Accounts Payable & Cost Management - Global Process Owner

The TP ICAP Group is a world leading provider of market infrastructure. Our purpose is to provide clients with access to global financial and commodities markets, improving price discovery, liquidity, and distribution of data, through responsible and innovative solutions. Through our people and technology, we connect clients to superior liquidity and data solutions. The Group is home to a stable of premium brands. Collectively, TP ICAP is the largest interdealer broker in the world by revenue, the number one Energy & Commodities broker in the world, the world’s leading provider of OTC data, and an award winning all-to-all trading platform. Founded in London in 1866, the Group operates from more than 60 offices in 27 countries. We are 5,200 people strong. We work as one to achieve our vision of being the world’s most trusted, innovative, liquidity and data solutions specialist.

Role Overview

A new role, the Global Process Owner (GPO) is responsible for the governance, development and enhancement of the end-to-end Accounts Payable (‘AP’) and Cost Management (‘CM’) global process. The GPO must collaborate with process stakeholders across the organisation, to ensure effective and efficient process operations and identification and leverage of cross-process synergies. The GPO also monitors process performance and prioritises and drives process-related investment decisions and implementation. Additionally, the GPO is accountable for ensuring process compliance with all relevant legislation and company procedures.

We are seeking a seasoned and strategic Global Process Owner (GPO) for AP and CM to lead the global design, governance, and transformation of AP and Cost Management processes. This role will be responsible for ensuring the consistent, efficient, and compliant execution of accounts payable process alongside robust cost planning, allocation, and control across all geographies and business units. The GPO will drive standardisation, automation, and performance optimisation across both domains that supports enterprise growth and financial integrity with line management responsibility for the global team.

Role Responsibilities

• Process Leadership & Strategy

• Transition from existing regional AP & CM model to global standardised operating structure.
• Own and define the global AP & CM processes, encompassing purchase order raising, invoice processing, approvals, payment, reconciliation, cost allocations, recoveries, and expense tracking.
• Define the AP policy, including requirements and data quality, influencing and changing behaviour to enable efficient self-service (where appropriate) and ensure compliance with Policy and appropriate escalation.
• Build ways of working globally within CM, to enable accurate and timely booking of cost across all legal entities.
• Standardise AP and CM processes to reduce close time and increase accuracy, fix problems once at source to enable no touch processes.
• Champion an end-to-end process mindset, fixing challenges and problems at source, whilst acting as the key decision-maker for AP and CM process changes, escalations, and priorities.
• Promote process-oriented culture which monitors and meets the needs of the business through process excellence and improvement.
• Line management of a global team across time zones and jurisdictions.

• Establish and maintain global end to end process standards, policies, and controls for AP and CM, while allowing for localised regulatory compliance and statutory requirements.
• Identify and implement opportunities for process standardisation, optimisation, automation (e.g., RPA, AI, expense automation), and cost optimisation across both functions.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across all regions to increase process efficiency, accuracy, and cycle-time reduction.

• Collaborate with IT to optimise ERP and financial systems, automation tools, and cost planning platforms.
• Be key point of contact to drive business requirements and hold technology delivery to account.
• Build on existing systems and disparate ways of working to identify the best tool for the job.
• Serve as the business process lead on technology initiatives including AP and CM workflow automation, cost allocation engines, and financial transparency dashboards.

• Design and enforce internal controls to mitigate risks including payment fraud, vendor data integrity, cost misclassification, financial misstatements, and unauthorised spend.

• Define and monitor KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), SLAs (Service Line Agreements), and operational metrics for global AP and CM performance.

• Partner with procurement, treasury, finance, and business units to align AP and CM processes and resolve escalations efficiently.
• Facilitate Cost and AP Governance Forums to review performance, approve process changes, and ensure alignment with global strategic goals.
• Collaborate with corporate functions, data owners/stewards, and peers to ensure consistency and alignment across policy, process, and data.
• Enable a joined up efficient hub booking model.

• Lead global training, documentation, and change management efforts related to AP and CM process enhancements, technology upgrades, and compliance rollouts.
• Act as a visible change agent promoting a process-driven and cost-conscious culture across the enterprise.

Experience / Competences

Essential

• Extensive years of experience in finance operations, with a strong focus on Accounts Payable and Cost Management.
• Demonstrated Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement across a finance organisation.
• Cross-Cultural Leadership.
• Must have experience in dealing with C-Suite stakeholders and demonstrable experience of working at pace.
• Proven experience leading global process ownership, transformation, or standardisation initiatives in a complex, international environment.
• Demonstrated and solid understanding of financial controls, and cost allocation models across global entities.

Desired

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field; MBA, Qualified Accountant (ACA, CIMA, ACCA or equivalent) or professional certification (e.g., CPA) is a plus.
• Proficient in ERP platforms (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Workday), financial planning (OneStream) and/or automation tools (e.g., Coupa, Alteryx, Ariba, Anaplan, Power BI).
• Financial & Regulatory Acumen.
• Lean Six Sigma certification or similar process improvement credentials.

Company Statement

We know that the best innovation happens when diverse people with different perspectives and skills work together in an inclusive atmosphere. That’s why we’re building a culture where everyone plays a part in making people feel welcome, ready and willing to contribute. TP ICAP Accord - our Employee Network - is a central to this. As well as representing specific groups, TP ICAP Accord helps increase awareness, collaboration, shares best practice, and holds our firm to account for driving continuous cultural improvement.

Location

UK - 135 Bishopsgate - London

Seniority level

Mid-Senior level

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Accounting/Auditing and Finance