Accounts Payable - Team Lead

Rubicon; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 800,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in finance and operations seeks an experienced AP Team Lead in South Africa to manage and scale the accounts-payable function. You will lead a team, ensuring timely and compliant payments while improving processes and supplier relationships. The role demands strong analytical skills and a minimum of 7 years in the field with supervisory experience. Excellent communication abilities are essential for successful supplier management and coordination with finance departments.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years' experience in accounts payable or finance operations, with at least 2 years in a supervisory/team lead role.
• Strong practical knowledge of AP controls, VAT and payment processes.
• Experience with supplier onboarding and tax compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the AP team; set performance targets and coach staff.
• Manage end-to-end invoice processing including approvals and timely payment.
• Own supplier reconciliations and resolve queries promptly.

Skills

Accounts payable management

Supplier relationship management

Cash-flow coordination

Process improvement

Analytical skills

Excel skills

Communication skills

Education

Tertiary qualification in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration

Tools

ERP systems (NetSuite desirable)

Job description

The AP Team Lead will manage and scale the accounts-payable function to ensure accurate, timely and compliant payment of suppliers and service providers. The role requires strong controls, supplier relationship management, cash-flow coordination and continuous process improvement to protect the company's working capital and supplier relationships.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and develop the AP team; allocate responsibilities, set performance targets and coach staff to meet SLAs.
• Manage end-to-end invoice processing: receipt, validation, three-way matching (where applicable), approvals and timely payment runs.
• Own supplier reconciliations and resolve supplier queries and disputes promptly.
• Coordinate payment schedules and cash-flow forecasting with Treasury to optimise payment timing without damaging supplier relationships.
• Maintain AP controls and compliance (VAT, withholding tax, supplier onboarding checks, POPIA) and ensure audit readiness.
• Process month-end accruals, prepayments and supplier balances; deliver accurate AP reporting to Finance at close.
• Improve AP processes and automation (e-invoicing, OCR, workflow approvals) to reduce manual effort and errors.
• Manage relationships with key suppliers and with Procurement to resolve invoice disputes and improve onboarding.

KPIs / success measures

• Invoice processing cycle time (invoice-to-pay).
• Payment accuracy rate and reduction of duplicate/incorrect payments.
• Number and value of unapplied/uncleared supplier items at month-end.
• Timeliness and accuracy of AP month-end close and audit queries.
• Supplier satisfaction (where measured).

Experience, skills & qualifications

• Minimum 7 years' experience in accounts payable or finance operations, with at least 2 years in a supervisory/team lead role.
• Strong practical knowledge of AP controls, VAT and payment processes; experience with supplier onboarding and tax compliance.
• ERP experience required (NetSuite desirable) and strong Excel skills.
• Tertiary qualification in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration preferred.
• Strong analytical skills, process orientation and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent communication and relationship management skills.

Reporting lines & relationships

• Reports to: Head of Finance / Finance Manager.
• Direct reports: AP clerks / processors (team size to be defined).
• Key relationships: Procurement, Treasury, Tax, Operations, Suppliers and External Auditors.

Authority

• Operational authority for AP processing and supplier query resolution.
• Authority to initiate payment runs in accordance with treasury schedules and delegated approvals. Specific payment approval limits to be defined by the Group Finance Manager.