits by providing accurate AP records, reconciliations, payment documentation, and supporting schedules.
- Identify opportunities to improve AP automation, digital invoice processing, workflow efficiency, and ERP utilization, preferably through Microsoft Dynamics, SAP, Oracle, or similar ERP platforms.
- Lead, coach, and develop the AP team, ensuring clear accountability, high processing standards, and continuous improvement.
Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
- Professional certification is preferred: CPA, CMA, ACCA, SOCPA, or equivalent.
- Minimum 8 years of progressive experience in Accounts Payable, Procure-to-Pay, or Accounts Payable management.
- Strong experience within telecom, EPC, infrastructure, construction, engineering, or other project-driven environments.
- Proven expertise in accounts payable operations, invoice processing, payment management, vendor reconciliation, and AP aging management.
- Strong understanding of Procure-to-Pay (P2P) processes and three-way matching between purchase orders, receipts, and invoices.
- Strong experience managing supplier and subcontractor accounts, including payment schedules, statement reconciliations, disputes, and outstanding balances.
- Strong understanding of project-related AP requirements, including milestone payments, advance payments, retention, subcontractor payments, and contractual deductions.
- Strong knowledge of AP controls, approval workflows, segregation of duties, and internal control procedures.
- Hands-on experience with ERP systems, preferably Microsoft Dynamics, SAP, Oracle, or similar platforms.
- Strong knowledge of month-end closing, AP accruals, provisions, reconciliations, and financial reporting.
- Advanced Excel and reporting capabilities.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify discrepancies and improve AP processes.
- Proven ability to establish and improve AP processes, controls, policies, and reporting structures within lean, high-growth, or project-based organizations.
- Strong leadership presence with directive and developmental management capability.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to coordinate effectively with Procurement, Finance, Treasury, Commercial, Projects, and suppliers.
- Ability to work under pressure, manage multiple priorities, and meet strict payment and reporting deadlines.
- High level of integrity, accountability, confidentiality, accuracy, and execution discipline.
