Accounts Assistant-Payables at Colgate-Palmolive

Job Description

Job Description Summary

The Accounts Payable Clerk provides vital financial and administrative support to the organization. This role is responsible for accurate payment processing, verifying invoices, managing variances, and reconciling expenses to maintain strict oversight and reporting of outgoing company funds.

Key Responsibilities & Essential Functions

Invoice Verification & Variance Resolution

• Perform rigorous invoice verification against Purchase Orders (POs) and supporting documentation to ensure absolute accuracy and valid business purpose.
• Process and allocate any identified invoice/PO variances within 2 business days of receipt.
• Collate all necessary supporting documentation to facilitate seamless payment processing for local, intercompany, and foreign vendors.
• Effect accurate and timely payments to local, intercompany, and foreign vendors in compliance with company policies.

Reconciliations & Month-End Reporting

• Prepare comprehensive vendor reconciliations for all suppliers providing monthly statements, using Microsoft Excel to reconcile proposed payment balances.
• Prepare monthly AP General Ledger (GL) control reconciliations and balance sheet reconciliations by the 10th of every month.
• Run, analyze, and distribute the monthly GR/IR (Goods Receipt/Invoice Receipt) report by country by the 10th of every month, proactively highlighting overdue POs that require investigation.
• Compile and submit accurate month-end financial reports within established cut-off dates.

Stakeholder & Vendor Communication

• Communicate cross-functionally with various internal departments to resolve queries, address discrepancies, and solve workflow issues efficiently.
• Maintain clear and direct communication with vendors and suppliers to request and secure outstanding documentation and statements.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Education Tertiary Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, or an equivalent field
• Professional Certification CPA Qualification ​(Foundation/Section ​2 complete) is required.
• Work Experience Minimum of 2 years of direct working experience in a Finance / Accounts Payable function.
• Software & Tools Advanced computer proficiency (MS Office, heavy emphasis on Excel). SAP experience is strongly preferred / an added advantage.

Core Competencies

• Analytical & Detail-Oriented: Exceptional focus on precision when matching invoices, spotting variances, and auditing documentation.
• Planning & Priority Setting: Capable of prioritizing daily tasks against tight monthly deadlines (SLA-driven, e.g., 2-day variance turnaround and 10th-of-the-month cut-offs).
• Communication & Teamwork: Strong verbal and written skills to liaise effectively with external suppliers and internal department leaders.
• Problem-Solving & Complexity Management: Strong initiative in investigating overdue POs, resolving multi-country GR/IR variances, and managing complex query resolutions.
• Self-Motivated & Driven: Ability to work independently, manage multiple ongoing priorities, and consistently deliver high-quality, results-oriented work.