Team Leader: Creditors

Job Description,

Overall Job Purpose

To lead and manage the Accounts Payable function, ensuring accurate and timely supplier payments, effective team performance, sound financial controls, regulatory compliance, and excellent stakeholder service while supporting operational efficiency and business objectives.

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Requirements,

Education

• Diploma or Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or a related field.

Experience

• Minimum 5 years' Accounts Payable/Creditors experience
• Minimum 2 years' experience leading or supervising a team
• Experience in ERP systems (Great Plains advantageous)
• Financial services/insurance experience advantageous
• Strong reconciliations and payment processing experience
• Demonstrated experience managing month-end deliverables and supplier relationships

Knowledge And Skills

• Strong communication skills (written and verbal).
• Management experience is a clear advantage
• Strong reconciliation experience is required
• Experience in the use of Microsoft Office applications (Word and Excel etc)
• Proficient in MS Office - Advanced Excel

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Duties and Responsibilities,

Key Accountabilities

People Management

• Managing and leading account payable team. Provide team leadership (setting individual objectives, managing performance, developing and motivating staff, providing formal and informal feedback and appraisal) to ensure the highest level of performance is achieved.
• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings.
• Create an environment where team members are encouraged to take ownership and use their initiative to implement plans in the best way.
• Conduct effective resource planning (using Workforce Management tools and data) to maximise the productivity of resources (people, process, technology), ensuring optimal staffing across on-site and remote teams.
• Hire, coach, and provide training to personnel to maintain high member service standards, including upskilling team members in the use of new digital tools and AI-driven support systems.
• Monitor productivity and quality metrics
• Manage employee relations and performance interventions

Financial Accounting

• Ensure compliance with Delegation of Authority (DOA), financial policies and internal controls through the review and approval of invoices and payment transactions.
• Prepare and review weekly and monthly payment forecasts and support working capital optimisation.
• Monitor creditor ageing and ensure overdue accounts are proactively managed.
• Review payment batches and monitor payment turnaround times to ensure timely and accurate supplier payments.
• Post creditors transactions on Great Plains and ensure correct VAT treatment is applied.
• Ensure all payment documentation is appropriately filed and retained in accordance with audit requirements.
• Produce Accounts Payable performance reports and monitor key operational metrics.
• Ensure monthly month-end deadlines are achieved.
• Generate and review monthly creditors reconciliation schedules, resolve reconciliation queries, and report on outstanding balances.
• Ensure all queries received through the creditors inbox are resolved within agreed turnaround times.
• Maintain audit readiness, support internal and external audits, and implement audit recommendations.

Additional Accountabilities

• Sorting out of any ad-hoc creditor query/payment and measurement of turnaround
• All other ad-hoc admin and creditor related tasks
• Maintain year to date BBBEE Procurement spend
• Compiling group training schedule for BEE purposes on a monthly basis
• Maintain the vendor master data lists.
• Drive process improvement initiatives
• Support system enhancement projects
• Improve AP automation and digital workflows
• Identify opportunities for operational efficiencies

Stakeholder Management

• Cultivate a performance-driven team that collaborates closely with support teams and other departments to achieve shared business goals.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners, ensuring alignment and support for service enhancements and transformation initiatives.
• Maintain strong supplier relationships
• Resolve escalated supplier payment disputes
• Partner with Procurement, Finance and Business Units
• Support service level agreements with internal stakeholders