Payments Lead Job Description: This full-time role is responsible for leading the delivery of best-in-class payments and receipting services in the North America region. This role will lead not only timely and accurate processing of receipts into and payments out of the business but also, play a leading role in the accuracy of the accounting transactions around and the general compliance environment around these processes. Success will include highly automated, efficient processes that focus on customer requirements whilst delivering improved cost savings and enabling greater analysis and insight to drive business performance. This role will ensure the P2P and Cash receipting team contribute to the Finance Operations strategy, which is to provide a customer-oriented centre of excellence, delivering high quality, real-time finance processes in a manner that will sustain & grow with Sage as it becomes a great SaaS company. They will be experienced in managing stakeholder relationships across all levels of an organisation with established team leadership and management skills. Provide continuous guidance to the R2R team to ensure a high-performance culture is instilled and effective stakeholder engagement is maintained. Key Responsibilities: Key accountabilities and decision ownership: • Lead the NA region payments and receipts team who are responsible for processing and paying supplier invoices, procurement transactional activities, receipt of monies and application to customer invoices, management of banking relationships and manage the various robotic process automations in place. • Accountability for developing and driving strategy around customer/supplier experience, across the Payments team incorporating wider Finance and business goals • Maintain a good relationship with the Global Treasury team and be the main point of contact for the banking relationship with the different banks • Improve local processes by driving continuous improvement projects across the payments and receipting processes. • Lead contact for M&A activity for the Payments Team • Escalation point for Supplier and Customer query resolution, working with the business to resolve queries in a timely manner. • Ensure effective and efficient operational planning for the management of payments processes and staff. • Managing the integration of “processes tools and systems” acquisitions or extraction of disposals as required. • Ensure compliance with relevant country legislation and local tax requirements. • Ensure monthly timetables are adhered to and suppliers are paid in accordance with agreed payment terms. • Cash Flow Management: Monitor cash flow and work with management to forecast cash availability. Ensure that cash receipts are processed and deposited in a timely manner to avoid delays in cash availability. • Audit and Control: Assist with internal and external audits related to cash receipts and payments, ensuring all documentation and processes are in order. Implement controls to prevent fraud or unauthorized access to cash receipt/supplier payment records. Relationship • Ensuring that agreed Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are achieved and conduct monthly performance reviews with both business representatives and Record to Report Senior Analysts. • Work collaboratively with key stakeholders to ensure production of accurate and timely information and to provide greater analysis and data driven insights Leadership • Develop and manage a skilled and high performing team. • Drive a culture that guides and directs best practice, fostering an environment of continuous learning, improvement and cohesiveness. • Developing talent within the team to support team’s personal goals and succession planning. • Ensure that all staff are motivated, developed, and appraised so that individual and collective performance meets the needs of the customers (segment level). • Key performance indicators: • Compliance with Global Key Performance indicators – DPO, DSO, levels of unapplied and unidentified cash • Timeliness and accuracy of month end reporting • Customer, colleague and supplier sentiment – NPS and eNPS • Time saved – non cashed efficiencies • Effective stakeholder management via provision of data driven insights • Transactional accuracy – number of iterations/reworks and queries • DPO / DSO • Stakeholder engagement effectiveness Competencies: • Customer Focused, able to use their understanding of our customers to take proactive action to improve the customer experience and exceed their expectations • Action Oriented, able to spot opportunities, able to engage the right people and create plans to makes things happen • Accountable, holding self and others to account for meeting goals and celebrating success • Trustworthy, a role model with high standards of honesty and integrity and show consistency between what they say and how they act • Developing Talent, be able to see developing talent as an organisational imperative • Collaborative, taking a proactive interest in other business areas and bringing the right people together to ensure we deliver what’s important • Driving Engagement, creating a climate where colleagues are motivated to do their best • Innovative, viewing innovation as a priority • Leader, genuine leadership capability with the ability to build and motivate strong direct and virtual teams to achieve our vision. Does not rely on direct reporting relationships to get things done • Change management skills, ability to influence peers and senior managers • People management skills, ability to develop and motivate a team • Communications skills, ability to present ideas to non-finance personnel • Excellent planning and organisational skills • Ability to work to tight deadlines and deliver results Skills, know-how and experience: • Proven P2P and O2C experience, preferably in a technology environment • Management of large teams (8+ staff). • Strong balance sheet understanding with proven examples of previous management and control around working capital • Good knowledge of relevant regulatory environment in North America, in particular Payment and Banking requirements. • In-depth knowledge of payment processing systems, payment gateways, and relevant technologies. • Experience working with various payment platforms (credit cards, ACH, mobile payments, etc.). • Proven experience in driving a culture of continuous improvement • Experience in driving and incorporating automation into a team • Previous experience supporting M&A activity • Experience in Lean 6 Sigma continuous improvement / Design Thinking • Proven experience in a service-oriented culture including management of SLAs and presentation of results throughout the business • Proven leadership / people management experience • Experience in change management • Excellent planning and organisation skills • Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft ® Office Suite especially Excel, Word and PowerPoint Technical / professional qualifications: • Recognised Finance qualification preferred. • Certification in payments or fraud management (e.g., PCI Professional (PCIP), Certified Payments Professional (CPP)). • Experience with international payment processing and multi-currency systems. Function: Finance Operations Country: United States Office Location: Lawrenceville Work Place type: Hybrid Advert Working at Sage means you’re supporting millions of small and medium sized businesses globally with technology to work faster and smarter. We leverage the future of AI, meaning business owners spend less time doing routine tasks, like entering invoices and generating reports, and more time pursuing their ambitions. Our colleagues are the best of the best. Because to achieve extraordinary outcomes, we need extraordinary teams. This means infusing Sage with people who knock down barriers, continuously innovate, and want to experience their potential. Learn more about working at Sage:sage.com/en-us/company/careers/working-at-sage/ Watch a video about our culture:youtube.com/watch?v=h1-vs3zIpnc We celebrate individuality and welcome you to join us if you embrace all backgrounds, identities, beliefs, and ways of working. If you need support applying, reach out atcareers@sage.com. Learn more about DEI at Sage:sage.com/en-us/company/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion/ Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Sage is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, employment decisions at Sage will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. Sage does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.