Service Delivery Manager (m/f/d) Accounts Payable

Overview

This role leads Accounts Payable service delivery, managing international teams while driving global AP standardization, automation, and strong P2P (procure-to-pay) alignment with stakeholders. The position can be filled from any relevant location, with specific arrangements and details discussed during the interview process.

Responsibilities

Service Delivery Leadership

• Lead the Accounts Payable service delivery organization within the finance function across Central Europe, Transatlantic, and APAC, ensuring reliable, compliant, and customer-oriented AP operations
• Manage an international organization of approximately 50 employees across multiple teams and key organizational sites
• Ensure clear governance, consistent service standards, and strong operational performance

Process Standardization & Automation

• Work with process owners, finance, and IT to professionalize, standardize, and harmonize AP processes globally, including:
  • Invoice receipt and validation
  • Exception handling
  • Approval workflows
  • Payment preparation
  • Supplier account clarification
  • Open-item management
  • Month-end close support
• Drive global AP automation harmonization, including SAP S/4 and other ERP requirements such as workflow standards, reporting, and controls

Stakeholder Management & P2P Collaboration

• Serve as a senior AP point of contact for Procurement, Logistics, Operations, local Finance, Master Data, and suppliers
• Strengthen end-to-end P2P collaboration through professional relationships
• Lead root-cause resolution for blocked invoices, PO/GR mismatches, and master-data issues to improve first-time-right quality and reduce invoice cycle times

Performance, Controls & Continuous Improvement

• Monitor AP KPIs, service levels, automation and touchless-processing rates, invoice aging, and escalation volumes
• Use insights to ensure sustainable remediation of control gaps and inefficiencies rather than short-term fixes

International Team Leadership & Change

• Lead virtual, international teams in a matrix organization, balancing global standards with regional requirements
• Support experienced managers and experts through operating-model and automation change
• Foster a culture of ownership, continuous improvement, and cross-functional collaboration

Requirements

• Completed degree in business administration, finance, accounting, supply chain, procurement, or comparable field
• Several years of leadership experience in Accounts Payable, procure-to-pay, finance operations, shared services, or GBS, ideally in an international or matrix organization
• Strong AP and P2P process expertise, including:
  • PO and non-PO invoice processing
  • Approval workflows
  • GR/IR topics
  • Blocked-invoice management
  • Supplier inquiries
  • Month-end close support
  • Internal controls
  • Reporting
• Practical experience with AP automation solutions and SAP, ideally including SAP S/4 process design or transformation exposure
• Proven experience leading multi-regional teams, setting consistent standards while respecting regional stakeholder needs, local regulations, and differing process maturities
• Confident and empathetic people leadership experience, developing experts and managers, building trust across regions, and leading teams through standardization, automation, and change
• Fluent in English; German or other additional languages are an advantage
• Track record in shaping future-oriented AP operating models, including automation roadmaps, governance, and change management

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing or transforming SAP S/4 processes
• Demonstrated ability to translate business needs into standard processes, automation requirements, and scalable controls

Compensation & Benefits

• Benefits vary depending on the country of employment
• Country-specific benefits will be discussed individually during the interview process

Location

• Can be filled from any relevant location; specific arrangements and details will be discussed during the interview process