Accounts Payable Lead
Location: Hyderabad, India - Hybrid (2 days in office)
Company Overview
KiddeFenwal is the global market leader in designing and manufacturing innovative industrial and commercial fire suppression systems and safety controls. Our proprietary, fully certified offerings save lives, protect property, and minimize business interruption.
Our brands—Kidde Fire Systems and Kidde Fire Protection—deliver highly engineered fire suppression, detection, and control systems across industrial, commercial, and marine sectors. Fenwal Controls supports OEMs with gas ignition, temperature control, and overheat detection products.
Headquartered in Ashland, Massachusetts, KiddeFenwal operates globally, with facilities in the U.S., United Kingdom (KFI-UK), and India (KTI-India). Learn more at www.kiddefenwal.com
Position Summary:
We are seeking a highly experienced Accounts Payable leader to manage and scale our global AP shared services function from India. This role will oversee Accounts Payable operations across the United States, United Kingdom, and India, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant financial processes. The position requires close collaboration with global stakeholders and alignment with US working hours to support international business operations. This role will report to the Assistant Corporate Controller based in US, will be responsible for managing a team and ensuring efficient operations across global AP processes, with a focus on accuracy, speed, and compliance.
Key Responsibilities
-
Lead the global Accounts Payable shared services function supporting operations across the US, UK, and India, ensuring efficient, accurate, and timely processing of vendor payments.
-
Drive operational excellence by standardizing and optimizing end-to-end AP processes, including invoice processing, payment cycles, and vendor management across all regions.
-
Evaluate and enhance payment terms, cycles, and strategies to optimize working capital and improve cash flow globally.
-
Build, lead, and develop a high-performing AP team; provide coaching, mentorship, and career development opportunities.
-
Partner with cross-functional teams (Procurement, Treasury, Accounting) across the US, UK, and India to resolve complex issues related to vendor payments, cash applications, and reconciliations.
-
Establish and maintain strong vendor relationships across regions, proactively addressing payment-related inquiries and escalations.
-
Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and service level agreements (SLAs) to ensure consistent service delivery and continuous improvement across geographies.
-
Develop and maintain dashboards and reporting frameworks to provide actionable insights into AP performance, payment cycles, and outstanding issues globally.
-
Identify process gaps and implement automation and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance accuracy, efficiency, and compliance.
-
Ensure adherence to internal controls, company policies, and regulatory requirements across the US, UK, and India.
-
Escalate critical financial or operational risks in a timely manner and drive resolution.
-
Maintain effective communication with global stakeholders, providing clear and timely financial updates and insights.
-
Operate in alignment with US time zones while supporting stakeholders across multiple time zones, including the UK and India.
-
Support ERP and Accounts Payable system enhancements, upgrades, and implementations.
-
Prepare management reports and present operational performance updates.
-
Analyze trends and recommend improvements to optimize service delivery.
Qualifications & Skills
-
Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or a related field.
-
Professional certification (CA, CMA, ACCA, or equivalent) preferred.
-
8–12+ years of experience in Accounts Payable and/or Finance Shared Services, with demonstrated leadership experience in a global environment.
-
Strong expertise in AP processes, including invoice processing, vendor payments, reconciliations, and cash management.
-
Experience supporting finance operations across the US, UK, and India or similar multi-region environments.
-
Proficiency in ERP systems, JD Edwards (JDE) is highly preferred
-
Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret financial data and drive actionable insights.
-
Proven track record of process improvement, automation, and transformation initiatives.
-
Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to independently resolve complex financial discrepancies.
-
Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence across functions and geographies.
-
Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial information clearly and effectively.
-
High attention to detail, with a strong focus on accuracy and compliance.
-
Flexibility to work US hours and collaborate across multiple time zones.
