Accounts Payable Controller

Aeciminingchemicals; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Aeciminingchemicals seeks an Accounts Payable Controller to lead the AP team, ensuring accurate, timely processing of invoices, payments and reconciliations within strong financial controls. The role targets SLA/KPI delivery and cash flow optimization in SAP.

You'll develop supplier relationships, oversee month‑end close, and coach staff through performance reviews and training to raise AP performance.

Qualifications

• Degree in Accounting or equivalent (NQF7) level Diploma in Accounting.
• 5–7 years’ experience in accounts payable with 2 years supervisory/management experience.
• Experience with shared services or outsourced finance operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the AP team, ensure accurate invoice processing, payments, and reconciliations aligned with DOA and SLAs.
• Manage supplier relationships, resolve disputes, and respond to queries promptly.
• Own payment forecasting, monitor variances, and advise on cash flow risks.
• Provide leadership, set KPIs, monitor SLAs, and conduct performance reviews.
• Maintain process documentation and drive knowledge transfer within the team.

Skills

Analytical

Communication

Relationship Building

Time management

Multi-tasking

Education

Accounting degree or Diploma (NQF7)

Tools

SAP ECC

MS Excel

MS Word

MS Office

Job description

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The purpose of the Accounts Payable Controller role is tolead and manage the APteam, ensuringthe accurate, timely, and compliant processing of supplier invoices, payments, and reconciliationswhile maintaining strong financial controls and optimising cash flow. This role is accountable forteam performance against SLAs and KPIs, including payment accuracy, processing turnaroundtimes, and vendor query resolution.

The AP Controller provides leadership and direction to foster a high-performance culture, setting clear expectations and conducting regular performance reviews to develop team capability. This rolepartners with HR to coordinate onboarding for new team members, implements training initiativesto address skills gaps, and ensures open communication channels to support engagement andchange management.

Operationally, the AP Controller oversees the end-to-end accounts payable function, includinginvoice processing, payment runs, vendor reconciliations, and month-end close activities. TheController ensures compliance with delegated authority limits, financial controls, and service levelagreements (SLAs), while acting as theprimaryescalation point for complex supplier disputes orpayment issues.

The role is also responsible for cash flow management through the strategic scheduling of paymentruns, optimising payment terms with suppliers, and ensuring accurate accruals and provisions formonth-end and year-end reporting. The AP Controllerownsthe team-wideprocess documentation framework, leads structured knowledge transfer, and drives continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency, automation, and control within the AP function.

Roles and Responsibilities

1. Invoice Processing, Reconciliations and Payments

• Validate and approve complex or high-value AP transactions, including invoices, credit notes, and reversals.
• Ensure compliance with Delegation of Authority (DOA) and company policies.
• Approve one-time vendor and alternate payee requests.
• Review and approve rejected invoice reprocessing.
• Monitor 2-way and 3-way matching exception reports.
• Drive root cause analysis and coordinate resolutions with Procurement and Business Finance
• Escalate systemic issues to SAP CoE or management where required.
• Review and approve vendor reconciliations.
• Monitor unreconciled items and aged creditor balances.
• Ensure timely clearing of reconciling items.
• Escalate long-outstanding disputes to management.
• Approve and schedule payment runs in alignment with cash flow forecasts
• Consult with Business Finance and GAM to ensure adequate funding for payment cycles.
• Review and authorize foreign payment instructions and bank instruction forms.
• Perform pre-approval checks on payment uploads Perform pre-approval checks on payment uploads.
• Review and validate AP accruals for accuracy and completeness
• Ensure prepayments and advances are accurately captured, monitored, and cleared
• Support finance team with month-end AP reporting and reconciliations

2. Supplier Relationship Management including Dispute and Query resolution

• Develop and maintain favourable stakeholder relationships internally withbusiness partners, procurement, treasury, finance, and business unit headsto ensure alignment on payment priorities, approval workflows, and service delivery expectations.
• Develop and maintainstrong external relationships with key suppliers and vendors, fostering trust and open communication to facilitate smooth payment processing and dispute resolution.
• Function as theprimary point of contactfor strategic or high-value suppliers, ensuring their queries are addressed promptly and professionally.
• Function as thepoint of escalation for supplier contactrelated to urgent payment requests, payment delays, or complex disputes where standard processing or administrator-level resolution has failed.
• Manage payment requestsoutside standard payment runs by ensuring proper justification, supporting documentation, and compliance with financial controls.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders(procurement, receiving, treasury, , and business finance) to address systemic issues contributing to invoice processing delays, payment holds, or recurring supplier disputes.
• Identify root causes ofrepeat escalations(e.g., purchase order mismatches, goods receipt issues, approval bottlenecks, master data errors) and work with stakeholders to implement sustainable solutions.
• Manage the exception handling processfor escalated supplier accounts, including invoices requiring special approval, payment holds, manual intervention, or out-of-cycle payments.
• Investigate and resolve complex invoice discrepanciesescalated by AP Administrators

