Supervisor - Payables BTS Utilities Finance at MTN

Mission/ Core purpose of the Job

• To supervise the Payables team to ensure a efficient and effective payment process and to ensure payments to suppliers, are valid, accurate, made timeously and are paid in accordance with company policies and procedures and contractual obligations.
• The Supervisor is responsible to ensure that processes are understood and followed by process administrators and support continuous improvements of the processes, ensure good performance and optimize quality and timeous deliveries from process administrators. The incumbent requires excellent organisational skills, the ability to drive efficient and effective processes, have attention to detail and an eye for accuracy in all facets of the job.

Context (Global influences, environmental / industry demands, organisational mission etc.)

• Working in a pressurized environment with tight payment and month end reporting deadlines and large volume of transactions.
• Supervising and mentoring persons from diverse background and cultures.
• Liaising with external companies and suppliers in an environment where communication skills are critical to manage both supplier and internal customer expectations as well as resolve queries.
• Highly dynamic and fluctuating Telecommunications industry
• Fast moving industry
• Interdependency of systems and the need to understand other systems
• High cross-functional dependency to deliver timeously
• Internal client centric organisation
• Teamwork

Key Performance Areas: Core, essential responsibilities / outputs of the position (KPA's)

Key Deliverables

• Timeous submissions of all supplier payments (BTS Utilities)
• Review of Creditors reconciliations and payment with particular focus on:
• Accuracy of reconciliations (Valid reconciling items)
• Timeous completion of reconciliations (Timelines adhered to)
• Completeness and accuracy of supporting documentation.
• Investigation and resolution of long outstanding reconciling items
• Validate and upload completed and accurate payment batches for BTS Utilities timeously
• Prepare accurate weekly cash forecast, additional funding requirements including timeous submission to Treasury team
• Month-end GL Closure: Timeous closure of the AP ledger by the 1st working day on the month
• Preparation of balance sheet recons
• Improved customers service through timeous processing of payment and resolution of escalated queries
• Supporting Process Automation / Other system enhancements through buy-in, attendance of training, user acceptances testing, etc
• Delivery of all project related deliverables
• Compliance – Improved control environment through:
• Robust Internal Financial Controls, internal controls required such maintaining segregation of duties, processing of approved payments against approved PO’s and invoices
• resolution of audit report items
• Recons: Review of all month end supplier recons and prepare recon of AP ledger to the GL
• Compliance with the ARCS balance sheet submission and CSA assessments by due dates.
• Updating and compliance with PPPs. Compliance with external and internal audit requirements.
• People Leadership and Organisational Capability Building
• Checking and reviewing subordinates’ submission to ensure accurate, complete, and
• timeous submissions (high quality deliverables)
• Driving the daily activities and submission to ensure quality deliverables submitted timeously (Robust review process)
• Developing and training staff with regards to Creditor specific duties.
• Discussion of KPI’s and with regular feedback provided in monthly feedback session
• Scheduling of regular monthly meetings with subordinates and driving the capturing on HP online
• Management of admin duties (KPI’s approval of leave, etc)
• Ensure a culture of continuous improvement.
• Drive a culture of high performance, accountability, and consequence management

Job Requirements (Education, Experience, and Competencies)

Education:

• Accounts Payable / Finance / Accounting Diploma or Similar
• B. Comm / Similar undergrad degree advantageous

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in AP Supervisor role in a medium to large organization
• At least 2 years’ experience in a similar position, in dynamic and fast-moving industries. Telecoms experience an advantage
• Intermediate knowledge of Excel
• Financial systems skills – Oracle, Hyperion, ERP, etc. Required skills
• Executor of high quality deliverables
• Attention to detail
• Interpersonal skills
• Good financial acumen
• Proficiency in ERP and other AP tools
• Transaction processing
• Good Communication & Presentation Skills

Competencies:
Head - Big Picture Focus

• Analytical Thinker -  Manages the alignment and execution of tactical activities
• Problem Solver - Assists in solving business challenges but looks to others for advice and guidance
• Operational Value Creator - Executes on innovative commercial practices and identifies areas for continuous improvement

Heart – Emotionally Intelligent

• Culture and Change Champion - Role models ethical practices by living the MTN values and vital behaviours for others to follow
• Supportive People Manager – Is self-aware and supports team capability development through opportunity creation for realising potential
• Relationship Manager - Builds relationships with customers and teams to uphold the MTN brand

Hands – Results Focused

• Results Achiever - Drives team objectives and contributes to sustainability of results
• Operationally Astute - Clarifies priorities, plans, organizes and co-ordinates the work of others

Other:

• Good understanding of credit assessment practices and processes
• In-depth knowledge of the–regulatory and legislative requirements
• A broad understanding of the MTN business
• An understand of the principles of effective customer services processes
• An understanding of basic financial terminology and processes (e.g. budget, expenditure, investment, loan, cash-flow, working capital, forecasting, variance analysis, cost)
• Fraud detection and prevention models/tolls/methodologies

Authorities

• Monitor approvals as per delegation of authority

Collaboration (Formal and Informal Relationships)

Responsibility towards: Key stakeholders: Direct reports

• AP Manager, Manager: Leases, Head of Finance Operations, GM: Finance Operations and Finance Operations Finance team
• All MTNSA internal stakeholders (all divisions within MTNSA) and MTN Group (where applicable)
• Internal and External Audit
• External stakeholders (Suppliers, Bankers) etc