Description
The Senior Director of Procure to Pay (P2P) is a senior operational and strategic leader responsible for owning the global P2P engine , spanning procurement operations, third-party risk and onboarding, accounts payable, financial controls, and the systems and automation infrastructure that tie them together.
This role will transform P2P from a transactional function into a scalable, intelligent operating model: automating end-to-end workflows from intake through payment, deploying AI-driven orchestration for approvals and exception handling, and establishing real-time spend visibility and controls across all third-party spend.
Impact:
- Define and execute the global P2P strategy, establishing a unified, scalable operating model that spans procurement operations and accounts payable across all geographies and business units.
- Build and own the P2P transformation roadmap, prioritising initiatives across automation, AI-driven workflow orchestration, systems modernisation, and process standardisation.
- Establish a cohesive governance framework covering policy, controls, approval authority, and compliance , ensuring the P2P function operates with financial rigour and audit readiness at all times.
- Serve as the executive voice of the P2P function, translating operational performance into clear narratives and strategic recommendations for CFO and cross-functional leadership.
End-to-End P2P Automation (Intake → Payment)
- Own the full automation agenda across the procure-to-pay lifecycle , from intake and requisition through purchase order issuance, goods receipt, invoice processing, and supplier payment.
- Lead the design, deployment, and continuous optimisation of automated workflows that eliminate manual effort, reduce cycle times, and increase throughput without adding headcount.
- Partner with Finance Technology and IT to evaluate, implement, and integrate P2P platforms, ERP modules, and point solutions that support the automation roadmap (e.g., Zip, Coupa, Ariba, SAP, Zip, Tipalti).
- Drive catalog expansion, guided buying adoption, and touchless PO rates to minimise off-contract and non-PO spend.
AI-Driven Workflow Orchestration
- Champion the deployment of AI and machine learning capabilities within the P2P stack , including intelligent routing, automated approvals, exception identification, and anomaly detection.
- Define use cases and success metrics for AI-driven automation across requisition intake, invoice matching, approval escalation, and payment risk scoring.
- Partner with data and engineering teams to build AI-powered workflows that continuously learn from transaction data and reduce manual exception handling over time.
- Ensure all AI-driven processes maintain appropriate human oversight, audit trails, and compliance controls.
Real-Time Spend Visibility & Financial Controls
- Build and maintain a real-time spend management framework , providing leadership with current, accurate, and actionable visibility into committed spend, open obligations, and payment flows.
- Design and enforce financial controls across the P2P lifecycle, including three-way match, delegation of authority, supplier payment terms, and duplicate payment prevention.
- Own P2P compliance and risk management, including internal audit readiness, SOX-related controls, and supplier fraud prevention.
- Partner with FP&A and Accounting to ensure P2P data flows accurately support budgeting, accruals, and month-end close processes.
- Establish KPI dashboards and reporting cadences covering PO compliance, invoice cycle time, touchless rate, on-time payment, and supplier satisfaction.
Global Process Standardization at Scale
- Lead the standardisation of P2P processes across all global regions , eliminating fragmentation, localising where legally required, and creating a single, consistent operating standard.
- Build and maintain a global P2P playbook: documented SOPs, workflow diagrams, training materials, and control frameworks that scale across geographies and teams.
- Partner with regional finance, legal, and compliance teams to ensure global P2P processes adhere to local regulatory requirements, tax obligations, and supplier payment regulations.
- Drive change management and adoption programs to embed new processes and systems across a distributed global workforce.
Team Leadership & Organizational Development
- Lead and develop a high-performing global P2P team spanning procurement operations and accounts payable , setting clear expectations, developing talent, and building a culture of ownership and continuous improvement.
- Define the optimal team structure and operating model as the business scales, including decisions around insourcing, outsourcing, and shared services.
- Build strong cross-functional relationships with Strategic Sourcing, Legal, IT, Finance, and business unit leaders to ensure P2P is a trusted, enabling function , not a bottleneck.
- Attract, retain, and develop top operational talent with deep P2P expertise and a growth mindset.
Requirements:
- 15+ years of progressive experience in procure-to-pay, procurement operations, or shared services, with at least 3–5 years in a senior leadership role.
- Proven track record designing and executing P2P transformation programs , including automation implementation, system rollouts, and operating model redesign , at global scale.
- Deep functional expertise across both procurement operations and accounts payable.
- Hands-on experience with enterprise P2P platforms and ERP systems (Zip, Coupa, Ariba, Concur, Emburse, Ramp, SAP, Oracle).
- Strong command of financial controls, compliance frameworks, and audit requirements relevant to third-party spend and AP operations.
- Demonstrated ability to lead and develop global, distributed teams across multiple time zones and cultures.
- Exceptional executive communication skills , able to translate operational complexity into clear strategy and crisp reporting for senior leadership.
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business, Supply Chain, or a related field.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience deploying AI, machine learning, or intelligent automation capabilities within a P2P or finance operations context.
- Familiarity with SOX controls, internal audit processes, and risk frameworks as they apply to AP and procurement.
- Background in high-growth technology or software companies where speed, scale, and financial discipline are equally prioritised.
- Experience leading shared services or business process outsourcing (BPO) transitions.
- MBA or advanced degree; CPSM, CPM, or AP/finance certification a plus.
Pay Range: The pay range for this role is: Zone 1: $237,600-$326,700 USD Zone 2: $213,800-$294,050 USD Zone 3: $202,000-$277,750 USD Zone 4: $190,100-$261,350 USD