Head of Accounts Payable – Data Centre

Overview

Head of Accounts Payable
Location: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Data Centres / Digital Infrastructure

A leading, high growth data centre and digital infrastructure business is looking to appoint a Head of Accounts Payable to lead and develop its AP and Procure-to-Pay function.

This is a key role within a large, complex and highly capital-intensive business, with significant levels of project, construction and operational expenditure. The successful candidate will bring experience operating in a sophisticated AP environment and will be responsible for ensuring the function is robust, controlled and scalable as the business continues to grow.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the end-to-end Accounts Payable and Procure-to-Pay (P2P) function across a complex organisation.
• Oversee significant volumes of invoices and payments across multiple suppliers, entities, projects and cost centres.
• Ensure robust controls across the full P2P cycle, from supplier onboarding and purchase orders through to invoice processing, approval and payment.
• Manage complex supplier and payment arrangements, ensuring accuracy, compliance and appropriate segregation of duties.
• Support significant CapEx and construction expenditure, ensuring appropriate controls around project-related invoices, commitments and approvals.
• Work closely with Procurement, Finance, Treasury, Project and Operations teams to optimise the P2P process.
• Drive improvements in AP processes, systems, automation and controls, creating a scalable operating model.
• Monitor AP performance, ageing, payment cycles and key operational metrics.
• Ensure accurate AP accounting and support month-end and year-end close, including reconciliations and accruals.
• Lead the resolution of complex supplier, invoice and payment issues.
• Support internal and external audit requirements.
• Lead, develop and build a high-performing AP team.
• Partner with senior Finance stakeholders to continuously improve the effectiveness, control and efficiency of the function.

Experience:

• Significant AP / P2P leadership experience within a large, complex organisation, ideally a PLC or multinational.
• Proven experience in a CapEx-intensive environment, with exposure to significant construction, infrastructure, engineering, energy, property or similar project expenditure.
• Strong knowledge of complex end-to-end P2P processes, including procurement, POs, invoice matching, approvals, supplier management and payments.
• Experience managing AP across multiple entities, projects and/or geographies, including high volume and high value expenditure.
• Strong understanding of AP controls, governance and audit requirements, with a track record of improving and automating processes.
• Proven experience leading and developing AP teams and working effectively with senior Finance, Procurement, Treasury and operational stakeholders.
• Experience in data centres, digital infrastructure or another capital intensive sector would be highly advantageous.