Lead Associate - Accounts Payable Operations

Lead Associate - Operations

Company Description

WNS (Holdings) Limited (NYSE: WNS), is a leading Business Process Management (BPM) company. We combine our deep industry knowledge with technology and analytics expertise to co-create innovative, digital-led transformational solutions with clients across 10 industries. We enable businesses in Travel, Insurance, Banking and Financial Services, Manufacturing, Retail and Consumer Packaged Goods, Shipping and Logistics, Healthcare, and Utilities to re-imagine their digital future and transform their outcomes with operational excellence.We deliver an entire spectrum of BPM services in finance and accounting, procurement, customer interaction services and human resources leveraging collaborative models that are tailored to address the unique business challenges of each client. We co-create and execute the future vision of 400+ clients with the help of our 44,000+ employees.

Job Description

1. Role Summary- Lead AssociateAccounts Payable (AP) is responsible for leading and supervising the end‑to‑end accounts payable process, ensuring timely and accurate vendor payments, strong process controls, compliance, team performance, and continuous improvement. This role partners closely with Procurement, Operations, Treasury, and internal auditors.2. Key ResponsibilitiesA. Operational ResponsibilitiesOversee the entire Accounts Payable cycle including invoice receipt, verification, posting, and payments.Ensure 3‑way match process (PO‑GRN‑Invoice) adherence and timely resolution of discrepancies.Review and approve invoices, payment batches, and staff ledger entries.Monitor vendor aging, overdue items, debit balances, and advance reconciliations.Ensure accurate expense coding, tax treatment (GST/TDS), and compliance with statutory requirements.Coordinate weekly/biweekly payment runs and ensure adequate cash-flow planning with Treasury.Manage employee claims, reimbursements, and corporate credit card settlements.B. Vendor & Stakeholder ManagementServe as the escalation point for vendor queries and ensure timely issue resolution.Maintain strong relationships with vendors, procurement teams, plant/ops teams, and auditors.Review vendor statements and ensure reconciliations are completed periodically.C. Controls & ComplianceEnsure adherence to company policies, SOX/ICFR controls, and audit requirements.Support internal, statutory, and tax audits by providing required AP documents and reports.Implement process controls to minimize payment errors, fraud, and duplicate payments.D. Process ExcellenceIdentify process gaps and drive automation/digitalization initiatives (OCR tools, AP workflow, RPA).Establish and track KPIs such as Invoice TAT, GRN Pending, DPO, and On‑time payment %.Standardize SOPs and continuously train the team on new processes or systems.E. Team LeadershipSupervise a team of AP Executives/Analysts.Allocate work, monitor performance, and provide coaching for skill development.Conduct periodic performance reviews and support hiring for AP roles.3. Skills & CompetenciesFunctional SkillsStrong knowledge of Accounts Payable processes, ERP systems (SAP / Oracle / Netsuite), and GST/TDS rules.Experience with vendor reconciliation, invoice workflow tools, bank payment platforms.Sound understanding of P2P cycle, accounting principles, and compliance framework.Soft SkillsLeadership and people management.Strong communication and vendor negotiation abilities.Analytical skills & problem‑solving mindset.Eye for detail and high accuracy.Ability to work under tight deadlines.4. Qualifications & ExperienceEducation: B.Com / M.Com / MBA Finance / CA Inter (preferred).Experience: 5–8+ years in Accounts Payable with at least 1–2 years in a supervisory/lead role.Industry Preference: Shared Services, Manufacturing, IT/ITES, Retail, or similar (customizable).5. KPIs / Success MeasuresInvoice processing TAT% of on‑time vendor paymentsDPO optimizationVendor reconciliation closure rateCompliance adherence & audit findingsTeam performance & productivity improvementsReduction in processing errors & duplicatesProcess automation deliverables

Qualifications

BCom

Experience Level

Entry Level