Assistant Manager, Accounts Payable

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is a global partnership to make palm oil sustainable. Today, the RSPO is a global, non-profit organisation with over 6,000 voluntary members across 104 countries and territories, representing every link in the supply chain: oil palm producers, palm oil processors and traders, consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, banks and investors, environmental or nature conservation non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and social or developmental NGOs.

At RSPO, we believe that our success is built by the passion, dedication, skills, and expertise of our people. They are the ones who drive our organisation to new heights and guide us through the next phase of our development.

The Assistant Manager, Accounts Payable oversees the daily operations of the Accounts Payable team, ensuring accurate and timely processing of supplier invoices, payments, reconciliations, and compliance with company policies. This role supports the Head, Finance Operations in driving efficiency, strengthening internal controls, enhancing vendor relationships, and leading continuous improvements within the Accounts Payable function.

The location of this role is Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

KEY ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Duties include but will not be limited to the following:

Accounts Payable Operations

• Supervise end-to-end Accounts Payable processing, including invoice verification, matching, posting, and payment execution.
• Ensure adherence to organisation policies, approval workflows, and accounting standards.
• Oversee timely and accurate processing of employee expense claims, vendor payments, and other form of payment requests.
• Monitor Accounts Payable aging and ensure resolution of pending or disputed invoices.

Vendor Account Management

• Maintain strong relationships with suppliers
• Respond to inquiries and resolve payment discrepancies promptly.
• Review vendor statements and ensure timely reconciliation.
• Support negotiations for payment terms and process improvements in collaboration with Procurement.

Reporting & Analysis

• Prepare regular Accounts Payable reports including aging, accruals, etc.
• Analyse trends and recommend process improvements.
• Support month end and year end closing activities.
• Support compliance with direct and indirect taxes.

Compliance & Internal Controls

• Ensure compliance with finance policies and procedures, accounting standards and internal controls.
• Support internal and external audit requests by providing documents and explanations.

Process Improvement & System Maintenance

• Drive automation, workflow optimisation, and efficiency improvements in Accounts Payable operations.
• Implement automation and digital tools to enhance Accounts Payable efficiency.
• Support system enhancements and digital Accounts Payable initiatives.
• Develop standard operating procedures and ensure team adherence.

Team Leadership & Coordination

• Lead, train, and mentor Accounts Payable team members to ensure high productivity and accuracy.
• Allocate tasks and oversee day-to-day workload distribution.
• Conduct performance evaluations and support staff development.
• Act as the main point of contact for escalated Accounts Payable issues.

Apart from the duties stated above, to perform any such duties reasonably assigned.

THE SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT

Education

• University degree in accounting and finance, preferably with professional qualification as a qualified accountant.

Experience

• At least 5 years of experience in accounting, tax, audit and finance operations
• Experience in system implement and integration would be an added advantage
• Preferably with relevant experience in using Salesforce and Certinia accounting software

Technical and Professional Knowledge

• Experience in all finance functional processes and activities
• Strong technical knowledge of accounting standards and regulatory requirements.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including verbal and written communication
• Fluent in English and Malay
• Proficiency in Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Ability to prioritise tasks, detail oriented and good organisational skills

ESSENTIAL SKILLS

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and interact with different stakeholders
• High integrity and a good team player
• Resourceful team-player, with the ability to lead the team in meeting various compliance and deadlines
• Goal oriented and organised
• Self-motivated and the ability to perform multi-tasking