JOB DESCRIPTION FOR AP HEAD

Group Head – Accounts Payable (P2P)

Company: Sturlite Electric Private Limited & Group Companies

Position Overview

The Group Head – Accounts Payable (P2P) will lead the end-to-end procure-to-pay (P2P) cycle across Sturlite Electric and its subsidiaries. This role is responsible for invoice processing, vendor management, payments, statutory compliance, and AP process automation in SAP. The AP Head will be the go-to expert for all AP processes, policies, and best practices, ensuring efficiency, compliance, and strong vendor relationships while building and mentoring a high-performing team.

Key Responsibilities

1. Process Ownership & Execution

·Act as the subject-matter expert for all AP-related processes, policies, and best practices.

·Ensure accurate and timely processing of invoices, credit notes, vendor payments, and employee reimbursements in SAP.

·Verify invoice accuracy against POs, GRNs, and contracts, coordinating with procurement and finance teams for clarifications.

·Review and resolve escalations related to invoice discrepancies, vendor queries, and payment issues.

·Prepare payment schedules and ensure adherence to agreed credit terms to optimize cash flow.

·Monitor AP aging reports, vendor reconciliations, and ensure timely closure of open items.

2. Vendor & Stakeholder Management

·Maintain accurate vendor master data (bank details, GST information) in SAP.

·Serve as the primary escalation point for vendor queries and build strong vendor relationships.

·Collaborate closely with Procurement, Treasury, Tax, and Finance teams to streamline the end-to-end P2P cycle.

3. Compliance & Audit

·Ensure compliance with GST input credit eligibility, TDS deductions, and statutory requirements.

·Maintain proper documentation and internal controls to support internal and external audits.

·Ensure clean AP ledgers and accurate reporting for month-end, quarter-end, and year-end closing activities.

4. Process Automation & Continuous Improvement

·Partner with automation/IT teams to implement process improvements, RPA, and ERP enhancements.

·Drive workflow automation in SAP to reduce manual intervention and errors.

·Build dashboards and MIS reports for AP aging, vendor performance, and payment cycle tracking.

5. Leadership & Team Development

·Build, mentor, and guide a centralized AP team, ensuring process adherence and capability building.

·Conduct knowledge transfer (KT) sessions and support team members in complex query resolution.

·Foster a culture of ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Skills & Knowledge Requirements

Education: CA / CMA (Qualified or Inter) / MBA (Finance) / M.Com with 8–12 years of  Core AP experience, including 3+ years in a leadership role.

·SAP expertise is mandatory (FI-MM modules) — including invoice posting, GR/IR reconciliation, vendor master management, and payment runs.

·Strong knowledge of GST input credit, TDS compliance, and internal control frameworks.

·Proven ability to resolve escalations, optimize working capital, and streamline P2P cycles.

·Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.

·Experience in automation initiatives (RPA/ERP enhancements) is preferred.

KPIs & Success Measures

·        >95% on-time vendor payments with minimal exceptions.

·        100% vendor reconciliations closed monthly and AP aging within agreed terms.

·        Zero major audit findings and clean AP ledgers during closing periods.

·        40%+ reduction in manual effort through SAP workflow automation.

·        High vendor satisfaction scores and improved internal stakeholder feedback.

·        Demonstrated team development, measured by retention, capability building, and process adherence.