Global Process Owner - Accounts Payable

Global Process Owner Accounts Payable

Full time

London/Hybrid

.

What you will be doing

The Global Process Owner for Accounts Payable (AP GPO) is accountable for the end-to-end design, standardization, and continuous improvement of the global accounts payable process. The role ensures operational excellence, compliance, efficiency, governance, and alignment with business and GBS strategy.

The AP GPO is accountable for designing, governing, and continuously improving end-to-end global processes within GBS. This role ensures standardisation, efficiency, compliance, and automation across regions, driving consistency while balancing local requirements. The AP GPO is critical in shaping the digital and process agenda, acting as global custodian of process excellence.

The role requires a systemic perspective, business acumen, and the ability to engage stakeholders across multiple markets and functions.

The AP GPOs influence senior business leaders, ensure alignment with global standards, coordinate compliance and integration, ensure scalability, automation, and operational effectiveness.

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

1. Process Ownership & Governance

Own the end-to-end global AP process, including invoice receipt, processing, approvals, payments, and supplier queries

Define and maintain the global process framework, standards, and best practices

Establish and lead AP governance forums with regional finance leads and shared services

Ensure process compliance with internal policies and external regulations (e.g., tax laws, UK SOX, local statutory rules)

Support the development of process capability within delivery teams through knowledge sharing and training

2. Standardisation & Optimisation

Drive global standardization of AP processes and systems across regions and business units

Identify and lead process improvements using methodologies like Lean, Six Sigma, or Kaizen

Promote and support digital transformation of the AP function

Sponsor global process improvement initiatives, including automation and digital enablement

3. Performance Management

Define and track KPIs and SLAs (e.g., DPO, on-time payment rate, invoice processing time)

Monitor process performance metrics globally; identify and address risks or inefficiencies

Benchmark performance across regions and drive improvements

Ensure timely and accurate reporting on AP performance and compliance

4. Technology & Systems

Partner with IT and ERP teams (e.g., SAP, Coupa) to design and enhance AP solutions

Drive global rollout of AP tools and technologies

Evaluate and implement automation tools (e.g., OCR, AI, RPA, e-invoicing)

5. Stakeholder Management

Act as the global point of contact for AP process matters

Act as the key authority for process design decisions, working closely with IT, Digital, and Transformation teams

Engage with functional leaders, local operations managers, and stakeholders to ensure effective adoption and compliance

Collaborate with Procurement, Treasury, Tax, and Business Units to align processes

Manage relationships with external service providers (e.g., service providers, technology vendors)

6. Risk, Compliance & Controls

Ensure appropriate internal controls and segregation of duties are in place

Support internal and external audits

Drive compliance with anti-bribery, data safeguarding, sanctions, and fraud prevention policies

Why Rolls-Royce?

Work with us and we’ll welcome you into a culture of caring and belonging where you can be yourself. We will listen first, embrace feedback and act with integrity. We will invest in your continuous learning and development, and make sure you have access to a wide breadth and depth of opportunities to grow your career and make a difference.

We offer excellent development, a competitive salary and exceptional benefits. These include bonus, employee support assistance and employee discounts.

Hybrid working is a way in which our people can balance their time between the office, home or another remote location. It’s a locally managed and flexed informal discretionary arrangement. As a minimum we’re all expected to attend the workplace for collaboration and other specific reasons, frequency will depend on business needs, nature of role, what works for the team and for the individual. Discover more on our GBS Service Portal about hybrid working.

Who we’re looking for

Being a part of Rolls-Royce you’ll know we put safety first, do the right thing, keep it simple and make a difference. These principles form our behaviours. They are an essential component of our assessment process and are fundamental qualities that we seek for all roles.

Join us & help Rolls-Royce to become a high-performing, competitive, resilient business.

Experience:

Proven experience in GBS or Shared Services, with significant AP process expertise

Proven experience in end-to-end process ownership across regions or business units

Strong track record in change management and stakeholder engagement

Demonstrated success in delivering process transformation and automation at scale

Experience aligning processes with enabling technology platforms (ERP, workflow tools)

Evidence of leading cross-functional stakeholder groups to drive adoption of global standards

Strong track record monitoring and improving process KPIs globally

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

Professional certification (e.g., CPA, CMA, or equivalent) preferred

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt desirable

We are an equal opportunities employer. We’re committed to developing a diverse workforce and an inclusive working environment. We believe that people from different backgrounds and cultures give us different perspectives which are crucial to innovation and problem solving. We believe the more diverse perspectives we have, the more successful we’ll be. By building a culture of caring and belonging, we give everyone who works here the opportunity to realise their full potential.

You can learn more about our global Inclusion strategy at Our people Rolls-Royce

Please be aware that the priority will be given to employees identified as being at high risk.

The professional level and the salary of the position will be dependent on the skills and experience of the successful candidate.

It is advised that you inform your current manager of your application for this role.

We are an equal opportunities employer. We’re committed to developing a diverse workforce and an inclusive working environment. We believe that people from different backgrounds and cultures give us different perspectives. And the more perspectives we have, the more successful we’ll be. By building a culture of respect and appreciation, we give everyone who works here the opportunity to realise their full potential.

Learn more about our global Inclusion Strategy

Grade: Management Level B

Closing Date: 5 November 2025

For further information please contact: Alison Connaughton

Job Category

Finance

Posting Date

24 Oct 2025; 00:10

Posting End Date

05 Nov 2025

JR6144111