Title:  Specialist, Accounts Payable, T&E

Role Overview

To support ongoing business growth and future market expansion, West Pharmaceutical Services has developed a transformation strategy focused on standardizing, simplifying, and centralizing global business operations. The successful candidate will be part of a shared service team and will be responsible for supporting all aspects of the accounts payable process, ensuring timely and accurate processing of invoices, payments, and T&E. This position plays a key role in maintaining strong supplier relationships, resolving account queries, and driving process efficiencies to support smooth financial operations and continuous improvement initiatives within the AP function. The ideal candidate will be highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to work efficiently and independently in a fast-paced environment while maintaining accuracy and professionalism.

Key Responsibilities

Supplier Relationship Management

• Maintain effective communication with suppliers to address invoices, payment, and account-related queries in a timely and professional manner.
• Build and sustain positive supplier relationships to ensure smooth business operations and trust.
• Reconcile supplier statements regularly, resolving any discrepancies or outstanding balances.
• Escalate recurring supplier issues or risks to management for review and resolution.

Payment and Invoice Processing

• Leverage AI and automation tools to streamline invoice processing, credit note validation, and payment runs—ensuring greater accuracy, speed, and consistency.
• Accurately process, verify, and post invoices in accordance with internal policies and payment terms.
• Manage end-to-end payment processes ensuring all payments are reviewed and authorized appropriately while maintaining company policy and compliance.
• Manage end-to-end Travel & Expense processes, audit, validate and process employee T&E expense claims, ensuring accuracy, proper documentation and adherence to company policies.
• Monitor AP aging and follow up on unprocessed invoices or discrepancies to ensure timely vendor payments.
• Support month-end and year-end closing activities, including accruals, reconciliations, and reporting.

Cross-Function Collaboration

• Collaborate with internal departments such as Procurement, Finance, and Operations to resolve invoice discrepancies and optimise payment and T&E processes.
• Communicate effectively with business units to obtain missing documentation or approvals required for payment processing.
• Work closely with D&T and Finance transformation teams to support automation initiatives and system enhancements within the AP function.

Data Analysis and Reporting

• Prepare and maintain AP reports, such as aging summaries, payment forecasts, and supplier spend analysis.
• Leverage Power BI to produce insightful monthly reports and dashboards
• Conduct root cause analysis on recurring issues to drive continues improvements
• Drive the automation and improvement of AI processes, identifying areas where AI and digital solutions can enhance efficiency
• Analyse payments and T&E data to identify trends, risk, and opportunities for operational efficiencies.

Automation and innovation

• Embrace a mindset of continuous improvement and automation
• Use tools like Power Automate to streamline workflows and reduce manual tasks
• Contribute to the transformation of AP operations by eliminating data entry and focusing on strategic, value-added activities
• Supporting the Manager in driving automation and continuous improvement initiatives within payments and T&E systems and processes.

Other Duties

• Perform additional tasks as assigned by the Team Leader or Manager, aligned with the evolving needs of the department

Key Skills

• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Analytical thinking and problem-solving ability
• Proficiency in digital tools and a passion for automation
• Adaptability in a fast-changing, tech-enabled environment
• Team focused individual who can also work on their own initiative

Preferred Knowledge and Abilities

• Experience of SAP or other major ERP systems
• Previous Shared Service Centre experience with multinational publicly quoted company experience
• 2+ years of experience in payables
• Continuous improvement mindset with a digital focus, utilising available training tools to enhancing digital skills and acumen
• Knowledge and understanding of basic accounting principles
• Proficient in MS Office applications
• Team player, positive and flexible attitude
• Able to comply with the company's safety policy at all times #LI-AP1 #LI-HYBRID

Travel Requirements

Physical Requirements

Additional Requirements

• Must be able to communicate effectively with written and oral skills, make quick decisions, interpret data, read and write, speak in front of groups, express and exchange ideas, understand direction and adhere to procedures
• Organizational skills will enable planning, prioritization and achievement of goals especially of importance for the successful execution of related activities
• Position operates in a professional office environment. May stand or sit for extended periods of time
• Read and interpret data, information and documents
• Must maintain the ability to work well with others in a variety of situations
• Must be able to multi-task, work under time constraints, problem solve, and prioritize
• Ability to make independent and sound judgments
• Observe and interpret situations, analyze and solve problems
• Able to routinely use standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines