Financial Operations Manager |
Chicago, Illinois |
$135,000 - $155,000 + bonus and benefits |
The Company
A leading global organisation with operations across the Americas, Europe and Asia is seeking a Financial Operations Manager to oversee and evolve its Accounts Payable function. The business supports large, complex, multi-entity operations and works closely with multinational corporate clients and partners.
This role sits at the intersection of finance operations, process optimisation and people leadership. It is well suited to an experienced AP leader who wants a broader operational remit while retaining ownership of a high-impact, transaction-heavy function.
As Financial Operations Manager, you will have end-to-end responsibility for Accounts Payable, while also contributing to wider finance operations initiatives, governance and transformation activity. You will lead a sizable team, partner with senior stakeholders, and play a key role in driving efficiency, control and scalability across financial operations.
Key Responsibilities of the Financial Operations Manager
· Owns Accounts Payable operations – Leads the full AP lifecycle across multiple entities and jurisdictions, ensuring timely, accurate and compliant processing of invoices, payments and expenses.
· Leads and develops the AP team – Manages, coaches and mentors a high-performing AP team, setting clear expectations, building capability and promoting a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
· Drives financial operations excellence – Enhances AP processes through automation, system optimisation and best-practice controls, improving efficiency, accuracy and service delivery.
· Acts as a key operational partner – Collaborates with Finance, Procurement, Treasury and the wider business, serving as the primary AP point of contact for stakeholders, vendors and outsourced service providers.
· Ensures governance, compliance and audit readiness – Maintains strong financial controls, supports internal and external audits, and ensures adherence to organisational policies, accounting standards and regulatory requirements.
· Supports broader finance operations initiatives – Contributes to cross-functional finance projects, system implementations and transformation initiatives, with AP as the core area of ownership.
Skills & Attributes of the Financial Operations Manager
· Operational finance mindset – Comfortable operating beyond transactional AP, with an understanding of end-to-end finance operations, controls and stakeholder impact.
· Systems and automation expertise – Hands-on experience with AP and expense platforms such as Coupa, Concur or Chrome River, and a strong interest in process automation and optimisation.
· Data-driven approach – Skilled in using KPIs, metrics and reporting to monitor performance, identify risks and drive improvements.
· Credible, collaborative leader – Confident communicator who builds trust across teams, leads with clarity, and consistently delivers high-quality outcomes in fast-paced environments.
· Accounts Payable / Cash Applications / Treasury or Billing experience – Strong background managing financial operations, ideally Accounts Payable
· Large, complex or global organisation experience is desirable; experience in professional services, corporate or shared services environments is beneficial
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Applications can only be considered from those eligible to live & work in the USA without restriction.
Harcourt Matthews is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.
Harcourt Matthews is committed to diversity and inclusion. We value and encourage applications from all ethnicities and welcome everyone regardless of social background, disability, gender identity, and orientation. Diversity benefits us all and challenges our assumptions.
Ref: BHJOB3543_6029