Assistant General Manager- Accounts Payable Lead( CA/CMA)

ZF Group; Chennai District; On-site; INR 4,000,000 - 6,000,000; Full time

Job summary

ZF Group in Chennai, India, is seeking an Assistant General Manager- Accounts Payable Lead (CA/CMA) to drive end-to-end AP operations across all business units managed by the Shared Services center.

The role focuses on aligning AP with global finance strategy, establishing KPIs, and delivering cost- and process-optimized results. You will lead a large AP team, implement automation, and uphold rigorous internal controls and audits.

Qualifications

• Chartered Accountant (CA) or Cost Accountant (CMA) with extensive leadership in Accounts Payable.
• Over 15–18 years in finance, with 10+ years in leadership within Shared Services or GBS AP functions.
• Hands-on experience with end-to-end Procure-to-Pay processes and ERP systems (SAP S/4HANA).

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end AP operations for all business units served by the Shared Services center.
• Align AP operations with global finance strategy and KPIs/SLAs.
• Drive automation initiatives (RPA, OCR, AI) and ERP enhancements for efficiency.
• Oversee vendor master data, PO/non-PO invoices, GR/IR, and payment cycles.
• Maintain strong internal controls, SOX compliance, and support audits.
• Develop and mentor a large AP team including leads and executives.

Skills

CA/CMA leadership

ERP SAP S/4HANA

Power BI

Excel (Advanced)

Stakeholder management

Education

CA or CMA

Tools

SAP S/4HANA

Excel

Power BI

Job description

What you can look forward as Assistant General Manager- Accounts Payable Lead( CA/CMA):

Strategic & Functional Leadership

• Lead the end-to-end Accounts Payable operations for all business units serviced by the Shared Services center.
• Align AP operations with company goals and global finance strategy.
• Establish and monitor process KPIs and SLAs, ensuring delivery against agreed targets.
• Drive initiatives for cost efficiency, productivity, and service excellence.

Operational Management

• Ensure timely and accurate processing of invoices, Scanning & Validation, payments, credit memos, and employee reimbursements.
• Oversee the vendor master data management, PO/non-PO invoice handling, GR/IR clearing, and payment cycles.
• Ensure compliance with corporate policies, tax regulations (e.g., TDS, GST), SOX/internal controls, and audit requirements.
• Manage invoice holds, exceptions, and escalation queues efficiently.

Automation & Process Improvement

• Identify and implement opportunities for automation (RPA, OCR, AI) and process simplification.
• Champion the use of digital tools and dashboards for monitoring and decision-making.
• Collaborate with IT and transformation teams to drive ERP enhancements and system improvements.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a large team of AP professionals, including team leads, Sr. Executives and Executives.
• Foster a high-performance culture with strong ownership and continuous learning.
• Manage resource allocation, training, succession planning, and team engagement.
• Act as the primary point of contact for internal stakeholders (procurement, business units, finance controllers).
• Maintain strong relationships with external vendors, ensuring timely issue resolution and communication.
• Lead or participate in governance meetings with business stakeholders and global finance teams.
• Ensure robust internal controls are in place and regularly reviewed.
• Prepare for and support internal and external audits, ensuring timely and accurate responses.
• Mitigate financial, reputational, and operational risks associated with payables processing.

Your profile as Assistant General Manager- Accounts Payable Lead( CA/CMA):

• Qualified Chartered Accountant (CA) or Cost Accountant (CMA)
• 15-18 years in finance, with over 10 years in leadership roles within Accounts Payable in Shared Services or GBS environments.
• In-depth knowledge of end-to-end Procure-to-Pay(P2P) processes, vendor management, and compliance.
• Hands-on experience with ERP systems, especially SAP (S/4HANA), and proficiency in data tools like Excel and Power BI. Strong capabilities in leading large teams, managing conflicts, and fostering high performance.
• Proven ability to manage internal and external stakeholders effectively while driving process excellence and automation.