Richard Lloyd  4.9 ( 560 )
  • 08-05-25

Accounts Payable Manager reviewing invoices and financial reports in a modern office environment

 

Hire a skilled accounts payable manager in Sydney today

Struggling to locate a skilled Accounts Payable Manager who can lead your payables function with zero late-payment pain?

Richard Lloyd connects Sydney businesses with proven AP leaders.

Note for job seekers: chasing an Accounts Payable Manager role? Grab our AP Manager job description & career guide, plus a free resume template

 

Why hire an Accounts Payable Manager?

Get it wrong, and you risk incurring late-fee penalties, duplicate payments, or at worst, fraud. Get it right and you:

  • Unlock early-payment discounts
  • Gain real-time visibility over liabilities
  • Free senior finance staff for strategic work

This role typically reports to the Finance Manager or, in larger organisations, to the Shared Services Manager.​

 

Key responsibilities

High-performing Accounts Payable Managers will generally be expected to successfully manage the following responsibilities:

Team leadership            

Guides & mentors AP Officers; steps in to assist in processing when volumes peak

Invoice processing         

End-to-end accuracy: receipt → match → code → approve → pay 

Purchase orders            

Allocates, reconciles & resolves discrepancies early

Escalations                    

Handles complex vendor queries swiftly, preserving goodwill

Expense claims              

Approves staff reimbursements in line with policy

Vendor payments          

Plans weekly/monthly runs; negotiates terms

Reconciliations              

Supplier statements + company credit cards balanced like clockwork

Reporting                       

Delivers aged payables, DPO and cash-flow insights each month

Process improvement   

Drives automation, lifts accuracy, cuts processing cost

 

Discover top Accounts Payable Manager Candidates today

 

Essential skills and attributes

To ensure success in this role, we recommend prioritising candidates with:

1. Extensive accounts payable experience

Deep knowledge of end-to-end AP processes across a variety of business structures.

2. ERP systems proficiency

Hands-on experience with platforms such as SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, or similar.

3. Accounting knowledge

Understanding of ledger coding, reconciliations, and compliance regulations.

4. Leadership and team development

Proven ability to manage, coach, and grow a high-performing team.

5. Organisational agility

Strong prioritisation and time management, particularly in high-volume environments.

6. Communication skills

Clear verbal and written communication with internal teams and external partners.

7. Project management

Capability to lead process improvement projects or implement new systems.

8. Relationship-building

A track record of maintaining strong relationships with vendors and internal stakeholders.

9. Accuracy and attention to detail

Confidence in maintaining high standards across reporting, data entry, and compliance.

10. Technical proficiency

Strong Excel skills and familiarity with automated AP systems and reporting tools.

 

Accounts Payable Manager salary guide

$110K – $140K + Super (2025)

Offer at the top end of the salary range if you need:

  • 50K invoices per year
  • ERP implementation experience
  • Multi-entity or global AP exposure

Competitive packages also improve retention in a candidate-short Sydney market.

 

Interview questions to identify high-performing Accounts Payable Managers

Use these targeted prompts to evaluate technical expertise, problem-solving ability and leadership style:

  1. Walk me through your month-end payables close. What KPIs do you track?
  2. Tell us about a time you detected and resolved a duplicate or fraudulent invoice. What controls failed, and how did you fix them?
  3. How have you leveraged automation (e.g. OCR, RPA) to reduce processing time?
  4. Describe a vendor dispute you resolved while maintaining the relationship.
  5. How do you coach under-performing team members? Provide an example.
  6. We close at 3 pm every Friday. How would you restructure the payment timetable to protect that deadline?

(Tip: include a brief ledger-matching test to confirm attention to detail.)

 

Cultural fit and onboarding

  • Values-match first: even a technical gun fails if they clash with the company's culture.
  • 90-day plan: day-one KPIs; stakeholder meet-and-greets; system access sorted.
  • Early wins: quick automation tweaks or aged-payables clean-ups build trust.
  • Regular check-ins: fortnightly for first quarter → monthly thereafter.

Also hiring transaction roles? Read our article on choosing the right recruitment agency -  Sydney accounting-agency overview.

 

Career progression pathway

Highlighting growth looks compelling to ambitious candidates.

 

Three-way-match automation and e-invoicing compliance

Top AP Managers cut processing costs by 45% automating three-way matching (PO, receipt, invoice) and rolling out the Peppol-API for e-invoicing, freeing staff for supplier-relationship work.

 

Why choose Richard Lloyd for your recruitment needs

Professional leading an accounts payable team meeting to ensure accurate financial management and efficient payment processes

We don’t just fill jobs -  we build teams that drive business success.

Deep market expertise

We know Sydney’s accounting talent landscape inside-out. Our specialisation means faster matches and better outcomes.

Pre-vetted candidate network

Our pool includes immediately available, proven candidates with the skills your business needs.

Tailored service

We get to know your business, your team dynamics, and the specific pressures you’re facing.

Time and cost savings

Let us handle sourcing, screening, and salary negotiation so you can focus on what matters.

 

Ready to find your ideal Accounts Payable Manager?

Don't let the recruitment process drain your resources. Contact Richard Lloyd today and let us connect you with exceptional talent that meets your exact needs.

📞Call us: (02) 8324 5640

📧 Email: enquiries@richardlloyd.com.au

Or submit your vacancy → we’ll respond the same day.

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

An AP Manager is responsible for managing all the company's payments to suppliers. If the business receives a significant volume of supplier invoices, responsibilities would include managing a team of Accounts Payable Officers to ensure payments are processed and recorded accurately.

Skills required include a background in full-function accounts payable processing, strong attention to detail, staff management and leadership experience. Proficiency with complex accounting systems is also essential.

An Accounts Payable Manager can pursue several different career paths: 

  1. If you excel at managing people, you could be suited to a Shared Services Manager role.
  2. Strong system skills can lead to systems-accounting positions.
  3. Specialisation in accounting may involve pursuing further qualifications and roles in financial accounting.