The Creditors Supervisor is responsible for supervising the Buying Group Creditors Team to ensure all creditor functions are performed accurately, efficiently, and within established deadlines. The role is accountable for maintaining a clean Buying Group age analysis, ensuring suppliers are paid within agreed payment terms, fostering strong relationships with vendors and internal stakeholders, and driving continuous process improvement. The incumbent will provide leadership, coaching, and training to the creditors team, oversee ERP and process compliance, and implement best practices to improve operational efficiency and financial controls. (Permanent role based in Johannesburg).
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Leading, coaching, mentoring and developing the Buying Group Creditors team
- Supervising approximately 8 to 10 Buying Group Creditors Clerks and 2 Team Leaders
- Reviewing workflow, productivity and quality of work performed by Creditors Clerks and Team Leaders
- Identifying skills gaps and implementing training and development initiatives
- Facilitating all departmental training sessions and ensuring attendance registers and training documentation are submitted to Human Resources (HR)
- Conducting regular performance reviews and providing ongoing feedback and coaching
- Co-supervising the Creditors team alongside the Warehouse and Administration Supervisors
- Ensuring all supplier payments are processed accurately and within agreed payment terms
- Maintaining a clean and accurate Buying Group age analysis
- Reviewing and approving all creditor reconciliations prepared by the Creditors Clerks
- Opening new vendor accounts and maintaining accurate supplier master data within Acumatica
- Processing cashbook entries, interim payments and supplier discounts
- Managing the loading and release of supplier payments on the banking platform
- Co-ordinating and managing the month-end creditor close process
- Working closely with the Accounts Receivable and Claims Departments to resolve outstanding queries
- Reviewing Buying Group cash flow forecasts prepared by the team
- Preparing and consolidating departmental cash flow forecasts for Management
- Analysing financial information and ageing reports to identify trends and outstanding issues
- Reviewing management reports prepared by the Reporting Team and ensuring the timely resolution of aged queries
- Escalating high-risk or unresolved matters to Management
- Reviewing, updating and improving Buying Group policies, procedures and workflows
- Driving continuous process improvement initiatives to increase efficiency and strengthen controls
- Ensuring compliance with company policies, procedures and corporate governance standards
- Monitoring staff attendance, timekeeping and adherence to departmental standards
- Identifying operational risks and implementing corrective actions where required
- Building and maintaining strong relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders
- Assisting Creditors Clerks with complex supplier queries and facilitating supplier meetings where required
- Liaising with internal departments to ensure the efficient resolution of operational issues
- Supporting Internal and External Auditors by providing requested documentation and information
- Managing supplier credit notes for all valid claims
- Managing the end-to-end supplier claims process by ensuring all valid claims are submitted to suppliers, actively followed up and resolved through the timely receipt of supplier credit notes
- Monitoring outstanding supplier claims, ageing and turnaround times, escalating overdue matters where necessary to minimise aged reconciling items and maintain an accurate Accounts Payable ledger
- Managing the monthly Buying Group Accounts Payable reconciliation process, ensuring all supplier reconciliations are prepared, reviewed and approved in accordance with company deadlines
- Ensuring reconciling items are investigated and resolved promptly, with no unreconciled items remaining outstanding for longer than 60 days unless approved by Management
- Monitoring the quality and completeness of reconciliations and providing coaching to the team where required
- Performing any other duties reasonably assigned by Management
- Supporting cross-functional initiatives and undertaking additional responsibilities as business requirements evolve
Minimum Requirements:
- Bachelor of Commerce Degree, or similar accounting or commerce-related qualification
- At least 3 to 5 years’ experience in a creditors or accounts payable environment
- At least 3 to 5 years’ people management experience
- Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel skills
- Basic knowledge of Acumatica ERP will be advantageous