Manager, Accounts Receivable Global Process Owner

The Global Accounts Receivable (AR) Process Owner is responsible for the end-to-end governance, standardization, and performance management of the Accounts Receivable process across all regions and business divisions. This role drives global consistency, performance KPIs, process optimization, digital transformation, and compliance—ensuring AR practices support the company's strategic and operational objectives.

Job Purpose

Process Ownership & Performance Management

• Own and manage the global AR process lifecycle, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, service level agreements (SLAs), and internal controls.

• Define and enforce global AR policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with applicable accounting standards and regulations.

• Establish, track and analyze AR KPIs (e.g., DSO, overdue receivables, unapplied cash) and take corrective actions where performance deviates from targets.

Standardization & Optimization

• Drive standardization of AR activities across all business units and regions, while accounting for local legal or regulatory exceptions.

• Identify and implement process improvements, including workflow redesign, automation opportunities, and digitization to reduce manual work and errors.

• Lead or support the rollout of ERP upgrades and AR tools globally (e.g., SAP FSCM, HighRadius, BlackLine).

Process Design, Documentation & Training

• Develop global process maps, SOPs, and internal control documentation for AR processes.

• Deliver training to AR teams and business stakeholders to ensure consistent process execution and awareness of AR policy.

• Monitor knowledge gaps and continuously enhance training content to reflect best practices and system enhancements.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Act as the global AR point of contact across regions and divisions, ensuring collaboration with Sales, Customer Service, IT, and Legal to resolve escalations and systemic issues.

• Partner with the Finance Business Partners and Regional Controllers to align process execution with business needs.

Compliance, Controls & Risk Management

• Ensure the AR process adheres to internal controls, accounting standards, and regional regulatory requirements (e.g., VAT invoicing).

• Support internal and external audits, providing documentation and evidence of control execution as needed.

SLA & Customer Account Oversight

• Monitor AR activities against agreed service level agreements (SLAs), ensuring timely billing, collections, and dispute resolution.

• Review customer account activity and validate balances to ensure completeness and accuracy.

• Investigate anomalies and coordinate corrective action with regional teams.

Project Leadership

• Lead and prioritize global and regional projects to enhance AR operations, including automation, analytics development, and system integration.

• Serve as a project lead or SME in cross-functional initiatives impacting the order-to-cash cycle.

Qualification & Skills Required

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field.

• Advanced degree (MBA, MAcc) or relevant certifications (CPA, CMA, Six Sigma) are a plus.

Experience

• 7+ years of relevant experience in Accounts Receivable, finance operations, or shared services, ideally with global or multi-region exposure.

• Proven track record in leading AR process improvement and automation initiatives.

• Experience with ERP systems (e.g., SAP) and AR tools, proficient in Excel.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strong understanding of end-to-end AR processes, internal controls, and financial reporting principles.

• Proactive mindset with strong analytical, problem-solving, and continuous improvement capabilities.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement ski