Description:
To support ongoing business growth and future market expansion, West Pharmaceutical Services has developed a transformation strategy focused on standardizing, simplifying, and centralizing global business operations.
The successful candidate will be part of a shared service team and will be responsible for supporting all aspects of the accounts payable process, ensuring timely and accurate processing of invoices, payments, and T&E. This position plays a key role in maintaining strong supplier relationships, resolving account queries, and driving process efficiencies to support smooth financial operations and continuous improvement initiatives within the AP function.
The ideal candidate will be highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to work efficiently and independently in a fast-paced environment while maintaining accuracy and professionalism.
Key Responsibilities
Supplier Relationship Management
- Maintain effective communication with suppliers to address invoices, payment, and account-related queries in a timely and professional manner.
- Build and sustain positive supplier relationships to ensure smooth business operations and trust.
- Reconcile supplier statements regularly, resolving any discrepancies or outstanding balances.
- Escalate recurring supplier issues or risks to management for review and resolution.
Payment and Invoice Processing
- Leverage AI and automation tools to streamline invoice processing, credit note validation, and payment runs—ensuring greater accuracy, speed, and consistency.
- Accurately process, verify, and post invoices in accordance with internal policies and payment terms.
- Manage end-to-end payment processes ensuring all payments are reviewed and authorized appropriately while maintaining company policy and compliance.
- Manage end-to-end Travel & Expense processes, audit, validate and process employee T&E expense claims, ensuring accuracy, proper documentation and adherence to company policies.
- Monitor AP aging and follow up on unprocessed invoices or discrepancies to ensure timely vendor payments.
- Support month-end and year-end closing activities, including accruals, reconciliations, and reporting.
Cross-Function Collaboration
- Collaborate with internal departments such as Procurement, Finance, and Operations to resolve invoice discrepancies and optimise payment and T&E processes.
- Communicate effectively with business units to obtain missing documentation or approvals required for payment processing.
- Work closely with D&T and Finance transformation teams to support automation initiatives and system enhancements within the AP function.
Data Analysis and Reporting
- Prepare and maintain AP reports, such as aging summaries, payment forecasts, and supplier spend analysis.
- Leverage Power BI to produce insightful monthly reports and dashboards
- Conduct root cause analysis on recurring issues to drive continue improvements
- Drive automation and improvement of AI processes, identifying areas where AI and digital solutions can enhance efficiency
- Analyse payments and T&E data to identify trends, risk, and opportunities for operational efficiencies.
Automation and innovation
- Embrace a mindset of continuous improvement and automation
- Use tools like Power Automate to streamline workflows and reduce manual tasks
- Contribute to the transformation of AP operations by eliminating data entry and focusing on strategic, value-added activities
- Supporting the Manager in driving automation and continuous improvement initiatives within payments and T&E systems and processes.