Accounts Payable Manager

Forum Fribourg SA seeks a Senior Accounts Payable Manager in Geneva to lead the AP team, ensure operational excellence, and manage financial controls while reporting to the Head of Finance.

This position is pivotal for maintaining robust controls and high service standards across the organization. The successful candidate will report directly to the Head of Finance, taking full responsibility for the leadership, development, and daily oversight of the Accounts Payable department.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day leadership, coaching, and performance management for the Accounts Payable team.
• Oversee all Accounts Payable operations to ensure accuracy, compliance, and efficient service delivery.
• Manage vendor payments, including wire transfers and foreign currency transactions, ensuring timely and correct processing.
• Lead month-end, quarter-end, and year-end closing activities, adhering to strict timelines and quality benchmarks.
• Ensure the accurate completion and review of balance sheet reconciliations related to Accounts Payable.
• Monitor Accounts Payable ageing reports and proactively manage payment cycles and outstanding balances.
• Enforce compliance with travel expense and Corporate Credit Card policies, implementing corrective actions when necessary.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across processes, systems, and team capabilities.
• Lead or contribute to projects focused on process optimization and system enhancements within the AP function.
• Serve as the primary point of accountability for AP, ensuring adherence to internal policies, controls, and accounting standards.

Requirements

• A degree in Finance, Accounting, or Business Administration.
• A professional accounting qualification such as ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or the Swiss Brevet Federal in Accounting.
• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience, including proven success in managing and developing AP or similar finance teams.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge, specifically regarding Swiss VAT and cost accounting principles.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams while remaining operationally credible and hands-on when required.
• Extensive experience with systems and ERP platforms, with a track record of driving process improvements.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills across various functions and seniority levels.
• Superior communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving abilities.
• Fluency in English, both written and spoken.

Nice to have

• Experience leading or contributing to finance transformation or process improvement initiatives.
• Proficiency in French.

About the company

Forum Fribourg SA is an independent and impartial organization with over 55 years of experience connecting leaders to address global challenges. The company believes progress stems from bringing together diverse individuals who drive collective action, shape mindsets, and build cooperation to improve the state of the world.

• Fosters a global team environment that brings leaders together through dialogue to build trust.
• Focuses on turning shared understanding of complex global issues into collective solutions.
• Dedicated to building awareness and cooperation to move the world forward together.