Senior Accounts Executive - Account Payable

Mintel; Kuala Lumpur; Hybrid; MYR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Mintel in Kuala Lumpur is seeking a Senior AP Specialist to ensure operational excellence, coach teammates, and drive continuous improvement in the accounts payable process. This hybrid role involves collaborating with cross-functional teams, maintaining supplier master data, processing invoices, and monitoring KPIs.

You will review junior work, handle multi-currency payments, support month-end closing, and help optimize cash flow while ensuring compliance with internal controls.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant AP experience in SSC or multinational setting.
• Good knowledge of accounting principles and MS Excel basics.
• Experience with SAP Concur and NetSuite is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Maintain supplier master data in line with controls and governance.
• Process POs, supplier invoices, and employee/shoppers’ expenses on time.
• Code entries to GL accounts, departments, and projects; review junior work.
• Handle multi-currency payment processing following policy.
• Monitor aging, optimize cash flow, and resolve overdue items.
• Reconcile supplier and bank accounts; investigate discrepancies.
• Be point of contact for suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Support AP Team Lead in daily operations and KPI tracking.
• Coach and onboard junior staff; ensure quality and compliance.
• Drive process improvements and update SOPs for consistency.
• Assist month-end close, audits, and cross-functional system projects.

Skills

Accounts Payable

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business Administration, or related field

Tools

SAP Concur

NetSuite

MS Office

Excel (VLookup, Pivot)

Job description

This role acts as a senior AP specialist responsible for ensuring operational excellence, supporting the Team Lead in managing daily activities, coaching team members, and driving continuous improvement across the Accounts Payable process.

Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate and timely supplier master data in compliance with internal controls and governance standards.
• Process purchase orders, supplier invoices, and employee/shoppers’ expenses accurately and within agreed timelines.
• Ensure correct coding to general ledger accounts, departments, and projects, including reviewing entries prepared by junior team members.
• Handle multi-currency payment processing, ensuring timely execution and adherence to company policies.
• Monitor invoice aging and payment cycles, proactively identifying and resolving overdue items or risks, and optimize cash flow.
• Perform regular reconciliation of supplier and bank accounts, investigating and resolving discrepancies.
• Act as a key point of contact for suppliers and internal stakeholders to resolve queries and payment issues.
• Support the AP Team Lead in overseeing daily operations to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and service quality.
• Monitor and track AP KPIs and SLAs (response time, accuracy and timeliness), highlighting gaps and driving corrective actions.
• Coach and guide junior team members, including onboarding, training, and providing day-to-day operational support.
• Review and validate work performed by junior team members to ensure quality, accuracy, and compliance.
• Drive process improvement initiatives, identifying inefficiencies and implementing solutions to enhance productivity and reduce risk.
• Maintain and update SOPs and process documentation to ensure consistency, scalability, and audit readiness.
• Ensure compliance with financial, tax, and internal control requirements, and support month-end closing and audit activities.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and support system enhancements, UAT, and other projects to improve the AP process.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or associate degree in accounting, Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business Administration, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant working experience in Accounts Payable function.
• Good knowledge of accounting principles.
• Prior experience in SSC (Shared Service Centre) or multinational company.
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work with financial data.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to work to deadlines.
• Good written and spoken communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively within a team. Mandarin speaker will be a plus.
• Proficient in MS Office. Basic to Intermediate MS Excel skills (VLookup, Pivot and basic formulas).
• Proficiency in accounting software and ERP systems. Experience in SAP Concur and NetSuite will be a plus.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a face-paced environment.
• Flexible to work when required during Malaysia public holidays in which replacement holidays will be provided.
• Flexible to work on staggered hours to support UK & US timing.

HYBRID