Senior Accounts Payable Specialist – Latin America (LATAM)

Department: Finance – Accounts Payable
Reports To: Accounts Payable Manager
Region: Latin America (LATAM)
Level: Senior Specialist

Position Summary

The Senior Accounts Payable Specialist – Latin America (LATAM) will be responsible for managing end-to-end Accounts Payable activities across multiple Latin American countries, including Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Central America.

The role requires strong knowledge of Accounts Payable operations, local tax requirements, payment processing, vendor management, reconciliations, and financial controls. The successful candidate will work closely with the Global Accounts Payable team, Controllers, Accounting, FP&A, Procurement, Treasury, business stakeholders, and external vendors to ensure invoices and payments are processed accurately, timely, and in accordance with company policies and local requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Accounts Payable Operations

• Manage end-to-end AP activities across assigned LATAM countries.
• Review and process supplier invoices accurately and within agreed timelines.
• Validate invoice details, supporting documentation, accounting codes, departments, cost centers, and business approvals.
• Ensure invoices are appropriately recorded in NetSuite.
• Monitor outstanding invoices and ensure timely resolution of processing exceptions.
• Maintain accurate AP aging and follow up on overdue or blocked invoices.

LATAM Tax & Compliance

• Coordinate appropriate application of VAT, withholding tax (WHT), and other applicable local taxes.
• Review invoices for compliance with country-specific invoicing and documentation requirements.
• Work closely with local Controllers, Accounting teams, and tax specialists to resolve tax-related exceptions.
• Support tax validation processes and integrations involving systems such as LATAMREADY, where applicable.
• Maintain appropriate documentation and audit trails for invoices and payments.

Payment Processing

• Prepare and coordinate supplier payment runs in accordance with established payment calendars.
• Validate vendor banking information and payment documentation before payment.
• Prepare or upload payment files through applicable banking platforms.
• Coordinate payment review and approval with authorized signatories.
• Monitor rejected, returned, or failed payments and ensure timely resolution.
• Ensure payments are correctly applied against invoices in NetSuite.
• Support urgent and exception payments in accordance with established approval requirements.

Vendor Management

• Respond to supplier inquiries regarding invoices, payment status, and outstanding balances.
• Support vendor onboarding and validation of required supplier documentation.
• Review vendor statements and perform supplier account reconciliations.
• Investigate duplicate invoices, payment discrepancies, credit notes, and aged balances.
• Maintain effective relationships with key suppliers and internal stakeholders.

Reconciliation & Month-End Close

• Perform AP subledger and General Ledger reconciliations.
• Investigate and resolve AP reconciliation differences.
• Support month-end and year-end closing activities.
• Review outstanding invoices, accrual requirements, aged payables, and unapplied payments.
• Provide supporting documentation for internal and external audits.

Controls & Process Improvement

• Ensure compliance with the company's Delegation of Authority (DOA), approval matrix, procurement policies, and internal controls.
• Identify potential duplicate invoices, incorrect payments, tax issues, and control gaps.
• Support standardization of AP processes across LATAM countries.
• Maintain and update AP Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Identify opportunities for automation and process improvements.
• Participate in AP transformation, ERP, banking, and system implementation initiatives.

Stakeholder Management

• Work closely with Controllers, Accounting, FP&A, Treasury, Procurement, Tax, HR, and business teams across LATAM.
• Coordinate with local country teams to resolve invoice, tax, banking, and payment issues.
• Escalate critical payment risks and unresolved issues to AP leadership.
• Provide regular updates on outstanding invoices, payment status, and operational risks.