JOB DESCRIPTION
About Herbert Smith Freehills
As one of the world’s leading law firms, we advise many of the largest and most ambitious organisations across all major regions of the globe. With over 5,000 people, including 3,100 lawyers and over 2,000 business services professionals, operating from our global network of offices across Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and North America, Herbert Smith Freehills is at the heart of the new global business landscape providing premium quality, full-service legal advice.
We recognise that the success of our business and our clients relies on the skills, knowledge and ideas of all our people. Our environment is one in which high performance is expected, in return, we will provide you with rewards and opportunities tailored to your personal and professional goals.
The Opportunity
We're looking for a dynamic Accounts Payable Manager to join our team in Sydney on an 11-month Maximum Term Contract.
Reporting directly to the Financial Controller, you'll be leading a team of Accounts Payable Officers and Senior Accounts Payable Officers, ensuring timely payments of vendor invoices and employee credit cards. Your main focus will be on maintaining a clean ledger, completing month-end processing within agreed time frames, and fostering a reputation for exceptional customer service.
As the Accounts Payable expert, you'll be entrusted by the business to streamline processes, optimize workflows, and maintain the highest standards of accuracy and reliability. If you're ready to make a significant impact, and drive success in a fast-paced environment, we want to hear from you.
Day-to-day you will:
1. Manage the day to day flow of work in the Accounts Payable Team
2. Ensure sound controls are in place over the payables and expense cycles
3. Manage the team towards the delivery of efficient business services
4. Manage the team with regular team meetings, performance catch ups and performance reviews
5. Be part of the financial controlling leadership team working collaboratively across Finance to model effective working relationships
6. Deliver excellent customer service within the payables and expenses areas
7. Ensure the health of the payables ledger is maintained with debit and suspense balances matched and aged items investigated and cleared regularly
8. Ensure month end deadlines and deliverables are met including inclusions in the monthly results of invoices and accruals
9. Provide payable information into the daily cash management reports
10. Initiate process improvements to improve our service delivery to the business
To be successful in this position you will:
11. Be degree qualified, preferably in accounting
12. Hold 3+ years’ experience in an AP Manager position
13. Have excellent working knowledge of the Accounts Payable and expense cycles and key controls
14. Hold an excellent understanding of the financial compliance activities for commercial entities regarding GST, state taxes and levies and associated legislative requirements
15. Have strong organisational skills, able to prioritise work and work under pressure
16. Have excellent communication skills with particular focus on client relationships and quick response times to queries
17. Have demonstrable ability to meet deadlines and present a high standard of support to each assignment
18. Have a strong ability to take initiative and identify areas for process improvement and efficiency
Herbert Smith Freehills is proud to be awarded Number 1 ‘Attraction Firm’ (Lawyers Weekly Legal Firm of Choice 2022-23), Law Firm of the Year (Australasian Law Awards, 2021) and Most Innovative International Law Firm, Asia Pacific (Financial Times Awards 2020).
What you can expect from us:
19. We’re a world leading international law firm with a global team of over 5,000 professionals. As the market leader in Australia, we are committed to high performance, collaboration, diversity and digital innovation. We are client-centred, commercially driven, and renowned for our solution-focused expertise. We will align your growth with our ambitions.
20. We make your personal and professional growth our business. And as part of the team, our ambition is yours too. Wherever you are in your career: grow and help the firm grow with you.
21. We will provide opportunities to learn on the job as well as a mix of learning opportunities tailored to you. Daily experiences, supportive challenges, team collaboration, mentors, and structured learning opportunities help you to expand your knowledge and reach your goals.
22. We value your wellbeing, both at home and work and we place a strong emphasis on mental health. If you need support, you’ll have it and we’ll empower you to harness your personal strengths, navigate uncertainty, embrace opportunities, and effectively manage things within your control.
23. For more benefits on offer such as our 26 weeks paid parental leave, holistic wellbeing fund or home office allowance please click/ copy this link into your browser -
24. Join us to be part of a human, bold and outstanding team at Australia’s market leading law firm.
We encourage applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to First Nations, LGBTIQA+ and neurodivergent individuals, as well as individuals of all ages, cultures, genders, and abilities. We’re a safe, inclusive, and equitable workplace and celebrate the diversity of our people.
Team
Business Finance
Working Pattern
Full time
Location
Sydney
Contract type
Maximum Term Contract
Diversity & Inclusion
At Herbert Smith Freehills you will be part of a diverse, innovative culture where high performance, client focus and highly engaged people are our differentiator. People at our firm come from a range of backgrounds and bring a wide variety of experiences and perspectives to their work with us. We strive to ensure that our inclusive environment means you feel valued and able to perform at your best by being your authentic self at work. We know that our future success not only depends on being innovative and progressive in the changing legal market but, most importantly, on our people feeling highly engaged in meaningful work.
We understand that you have commitments and personal interests outside of work and we strive to create a working environment based on mutual trust and respect, in which you can perform at your best whilst maintaining sustainable balance across your life.