3. Business controls, compliance and Governance

• Own the payment forecasting process, ensuring forecasts are accurately updated, validated against payment schedules, approved invoices, and supplier payment terms, and reflective of business commitments and cash flow requirements.
• Perform detailed variance analysisbetween forecasted and actual payments, investigating significant discrepancies and identifying root causes (e.g., approval delays, invoice processing bottlenecks, system issues, supplier disputes, or unplanned urgent payments)
• Provide monthly commentaryon forecast accuracy to the A|P Manager or Treasury, highlighting risks to cash flow targets, working capital objectives, and proposing corrective actions to optimize payment timing and liquidity.
• Monitor compliancewith Accounts Payable policies, procedures, and delegated authority limits, ensuring all invoice processing, approvals, and payments adhere to established controls.
• Assist in managing the implementationof corporate governance procedures, risk management frameworks, and internal controls within the AP function, ensuring alignment with organizational standards and audit requirements.
• Assist with the identification of internal control weaknesseswithin AP processes (e.g., segregation of duties, approval workflows, duplicate payment risks) and suggest or implement improvements to strengthen controls.
• Ensure compliance with SLA criteriaspecific to the AP function, including processing turnaround times, payment accuracy, query resolution timelines, and supplier satisfaction metrics.
• Compile and presentcompliance reports to management, highlighting areas of non-compliance, corrective actions taken, and recommendations for continuous improvement.
• Comply with all Safety, Health, and Environment (SHE) standards, policies, and procedures applicable to the role and the shared services environment.

4. Team Leadership and Performance Management

• Provide leadership and directionto the AP team, fostering a high-performance culture built on accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Role model desired behaviors, including professionalism, customer focus, and operational excellence, setting the standard for the team
• Create an inclusive and engaged team environment, recognizing achievements, addressing challenges constructively, and motivating team members to achieve their full potential.
• Monitor team deliveryagainst Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and key operational metrics, including cash application turnaround times, dispute resolution aging, collection targets, and forecast accuracy
• Identify performance gapsand implement corrective action plans to address underperformance or bottlenecks.
• Prepare and presentteam performance dashboards to the AP Manager, highlighting achievements, risks, and areas requiring attention
• Set individual and team Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)aligned with departmental goals, includingDPO (Days Payable Outstanding), invoice processing accuracy and turnaround time, unprocessed invoice aging, statement reconciliation rate, query resolution time, exception rate, write-off value, forecast accuracy, – ensuring all metrics drive efficiency, accuracy, and strong supplier relationships while supporting working capital objectives.
• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings and formal performance reviews to provide constructive feedback, recognize achievements, and address development areas.
• Work with team membersto create personal development plans (PDPs) that align individual aspirations with team and organizational goals.
• Document performance discussionsand track progress against agreed actions to ensure accountability and transparency
• Identify skills gapswithin the team through performance data, observation, and feedback, and develop targeted training initiatives to address them
• Design and delivertraining programs (or coordinate with AP Manager /Learning & Development) on topics such as SAP AP modules.
• Build cross-functional capabilityby rotating responsibilities or providing stretch assignments to develop team members' breadth of experience
• Maintain a skills matrixfor the team, tracking competencies and identifying succession candidates for key roles
• Establish and maintain open communication channelswith team members through regular team meetings, huddles, and updates on departmental and organizational priorities
• Communicate changesto processes, systems, or policies clearly and proactively, ensuring team members understand the rationale and impact
• Implement management interventionswhere necessary to support team members through transitions, addressing resistance and reinforcing adoption of new ways of working
• Solicit and act onteam feedback, creating a culture where team members feel heard and valued

5. Knowledge Transfer & Handover (Training Requirement)

• Own and maintainthe team-wide process documentation repository, ensuring all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), system navigation guides, workflow maps, and key contact lists are accurate, current, and accessible to all AR team members.
• Establish and enforcedocumentation standards, including version control, review cycles, and formatting consistency, to ensure clarity and usability across the team.
• Review and approveSOPs and guides developed by AP Administrators, providing feedback to ensure completeness, accuracy, and alignment with current systems and policies.
• Identify documentation gapsand prioritize the creation or update of materials for high-risk, complex, or frequently escalated processes
• Lead and coordinatestructured knowledge transfer sessions for portfolio handovers, new hire onboarding, and cross-functional transitions, ensuring a consistent and repeatable approach across the team.
• Develop and maintaina standardized handover framework, including templates, timelines, and competency checklists, to ensure operational continuity during employee movements, promotions, or organizational changes.
• Act as the primary facilitatorfor complex or large-scale handovers (e.g., regional portfolio transfers, system migrations), ensuring all stakeholders are aligned and risks are mitigated.

Qualifications and Experience

• Degree in Accounting or equivalent (NQF7) level Diploma in Accounting
• 5 -7 years’ experience in accounts payable or similar environment with 2 years supervisory / management experience
• Experience with shared services or outsourced finance operations

Knowledge and Skills

• A high degree of computer literacy including knowledge of the MS Office Suite – especially MS Excel and Word
• Good business acumen
• SAP ECC knowledge (P2P Module) essential
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• MS Office
• Analytical and Conceptual.
• Communication (written and verbal).
• Relationship Building.
• Multi-tasking
• Sound knowledge of AP policies and procedures
• Sound knowledge of the regulatory, statutory and compliance frameworks affecting area of responsibility
• Sound knowledge of ERP systems (P2P Module) SAP ECC