Head of Accounts Payable
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Key skills for this role
About the Role
The Independent Food Company seeks a Head of Accounts Payable to establish and scale the AP function across multiple hospitality brands. The role involves owning the full Procure-to-Pay cycle, implementing digital approval workflows, enforcing 3-way match, and driving automation.
Key Skills for This Role
Responsibilities
- Take control of the P2P cycle: Own end to end AP from PO to payment; establish a documented, controlled, auditable process across all entities
- Implement a digital approval workflow: Replace ad hoc approval emails with a system based, DOA aligned workflow
- Enforce 3 way match & SoD: PO–GRN–invoice match on >95% of POs; segregate invoice entry, approval, and payment release
- Eliminate duplicate & fraudulent payments: Build duplicate invoice controls, supplier bank validation, and an exception log
- Clean & govern the vendor master: De duplicate and deactivate dormant vendors; complete KYC/AML and UBO capture
- Drive AP automation (OCR/AI): Deploy OCR/AI invoice capture to take the manual load off the team
- Own payment terms & working capital: Standardise and extend supplier terms without service disruption
- Reconcile aggregators & intercompany: Own reconciliation of aggregator commissions and intercompany payables
- Close the stock in transit gap: Establish visibility and accrual discipline over shipped/in transit stock
- Fix physical & process controls: Address control gaps in AP/warehouse environment
- Build & document SOPs: Every AP transaction class with a documented, version controlled SOP; cross train to remove key person risk
- Prepare for the Phase 2 merge: Align process, controls, and master data to CoE standards
Requirements
- Qualified or part qualified accountant — CMA / ACCA / CA or equivalent; strong P2P specialisation
- 8–12 years in Accounts Payable / P2P, including 3+ years leading an AP team in a multi entity environment
- F&B, hospitality, retail, or high volume multi outlet background strongly preferred
- Proven track record automating AP (OCR / invoice capture / workflow) and cleaning vendor master data
- Strong NetSuite (or equivalent ERP) AP module expertise; comfortable with bank API payments and approval workflow tools
- Working knowledge of UAE VAT input tax rules, WPS, and KYC/AML & UBO requirements for vendor onboarding
- Hands on, control minded leader able to run high volume processing while raising the control bar
Full Job Posting
Company Overview
- Driven to create unique home grown food concepts that bring people together, the Independent Food Company is a UAE based hospitality company with multiple concepts under its umbrella – SALT, Parker’s, Somewhere, Public, Soil, Shalwa and Kumo.
Role Overview
- We are presently seeking to hire a highly qualified Head of Accounts Payable to establish and Stand up Accounts Payable as a controlled, scalable function across all brands and entities, owning the full Procure to Pay cycle.
Scope of Function (Phase 1)
- Invoice processing & booking — ~3,000 invoices/month across all entities (supplier, utility, rent, aggregator commission, intercompany)
- Payment runs & treasury interface — scheduled runs, bank API payment files, payment release controls, cash flow input to Treasury
- 3 way match & controls — PO ↔ GRN ↔ invoice matching, exception handling, duplicate & fraud prevention, approval workflow
- Vendor master & supplier management — onboarding (KYC/AML, UBO), master data hygiene, supplier rationalisation, statement reconciliation
- Import, landed cost & stock in transit — coordination with shipping line (Maersk) on in transit stock, customs/duty accruals, landed cost capture
- Staff & expense payables — petty cash, employee expense claims, corporate card reconciliation
Key Responsibilities
- Take control of the P2P cycle: Own end to end AP from PO to payment; establish a documented, controlled, auditable process across all entities.
- Implement a digital approval workflow: Replace the daily 2–3 ad hoc approval emails with a system based, DOA aligned workflow routed by threshold; eliminate paper and print outs.
- Enforce 3 way match & SoD: PO–GRN–invoice match on >95% of POs; segregate invoice entry, approval, and payment release; maker checker on vendor bank detail changes.
- Eliminate duplicate & fraudulent payments: Build duplicate invoice controls, supplier bank validation, and an exception log; target zero duplicate payments post controls.
- Clean & govern the vendor master: De duplicate and deactivate dormant vendors; complete KYC/AML and UBO capture; no new vendor without complete documentation and AP/CoE sign off.
- Drive AP automation (OCR/AI): Deploy OCR/AI invoice capture to take the ~3,000 invoice manual load off the team; target >80% auto capture and >40% cut in processing time.
- Own payment terms & working capital: Standardise and extend supplier terms (target +10 days DPO) without service disruption; manage the payment calendar and supplier relationships.
- Reconcile aggregators & intercompany: Own reconciliation of aggregator commissions (Talabat / Careem / Deliveroo) and intercompany payables — clear ownership for who books what.
- Close the stock in transit gap: Establish visibility and accrual discipline over shipped / in transit stock (incl. Maersk), customs and duty, and landed cost — currently no owner.
- Fix physical & process controls: Address control gaps in the AP / warehouse environment (e.g., no CCTV coverage), goods receipt integrity, and document retention.
- Build & document SOPs: Every AP transaction class with a documented, version controlled SOP; cross train to remove key person risk.
- Prepare for the Phase 2 merge: Align process, controls, and master data to CoE standards so AP folds cleanly into Financial Control at 6–9 months.
Qualifications & Experience
- Qualified or part qualified accountant — CMA / ACCA / CA or equivalent; strong P2P specialisation
- 8–12 years in Accounts Payable / P2P, including 3+ years leading an AP team in a multi entity environment
- F&B, hospitality, retail, or high volume multi outlet background strongly preferred
- Proven track record automating AP (OCR / invoice capture / workflow) and cleaning vendor master data
- Strong NetSuite (or equivalent ERP) AP module expertise; comfortable with bank API payments and approval workflow tools
- Working knowledge of UAE VAT input tax rules, WPS, and KYC/AML & UBO requirements for vendor onboarding
- Hands on, control minded leader able to run high volume processing while raising the control bar
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