Manager, Accounts Payable

Manager, Accounts Payable

Heidrick & Struggles is a premier provider of global leadership advisory and on-demand talent solutions, serving the senior-level talent and consulting needs of the world's top organizations. In our role as trusted leadership advisors, we partner with our clients to develop future-ready leaders and organizations, bringing together our services and offerings in executive search, diversity and inclusion, leadership assessment and development, organization and team acceleration, culture shaping and on-demand, independent talent solutions. Heidrick & Struggles pioneered the profession of executive search more than 70 years ago. Today, the firm provides integrated talent and human capital solutions to help our clients change the world, one leadership team at a time.

The Manager, Accounts Payable, reports to the Senior Manager, Accounts Payable, and oversees global accounts payable operations for more than 50 entities across 30+ countries. This role is a proactive, highly organized partner on financial and accounting operations, including vendor master data management, invoice processing, payment execution, and query handling. The Manager brings sound prioritization, a strong sense of urgency, and consistent attention to accuracy, compliance, and service commitments. The role also partners with global offices, leadership teams, and corporate functions to strengthen controls, streamline workflows, and identify opportunities for automation, AI-enabled tools, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Manage full-cycle accounts payable processes, including invoice processing, vendor management, and payment execution.
• Lead a remote team of seven professionals, including AP supervisors and analysts based in Chicago, London, Munich, and Tampa, fostering collaboration and accountability.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and provide opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Track AP key performance indicators and metrics, proactively prioritize trends, risks, and service issues, and deliver actionable insights to senior leadership.
• Create, document, and enforce policies, procedures, and best practices that improve organization, standardize execution, and support operational excellence.
• Monitor and review weekly pay cycles, triage urgent payment issues, and manage emergency payments with appropriate prioritization and control discipline.
• Maintain knowledge of widely accepted global payment methods, including SEPA and local direct debit, as well as banking infrastructure and international payment-processing trends.
• Adhere to GAAP, SOX, internal controls, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Prepare documentation for internal and external audits.
• Manage month-end and year-end closing activities related to accounts payable, including accruals and reconciliations.
• Build and maintain strong vendor relationships and resolve complex payment and dispute issues.
• Collaborate with Procurement, Treasury, Accounting, and other corporate teams to streamline workflows, reduce manual effort, and implement automation solutions that improve speed, accuracy, and scalability.
• Lead or support ERP and AP system upgrades, maintenance, and implementations, including systems such as PeopleSoft Financials, Concur, Workday, and Salesforce.
• Identify and address AP process and technology gaps, championing continuous improvement, automation, and practical AI-enabled solutions.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field.
• Seven or more years of progressive accounts payable experience, including at least one year in a managerial or supervisory role.
• Proven leadership in team development, performance management, and coaching.
• Expertise in international AP operations, currencies, foreign exchange, VAT, and regulatory frameworks.
• Demonstrated success implementing process improvements, automation, workflow streamlining, and internal controls in a complex AP environment.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with ad hoc requests, changing priorities, and time-sensitive deliverables that require strong judgment and urgency.
• Proficiency in AP/P2P software, such as PeopleSoft Financials, Workday, Concur, Salesforce, and Zip/Coupa.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including the ability to analyze and visualize financial data.
• Excellent communication, prioritization, organizational, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams, deadlines, and stakeholder needs effectively.
• Experience working in a global or multi-entity organization.
• Familiarity with electronic payment platforms and e-invoicing tools.
• Eagerness to learn and apply emerging technologies, including automation and AI tools, to improve productivity, strengthen controls, and enhance the employee and vendor experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, strong attention to detail, and a high degree of accuracy.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment.
• Customer orientation, including the ability to understand internal and external customer needs and act to fulfill and exceed expectations.
• Analytical thinking, including the ability to evaluate business problems quantitatively, develop solutions, and assess tradeoffs.
• Self-confidence and determination, with a calm focus on results in challenging situations.
• Ability to develop and apply creative solutions, anticipate business needs, and champion innovation to improve performance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading or supporting AP process automation, workflow optimization, or continuous-improvement initiatives.
• Experience with ERP or AP system implementations, upgrades, or maintenance, including platforms such as PeopleSoft Financials, Workday, Concur, Salesforce, or Zip/Coupa.
• Experience with electronic payment platforms, e-invoicing tools, and international payment methods such as SEPA and local direct debit.
• Experience leading distributed teams across multiple countries or time zones.
• Experience applying AI-enabled tools to improve AP productivity, strengthen controls, or enhance the employee and vendor experience.

Pay Range Guidelines for this Position:

The salary range for this position is 100000 USD to 120000 USD. Compensation is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience and skills. In addition to your salary, Heidrick & Struggles offers discretionary bonuses (subject to eligibility requirements) and a comprehensive benefits package including: medical, dental, vision, disability leave, parental leave, paid time off and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). Note: we have a location based compensation structure; there may be a different range for candidates in other locations.

Heidrick & Struggles is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring qualified protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, veteran or military status, or citizenship status.

Qualified consultants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for this opportunity in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

Heidrick & Struggles is committed to providing reasonable accommodations and/or adjustments during our recruitment process. If you are selected for an interview and require an accommodation and/or adjustment, please inform your Talent Acquisition professional.