Account Payable Lead

Cognism is the leading provider of European B2B data and sales intelligence. Ambitious businesses of every size use our platform to discover, connect, and engage with qualified decision-makers faster and close more deals. Headquartered in London with global offices, Cognism’s contact data and contextual signals are trusted by thousands of revenue teams to eliminate the guesswork from prospecting.

We are looking for an Accounts Payable Lead to take our payables function to the next level. This role is primarily responsible for leading the Accounts Payable Shared Service function at Cognism and will be a hands‑on role involving data entry, daily guidance, and oversight. This role will report to the Director of Accounting and oversee one UK‑based direct report, as well as collaborate with in‑country accountants in Germany and Croatia who also process payables. It is responsible for ensuring compliance with company policies, managing vendor relationships, and supporting month‑end and year‑end financial close activities. The AP Lead will work closely with finance and treasury teams, contributing to continuous improvement of AP processes. The ideal candidate is a strong people leader, great communicator, a self‑starter, a problem solver, and is comfortable challenging the status quo to improve and scale the function. Essentially, this individual should be experienced in overseeing the end‑to‑end accounts payable function, ensuring timely and accurate processing of invoices, payments, and expense reports.

Responsibilities

• Accounts Payable Management: Oversee daily operations of the AP function, ensuring accurate and timely processing of invoices, payments, and expense reports.
• Team Leadership: Supervise, train, and mentor AP team members, assigning tasks, monitoring performance, and encouraging professional growth and adherence to high performance standards.
• Vendor Relations: Act as the main point of contact for vendors, resolving any issues with invoice discrepancies, payment status, and reconciliations promptly.
• Process Improvement: Identify opportunities for efficiency and accuracy improvements in AP processes; assist in implementing automation and best practices to enhance productivity and control.
• Reconciliation: Ensure accurate general ledger (GL) reconciliation for AP accounts, preparing and reviewing reconciliations regularly.
• Reporting & Analysis: Prepare and analyse AP reports, providing insights on cash flow, outstanding payments, vendor aging reports, and other KPIs.
• Compliance & Audits: Maintain and enforce AP policies, ensuring compliance with corporate policies and other regulatory standards; support internal and external audits as needed.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Work closely with treasury, finance, and other relevant departments to streamline AP processes, resolve issues, and ensure timely and accurate financial information sharing.

Experience Required

• The ideal candidate has 5+ years of experience in accounts payable, with at least 2 years in a leadership or supervisory capacity.
• Bachelor’s degree in finance / accounting or business.
• Proficiency in NetSuite (AP function) a huge plus.
• Advanced MS Excel skills.
• Strong knowledge of VAT rules.
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced environment, highly organised with an exceptional attention to detail.
• Strong organisational, time‑management, and execution skills, along with the ability to prioritise and drive multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with team members, vendors, and management.
• Eagerness to learn and willingness to take on new challenges.
• Experience with process improvement and redesign.
• Attention to detail and quality of work.

Why Cognism

At Cognism, we’re not just building a company— we’re building an inclusive community of brilliant, diverse people who support, challenge, and inspire each other every day. If you’re looking for a place where your work truly makes an impact, you’re in the right spot! Our values aren’t just words on a page—they guide how we work, how we treat each other, and how we grow together. They shape our culture, drive our success, and ensure that everyone feels valued, heard, and empowered to do their best work.

Here’s What We Stand For

• We Are Nice! We treat each other with respect and kindness (because life’s too short for anything else).
• We Are Collaborative. We’re in this together—great things happen when we work as one.
• We Are Solution‑Focused. Every challenge is just an opportunity in disguise.
• We Are Understanding. We empower and support each other to do our best work.
• We Celebrate Individual Contributors. Every role matters, and so do you!

At Cognism, we are committed to fostering an inclusive, diverse, and supportive workplace. Our values—Being Nice, Collaborative, Solution‑Focused, and Understanding—guide everything we do, and we celebrate Individual Contributors. We welcome applications from individuals typically underrepresented in tech, so if this role excites you but you’re unsure if you meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply!