Accounts Payable Manager, Warner Music Group
EMEA
Salary not provided
SAP
Mid and Senior level
London
2+ days a week in office (Wrights Lane, London)
Entertainment and record label company
Be an early applicant
Entertainment and record label company
1001+ employees
B2CB2BMusicEntertainmentDigital Media
Be an early applicant
Salary not provided
SAP
Mid and Senior level
London
2+ days a week in office (Wrights Lane, London)
1001+ employees
B2CB2BMusicEntertainmentDigital Media
Company mission
To foster a culture of innovation and inclusion for their people, artists, and songwriters across the globe.
Role
Who you are
- Strong leadership and people management skills, with experience in leading a PTP or Accounts Payable team
- Expertise in full-cycle accounts payable and PTP processes, preferably within a shared services or multinational environment
- Proficiency in ERP systems, particularly SAP and Ariba, with a focus on PTP module configurations
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify trends and drive process improvements
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively at all levels
- Experience in implementing automation tools (e.g., robotic process automation, AI-driven workflows) to optimize processes
- Understanding of compliance, internal controls, and risk management related to PTP functions
- Knowledge and enforcement of SOX compliance controls and their application within PTP processes
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field (or equivalent relevant experience)
- A recognised accounting qualification (e.g., ACCA, CIMA, ACA) is desirable
- Significant experience in leading a PTP or Accounts Payable function, ideally within a shared service centre or multinational environment
- Strong track record in process optimisation, automation, and digital transformation initiatives
- Demonstrated experience managing and developing high-performing teams
- Proven experience in stakeholder management, including working with senior leadership and cross-functional teams
- Experience implementing and enforcing Purchase Order policies and improving three-way matching compliance
- Advanced proficiency in ERP systems, particularly SAP (including SAP S/4HANA) and Ariba
- Expertise in automation tools (e.g., robotic process automation, AI-driven workflows) to optimise PTP processes
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret data and drive actionable insights
- Ability to lead, motivate, and develop teams in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels
- Excellent negotiation and conflict resolution skills
What the job involves
- As the Accounts Payable Manager, you will be responsible for overseeing the end-to-end Procure-to-Pay (PTP) operations within the EMEA SSC
- This role ensures efficient invoice processing, timely payments, and compliance with company policies and external regulations
- You will lead and support a team, collaborate with key business stakeholders, and drive process improvements to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in PTP operations
- Lead and manage the PTP team, ensuring timely and accurate processing of invoices and payments
- Provide guidance, training, and development opportunities to enhance team capabilities
- Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and drive continuous improvements to optimise service delivery
- Implement training programmes to enhance team knowledge of PTP processes and systems
- Drive a customer service-oriented culture within the team, ensuring high levels of service and responsiveness to internal and external stakeholders
- Oversee the accurate and timely processing of invoices from multiple sources, ensuring adherence to company policies and compliance requirements
- Ensure timely payments to vendors, resolving discrepancies and disputes effectively
- Maintain strong relationships with vendors and internal stakeholders to ensure smooth operations
- Drive significant improvements in payment performance, with reference to Payment Practices Reporting requirements
- Monitor and drive compliance with the Purchase Order (PO) process, ensuring that invoices are matched correctly against POs and goods receipts
- Work with business units to increase PO adoption and ensure adherence to the No PO, No Pay policy
- Educate vendors and internal teams on the importance of three-way matching (PO, goods receipt, invoice) to enhance control and efficiency
- Identify areas for process improvement and implement best practices to enhance efficiency and accuracy
- Work closely with IT and Finance teams to leverage technology solutions, including SAP, Ariba, and automation tools, to streamline PTP operations
- Support digital transformation initiatives, including e-invoicing, automated workflows, and self-service supplier portals
- Support entities transitioning onto the SSC, delivering a PTP function on their behalf through SAP S/4HANA instead of legacy systems and local processes
- Develop reporting and tracking mechanisms to measure PO compliance, goods receipting timeliness, and three-way matching effectiveness
- Enforce compliance with company policies, standardised processes, and best practices to ensure consistency across all PTP activities
- Ensure full ownership of the AP sub-ledger, ensuring reconciliation to the general ledger at period end
- Accurately account for all purchase ledger transactions, including payments and rejected payments
- Ensure regular reconciliations of accounts payable transactions, resolving discrepancies promptly
- Prepare and present PTP reports to senior management, highlighting key metrics and insights
- Assist with month-end and year-end closing processes, ensuring accuracy and compliance
- Ensure adherence to company policies, internal controls, and regulatory requirements related to PTP processes
- Support internal and external audit requests, providing necessary documentation and explanations
- Mitigate financial and operational risks by implementing robust control mechanisms
- Drive compliance from the business and vendors with regard to the No PO, No Pay policy, ensuring strict adherence and implementing corrective actions as necessary
- Drive compliance from the business and vendors regarding the Purchase Order policy, ensuring adherence and implementing corrective actions as necessary
- Ensure compliance with SOX controls, maintaining proper documentation and adherence to internal financial control standards
- Act as the key point of contact for PTP-related queries from internal stakeholders across EMEA
- Work closely with procurement, finance, and treasury teams to align PTP operations with broader business objectives
- Drive initiatives to enhance vendor relationships, including improved communication and service levels
- Partner with Finance teams to ensure that purchase requisitions, PO approvals, and goods receipting processes are aligned with best practices and business needs
- Educate vendors and internal stakeholders on compliance requirements and best practices
Salary benchmarks
Our take
Warner Music Group (WMG) is a music and entertainment conglomerate that operates in more than 70 countries through its network of affiliates and licensees. As one of the “big-three” recording companies, it is a leader in the global music industry.
As the company looks forward to the future of music and technology, it has been focusing on its Web3 expansion within the Metaverse, creating new partnerships with a growing number of blockchain platforms – including The Sandbox, OpenSea, and OneOf. WMG is also expanding into gamification and is set to enable signed artists to release music NFTs through the Polygon-based marketplace LGND Music.
With the appointment of tech veteran and former Chief Businesses Officer at YouTube, Robert Kyncl, as its new CEO, WMG is further proving its dedication to breaking into the future of Web3 in an all-encompassing way, and it is well set to replicate its “real-world” success within the metaverse.
Kirsty
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
Company
Company HQ
Theater District, New York, NY
Leadership
Robert Kyncl
(CEO)Former Chief Business Officer at YouTube, VP of Content at Netflix and was an International Manager at HBO.
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