About the Company :
Gradiant is a Different Kind of Water Company. With a full suite of differentiated and proprietary end-to-end solutions for advanced water and wastewater treatment powered by the top minds in water, the company serves its clients’ mission-critical operations in the world’s essential industries, including semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, food & beverage, lithium and critical minerals, and renewable energy. Gradiant’s innovative solutions reduce water used and wastewater discharged, reclaim valuable resources, and renew wastewater into freshwater. The Boston-headquartered company was founded at MIT and has over 1,400 employees worldwide.
Discover us at gradiant.com.
Position Summary :
The Global Process Owner – Accounts Payable is responsible for designing, governing, and continuously improving the end-to-end AP process across all regions. This role will set global standards, ensure compliance with internal controls and external regulations, and drive automation and efficiency across the shared services network. The incumbent will work closely with regional finance leaders, procurement and IT to ensure a seamless and compliant Procure-to-Pay (P2P) process globally.
Responsibilities :
1. Global Process Governance
- Define, document, and own the global AP process framework, policies, and procedures.
- Ensure consistent application of global AP policies across all regions, while allowing for local statutory compliance.
- Establish and monitor KPIs and SLAs for AP performance (e.g., invoice processing time, accuracy, payment timeliness, exception rates).
- Act as the global escalation point for AP-related issues and disputes.
2. Team Leadership & Operations
- Lead a team of AP Specialists responsible for:
- Supporting invoice processing exceptions and escalations.
- Managing vendor master data governance and controls.
- Coordinating resolution of vendor queries and disputes.
- Assisting with global reporting and process analytics.
- Coach, mentor, and develop AP Specialists to build deep process expertise and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Allocate resources effectively across regions based on volume and critical priorities.
3. Process Excellence & Transformation
- Partner with regional AP teams to harmonize processes and ensure consistent execution globally.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives, leveraging automation (OCR, RPA, AI) and e-invoicing solutions.
- Standardize and simplify workflows, approval hierarchies, and vendor query management.
- Optimize working capital by aligning payment terms, early payment discount strategies, and supplier financing opportunities.
4. Controls & Compliance
- Ensure strong internal controls for vendor onboarding, invoice approval, and payment execution.
- Safeguard the process against fraud, duplicate payments, and regulatory non-compliance.
- Support internal audit, and external audit reviews with required documentation.
- Maintain governance over segregation of duties between requestors, approvers, and processors.
Requirements :
- FORMAL EDUCATION:
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Commerce, Finance, or Business Administration.
- Professional certifications preferred: Chartered Accountant (CA), Cost Accountant (CMA), Company Secretary (CS), MBA (Finance), or CPA/ACCA for global credibility.
- KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE:
Required:
- 5 - 6 years of progressive experience in Accounts Payable / Procure-to-Pay (P2P) operations, preferably in a multinational shared services or global business services environment.
- At least 3 years in a leadership role managing cross-regional/global processes.
- Proven experience leading global AP delivery teams and handling large invoice/payment volumes.
- Strong background in process transitions, stabilization, and global standardization.
- Hands-on experience with ERP systems (SAP S/4HANA) and AP automation tools.
- Exposure to global compliance requirements (US GAAP/IFRS, anti-bribery/FCPA) and regional tax regimes (GST, withholding taxes, VAT).
- Demonstrated ability to partner with procurement and controllers across multiple time zones.
Preferred:
- Strong people leadership with experience managing and developing teams of AP specialists in India or offshore hubs.
- Excellent stakeholder management with global counterparts in US and APAC regions.
- Analytical and digital mindset – comfortable with dashboards, KPIs, and process automation/AI.
- TECHNICAL/SKILLS:
Required:
- Proficiency in SAP and Microsoft Office Suite.
Gradiant is an equal-opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.