Accounts Payable Director

WM; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

401K company match

Paid vacation

Job summary

WM is seeking a Director of Accounts Payable based in Houston, Texas. This senior leader will oversee the Accounts Payable operations, ensuring that all accounts payable activities are compliant, efficient, and meeting service level agreements. The role requires exceptional leadership skills to manage teams across various locations and to drive continuous improvements in processes.

Qualified candidates should have a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or Business Administration and over 12 years of experience. Strong communication skills and a strategic mindset are essential for success in this position.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in Accounts Payable or similar fields.
• Exceptional leadership and communication skills required.
• Experience leading local and remote teams is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Drive the Accounts Payable strategy and budget aligned with corporate objectives.
• Oversee all accounts payable operations to ensure compliance and quality service.
• Manage and develop a high-performing global accounts payable team.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Process improvement

Communication

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Business Administration

Tools

Oracle

Coupa

ServiceNow

Job description

Job Summary

The Director, Accounts Payable is a senior leader within Finance Shared Services, responsible for end‑to‑end ownership of centralized accounts payable operations across onshore and offshore teams. This role drives operational excellence, standardization, and scalability across the procure‑to‑pay lifecycle. The Director owns the delivery of service level agreements (SLAs) and key performance indicators (KPIs), ensuring high‑quality, timely, and accurate service while driving transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement. Operating within a shared services model, this role acts as a strategic partner across Finance, Accounting, Supply Chain, Audit, Digital, Treasury, and Field Operations, aligning service delivery with business priorities. This leader develops a high‑performing global team and advances a culture of continuous improvement, leveraging data and technology to optimize processes, mitigate risk, and deliver measurable business outcomes related to cost, control, risk reduction, and service quality.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Develops and executes the Accounts Payable strategy, operating plan, and budget in alignment with Finance Shared Services and corporate objectives, including onshore and offshore delivery models.
• Owns the end‑to‑end Accounts Payable operating model, ensuring consistent, compliant, and high‑quality service delivery within established SLAs for internal and external customers.
• Oversees budgeting, invoices, purchase orders, and forecast in alignment with Finance Shared Services.
• Serves as a manager of managers, providing leadership and direction to AP leaders across multiple locations, including U.S. and offshore teams.
• Establishes and monitors performance metrics and SLAs, leveraging analytics to drive improvements in timeliness, accuracy, controls, and supplier compliance.
• Works with various corporate teams to ensure all accounts payable activities comply with relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards, staying informed of any changes.
• Serves as the escalation point for complex accounts payable issues and guides the team in resolving supplier inquiries and discrepancies.
• Ensures strong controls, compliance, and audit readiness for AP operations, partnering with Internal and External Audit and monitoring regulatory and policy changes.
• Conducts AP business reviews and optimizes staffing and cost models while maintaining service quality and control standards.
• Counsels managers on execution of programs and, when necessary, provides direction for modification in work plans or implementation of contingency plans in accordance with prevailing business conditions.
• Ensures that team members are adequately trained, providing ongoing development opportunities and performance feedback to foster a culture of growth and professional development.
• Actively collaborates with key departments, including Finance, Accounting, Treasury, Digital, Supply Chain, Internal Audit, Finance Shared Services, Payroll, and Field, to ensure seamless integration of accounts payable processes, foster strong partnerships, and align on strategic objectives for overall success and growth of the organization.
• Ensures high levels of internal/external customer satisfaction by overseeing the efficient and accurate handling of accounts payable, addressing inquiries and concerns promptly, and implementing best practices to enhance service delivery.
• Builds an inclusive and engaged team culture that embraces diversity, collaboration, and accountability across geographically dispersed locations.
• Champions a Shared Services mindset, leading change initiatives and driving standardization, automation, and technology‑enabled improvements.

Business Capabilities

• Drive enterprise process standardization and operational efficiency within the Shared Services framework.
• Implement scalable, automated solutions to reduce risk and manual intervention.
• Leverage data and analytics to improve transparency, performance measurement, and service delivery.
• Lead through change while maintaining strong controls and service continuity.

Technical Capabilities

• Executive ownership of Accounts Payable systems and integrations, including Oracle, Coupa and ServiceNow.
• Use data and analytics to identify trends, risks, and opportunities to improve operational performance and employee/supplier experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree (accredited) in Accounting, Business Administration or similar area of study.
• 12+ years or more of previous experience in addition to education requirements.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to translate complex concepts into executive-level insights.
• Demonstrated ability to apply a strategic, solutions-oriented approach to process improvement and change management.
• Prior leadership of local and remote/offshore teams highly preferred.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Benefits

At WM, each eligible employee receives a competitive total compensation package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance and Short Term Disability. As well as a Stock Purchase Plan, Company match on 401K, and more! Employees also receive Paid Vacation, Holidays, and Personal Days. Benefits may vary by site.