Accounts Payable Supervisor, Japan Team

Job description

Role Purpose

The role within the Sanofi Business Services (SBS) Region ASIA JPAC department drives the Purchase-to-Pay (P2P) Process and Transformation Management with the guidance of the Accounts Payable manager.

This position is integral in the development and successful ongoing implementation of the end to end Purchase to Pay organization within Sanofi Business Services for Asia, JPAC. This includes development of the processes and team to ensure operational efficiency and cost effective Purchase to Pay services for Japan Operations. The purpose of this position is to lead and supervise a department of Accounts Payable Analysts in executing and maximizing the value and efficiency of the Purchase to Pay process in line with strategies provided by Finance and Procurement while acting as a critical gate keeper function to adhere to all company policies.

This individual will operate service governance and strategy, manage and implement relevant internal service level agreements with the business, and will work closely with the Finance/Procurement teams across the regions.

Key Responsibilities

Driving Performance Culture and Right Mindset

·  Accountable for coaching and leading a high performing team that ensures all invoices and payments are processed in compliance with company policy, Procurement Category strategies and other Compliance requirements.
·  Develop a team culture that embraces metrics (SLAs/KPIs), actively seeks continuous improvement to simplify and automate, and where every team member goes the extra inch with customer interactions.
·  Develop and sustain a strong sense of team spirit and cross team co-operation and mutual support.

Stakeholder Management

·  Partner with business stakeholders to understand and support their requirements within the end to end Purchase to Pay process.

Operational Excellence

·  Ensure the team accurately process all invoices on a timely manner, in accordance with the company policies and procedures.
·  Ensure the team promptly perform the GRIR reconciliation and daily/monthly closing activities.
·  Drives for performance and cost effectiveness through evaluation of metrics (SLAs/KPIs) and taking appropriate action if not in line with service level agreements.
·  Address invoice/payment and associated queries on a timely manner. This involves close liaison with designated Subject Matter Expert including Finance and procurement.
·  Ensure consistency and level of understanding on procure to pay tools – visible as trusted Purchase to Pay Subject Matter Expert and provide necessary support to the Support Team.
·  Review and update Standard Operating Procedure/Work Instructions as necessary.

Compliance & Risk Management

·  Ensure the team perform legal/VAT compliance checks and tax calculations.
·  Effectively train and hold staff accountable to sustain internal control environment through performing relevant internal controls and maintain process path compliance through enforcing procure to pay policies and procedures.
·  Perform key SoX controls (including Delegation of Authority, Segregation of Duties) and support audit activities.

Projects

·  Participate in or lead ad-hoc cross functional projects as needed.
·  Support transformation project as necessary.

Expected Skills

·  Excellent understanding of end-to-end Purchase-to-Pay process including Accounts Payables and payment process.
·  Strong knowledge of best in class Accounts Payables techniques and processes.
·  Demonstrated leadership, coaching, teaching, networking and managing performance abilities to drive a high performing team with the right mindset.
·  Capability to work in a regional organization with multiple internal stakeholders and external suppliers at global/regional level.
·  Work efficiently under pressure with little supervision, deliver high level of customer service and follow through with assignments meeting strict deadline.
·  Identifies issues or concerns and works with others to determine an effective course of action.
·  Ability to drive change, and instill change of mindset
·  Strong stakeholder management skills.
·  Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
·  Fluent in English (written and spoken)
·  Fluent in Japanese (written and spoken)

Background and Experience

·  Minimum Bachelor degree with 5 years direct work experience in Accounts Payable environment.
·  Track record in driving and managing process standardization across countries.
·  Proven ability to effectively manage the operational Accounts Payable team as Accounts Payable Manager (or equivalent Shared Services/Finance role) at regional level is a plus.
·  Experience in working in a Global Business Services environment is a plus.
·  International background with exposure to multicultural environments is a plus.

At Sanofi diversity and inclusion is foundational to how we operate and embedded in our Core Values. We recognize to truly tap into the richness diversity brings we must lead with inclusion and have a workplace where those differences can thrive and be leveraged to empower the lives of our colleagues, patients and customers. We respect and celebrate the diversity of our people, their backgrounds and experiences and provide equal opportunity for all.