Accounts Payable Manager, EMEA

At Warner Music Group were a global collective of music makers and music lovers tech innovators and inspired entrepreneurs game-changing creatives and passionate team members. Here we turn dreams into stardom and audiences into fans. We are guided by three core values that underpin everything we do across all our diverse businesses:

• Curiosity: We do our best work when were immersing ourselves in culture and breaking through barriers. Curiosity is the driving force behind creativity and ingenuity. It fuels innovation and innovation is the key to our future.

• Collaboration: Making music and bringing it to the world is all about the power of originality amplified by teamwork. A great idea like a great song travels globally. We ignite passions and build connections across our diverse community of artists songwriters partners and fans.

• Commitment: We pursue excellence for our team and our talent. Everything in music starts with a leap into the unknown and were committed to keeping the faith acting with integrity and delivering on our promises.

WMG is home to a wide range of artists musicians and songwriters that fuel our success. That is why we are committed to creating a work environment that actively values appreciates and respects everyone. We encourage applications from people with a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences.

Consider a career at WMG and get the best of both worlds an innovative global music company that retains the creative spirit of a nimble independent.

Job Title: Accounts Payable Manager EMEA Shared Service Centre

A little bit about our team:

Warner Musics European Shares Service Centre is the home to the financial tax and administrative functions that provide critical support and best-in-class services to our European Recorded Music and Publishing businesses. The UK Centre embodies the innovative and creative spirit that stems from the companys deep history in nurturing entrepreneurial thinking and artist-focused innovation enabling our employees to develop a wide range of skills through cross-functional collaboration and development opportunities.

Your role:

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.

Key Responsibilities:

Team Leadership & Performance Management:

• 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.

Invoice & Payment Processing:

• 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.

Process Optimisation & Automation:

• 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.

Reconciliation Reporting & Sub-Ledger Ownership:

• 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.

Compliance & Risk Management:

• 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.

Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration:

• 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.

Key Skills and Competencies:

• 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.

Qualifications & Skills:

Education:

• Bachelors 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.

Experience:

• 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.

Technical Skills:

• 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.

• Knowledge and enforcement of SOX compliance controls and their application within PTP processes.

Leadership & Communication:

• 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.

As the home to 10K Projects Asylum Atlantic Music Group East West FFRR Fueled by Ramen Nonesuch Parlophone Rhino Roadrunner Sire Warner Records Warner Classics and several other of the worlds premier recording labels Warner Music Group champions emerging artists and global superstars alike. And our renowned publishing company Warner Chappell Music represents genre-spanning songwriters and producers through a catalog of more than one million copyrights worldwide. Warner Music Group is also home to ADA which supports the independent community as well as artist services division addition WMG counts film and television storytelling powerhouse Warner Music Entertainment among its many brands.

Together we are Warner Music Group: Independent Minds. Major Sound.

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WMG is committed to inclusion and diversity in all aspects of our business. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and will evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race religion or belief age sex sexual orientation gender gender identity or gender reassignment marital or civil partnership status disability pregnancy childbirth or any other characteristic protected by law.