Accounts Payable Manager
Are you an organised, detail-oriented finance professional ready to step up? As an Accounts Payable (AP) Manager, you’ll take charge of a company’s outgoing payments - overseeing supplier invoices, ensuring accurate records and leading the AP team.
In Sydney’s fast-paced business environment, this role is critical: you will work to keep cash flow smooth, meet payment deadlines and build strong vendor relationships.
Whether you’re an experienced AP supervisor or a senior AP officer looking for leadership, this guide helps you understand what the job involves, the skills employers want, and where it can take your career.
For hiring managers ready to recruit a Treasury Manager, download our job description template.
In essence, an AP Manager oversees all outgoing payments for a business.
You’ll process supplier invoices, authorise payment runs and supervise your AP team to meet performance targets. Your day might include approving expense claims, running weekly or monthly payment batches, and keeping the accounting system up to date with the correct codes.
In larger Sydney organisations you may report to a Finance or Shared Services Manager; in smaller companies you’ll be hands-on with the full purchase-to-pay cycle.
The goal is always the same: accurate, timely payments that protect supplier trust and avoid late fees or penalties
On a typical day, an AP Manager can expect to handle a mix of tasks such as:
Monitor and manage the flow of invoices from receipt to payment.
Guide and support AP Officers or Assistants, helping them meet deadlines and improve accuracy.
Maintain relationships with vendors and swiftly resolve any invoice queries or disputes.
Ensure the accounting or ERP system is up-to-date, coded correctly and that data reconciles.
Review and authorise employee expense claims and prepare payment runs.
Regularly balance supplier accounts and corporate card statements.
Prepare summaries of outstanding payments, aged payables and cash-flow forecasts for management.
For example, Richard Lloyd notes that AP Managers “monitor and manage the flow of invoices” and “guide and support AP Officers” as core duties.
In practice, you might analyse vendor statements each week, approve payments, and then update the general ledger so everything ties out. Every task is an opportunity to improve efficiency – for instance, by introducing automation or streamlined workflows.
To succeed as an AP Manager, employers in Sydney typically look for a mix of technical and soft skills. Important qualities include:
Deep understanding of accounts payable and the end-to-end purchase-to-pay process.
Proven ability to manage people or a strong readiness to step into a supervisory role.
Confidence with major accounting/ERP systems (e.g. SAP, Oracle, Xero, or MYOB) and Microsoft Excel.
Clear, professional communication with internal stakeholders and vendors (e.g. negotiating payment terms or resolving issues).
Analytical mindset to spot invoice discrepancies, investigate root causes, and implement process improvements.
High accuracy under pressure, ensuring hundreds of invoices are processed correctly on tight deadlines.
These align with industry best-practices: Zycus reports that effective AP managers “understand the importance of automation” and use it to improve cash flow management, manage liabilities, and enhance supplier relationships
They also foster visibility and collaboration across teams to avoid costly delays.
In short, look for candidates who combine technical AP expertise with strong organisational, leadership and communication skills
There’s no single career path to become an AP Manager, but many candidates come from similar finance roles. Common backgrounds include:
Accounts Payable Officer or Administrator: Many AP Managers “progressed from an Accounts Payable Officer or Administrator role”, gaining deep experience with invoice processing.
Senior Processing/Team Leader: Others have been a team leader or senior AP specialist in finance, building hands-on knowledge and leadership ability.
Formal qualifications: While a CPA or CA is not usually required at this level, diplomas or certificates in accounting/bookkeeping can be helpful.
On-the-job experience: Demonstrated experience delegating tasks and improving AP workflows also counts towards your credentials.
If you’ve been supervising an AP team or running month-end payables on your own, highlight those achievements on your resume. Employers will value candidates who can hit the ground running.
A strong AP Manager often brings both solid AP processing skills and some leadership experience
An AP Manager role can be a launchpad to senior finance positions. Depending on your interests, an AP Manager in Sydney might move up to:
Shared Services Manager – managing AP, AR and payroll functions across multiple teams
Finance Manager – expanding into broader budgeting, reporting, and compliance
Systems Accountant – specialising in finance software and automation projects
Financial Accountant – with further technical training or qualifications
Searching for an AP Manager job in Sydney? Richard Lloyd recruits AP Managers across Sydney in industries from corporate and government to retail and not-for-profits.
Many Sydney employers rely on RL to find candidates for mid-tier firms, multinationals and growing businesses.
If you’re ready to explore Accounts Payable Manager positions, we can help.
We’ll work with you to find a role that fits your skills and aspirations in Sydney’s competitive market
Submit your CV, explore open roles, or simply get in touch. Let’s shape your next move together.
For hiring managers ready to recruit an Accounts Payable Manager, download our job description template.
For job seekers who need to write or update their resume, download our resume guide and template.
An AP Manager is responsible for managing all the company's payments to suppliers. If the company receives a huge volume of supplier invoices, you would manage a team of Accounts Payable Officers to ensure payments are managed and recorded correctly.
Skills that are required include a background in full-function accounts payable processing, strong attention to detail, staff management and leadership experience. You also need strong technology skills to work with complex accounting systems.
An Accounts Payable Manager can pursue several career paths. If you excel at managing people, you can pursue a Shared Services Manager role. If you have strong System skills, more systems-accounting roles are a possibility. If accounting is your speciality, you could study for an Accounting qualification and then find a role in financial accounting.
Not always. If you’ve been in a senior AP position and demonstrated leadership potential, many employers are open to promoting from within.
You’ll find AP Managers across every industry - from construction and logistics to media, retail, government, and not-for-profits.
Yes. There’s strong demand for experienced AP professionals, and the skills are transferable across industries. It’s also a strong stepping stone to more senior finance roles.
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