Accounts Payable Supervisor, Cape Town

Job Description: Accounts Payable Supervisor

Salary Range: R28,000 – R38, 000 commensurate with experience.

Role Overview

The Accounts Payable Supervisor is responsible for overseeing the end-to-end accounts payable function across the group. This role ensures that supplier invoices, approvals, accruals, prepayments, reconciliations, and payment runs are processed accurately, efficiently, and in line with company policies.

The role will involve managing the accounts payable process using Precoro and Xero, supporting strong financial controls, maintaining supplier relationships, and ensuring timely and accurate reporting.

Key Responsibilities

Accounts Payable Management

• Oversee the full accounts payable cycle across the group.
• Ensure supplier invoices are received, reviewed, coded, approved, and processed accurately.
• Monitor invoice workflows in Precoro and ensure approvals are completed in a timely manner.
• Ensure invoices are correctly recorded in Xero.
• Maintain accurate supplier records and payment details.
• Resolve supplier queries and internal invoice approval issues promptly.

Payment Runs

• Prepare and manage regular supplier payment runs.
• Ensure payments are accurate, properly approved, and processed on time.
• Review aged payables and prioritise payments in line with cash flow requirements.
• Liaise with finance management on upcoming payment obligations.
• Ensure payment documentation and approvals are properly maintained.

Accruals and Prepayments

• Prepare and review monthly accruals for goods and services received but not yet invoiced.
• Manage prepayments and ensure they are accurately recorded and released over the correct accounting periods.
• Support month-end close by ensuring all AP-related accruals and prepayments are complete and accurate.
• Reconcile relevant balance sheet accounts relating to accruals, prepayments, and supplier balances.

Supplier and Stakeholder Management

• Act as the main point of contact for supplier payment and invoice queries.
• Build positive working relationships with suppliers, department heads, and internal approvers.
• Follow up with internal teams to resolve missing purchase orders, approvals, or coding queries.
• Support the wider finance team with reporting and analysis as required.

Month-End and Reporting

• Support month-end close activities relating to accounts payable.
• Prepare AP reports, including aged creditors, payment forecasts, accrual schedules, and supplier reconciliations.
• Assist with audits by providing AP documentation and supporting schedules.
• Ensure AP records are complete, accurate, and audit-ready.

Skills and Experience Required

• Previous experience in an accounts payable role, ideally with supervisory responsibility.
• Strong understanding of the end-to-end AP process.
• Experience managing payment runs, accruals, and prepayments.
• Experience using accounting and procurement systems; experience with Xero and Precoro is highly desirable.
• Strong Excel or Google Sheets skills.
• Good understanding of financial controls and approval workflows.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to meet deadlines.
• Good communication skills, with the ability to liaise confidently with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to work across multiple entities or business units within a group structure.

Personal Attributes

• Proactive and organised.
• Reliable and deadline-focused.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced finance environment.
• Able to manage competing priorities.
• Professional and confident when dealing with suppliers and colleagues.
• Process-driven, with a focus on accuracy and continuous improvement.

Desirable

• Experience working in a multi-entity or group finance environment.
• Experience improving AP workflows or implementing stronger AP controls.
• Knowledge of purchase order systems and approval workflows.
• Experience supporting audits and month-end reporting.

Reporting Line

The Accounts Payable Supervisor will typically report to the Finance Manager.

Summary

This is a key finance role responsible for ensuring the group's accounts payable function runs smoothly, accurately, and efficiently. The successful candidate will take ownership of supplier invoice processing, payment runs, accruals, prepayments, and AP controls, while supporting the wider finance team with reliable financial information and process improvements.