Purpose of the Role

The Accounts Payable Specialist supports the Team Leaders and Senior Accountants by delivering accurate and timely Accounts Payable transaction processing. A core responsibility of this role is the resolution of vendor queries in German, requiring confident and professional communication with German-speaking suppliers, in line with defined operating procedures and service level agreements.

Key Responsibilities

• Primary ownership of vendor query resolution in German, including daily communication with German-speaking suppliers via email and phone to resolve invoice discrepancies, payment issues, and master data questions
• Proactive follow-up with internal stakeholders to ensure timely resolution of vendor inquiries
• Maintenance and validation of vendor master data
• Invoice administration, control, and invoice receipt handling
• Invoice posting preparation and transfer to SAP FI
• Execution of invoice processing and payment processing activities
• Period-end processing and related reporting activities
• Generation of standard AP reports and ad hoc analyses as requested by the Team Leader
• Conflict and issue management related to vendor accounts and payments
• Achievement of performance objectives agreed with the assigned Team Leader
• Contribution to Accounts Payable process improvements and standardization initiatives
• Support delivery of Accounts Payable performance and quality targets as defined in SLAs
• Execution of additional tasks within the AP area as agreed with the Team Leader

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Business Administration, or a related field with a focus on Accounting
• Professional certification (e.g. CPA, CMA) is an advantage
• 1–2 years of experience in Accounts Payable or another core finance function in a high-volume, complex environment
• Solid understanding of accounting principles, reporting requirements, and financial controls
• Very good command of German (written and spoken) – mandatory, with the ability to independently handle vendor communication and issue resolution
• Excellent business English (written and spoken) for internal communication within an international finance organization
• Strong communication skills, with confidence in interacting with vendors, internal customers, and management
• Experience with SAP FI, scanning solutions, and workflow tools
• Strong knowledge of MS Office, particularly Excel
• Shared Service Center (SSC) experience is an advantage

Behavioural Competencies

• Strong customer focus with a solution-oriented mindset
• Excellent communication and analytical skills
• Well-developed interpersonal skills and ability to build effective working relationships
• Team-oriented approach with a high level of accountability
• Ability to work effectively under time pressure and manage competing priorities

Digital Skills

• Intermediate to advanced Excel skills; VBA and macro development experience is a plus
• Experience using digital tools within finance and ERP environments
• Knowledge of SAP data structures and table analysis is an advantage
• Experience with non-standard ERP functionalities is a plus
• Ability to identify and apply digital tools (e.g. RPA, VBA, AI) to improve AP processes
• Experience in identifying and implementing small process improvements; Lean techniques knowledge is an advantage
• Participation in simple projects is required; project leadership experience is a plus
• Understanding of project management methodologies and tools is an advantage
• Ability to interpret data visualizations and use insights for decision-making is required