Group Manager-PTP SME

We are seeking a seasoned Finance Transformation Leader specialising in Procure to Pay (P2P) / Accounts Payable (AP) to spearhead process optimisation, AI-enabled automation, and strategic efficiency initiatives. This role requires a blend of value enablement and execution, stakeholder engagement, and transformation leadership to drive AI-powered financial improvements while ensuring seamless business continuity. The ideal candidate will bridge deep P2P domain expertise with hands-on capability in deploying Generative AI, Agentic AI, and intelligent automation solutions across the AP value chain Required Professional and Technical Expertise • Deep expertise in P2P / AP processes, procurement finance, and shared services environments • Consulting experience in finance transformation, AI-enabled automation, and process reengineering. • Proven ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders in finance, operations, and procurement. • Hands-on experience with ERP systems (SAP S/4HANA, Oracle, Workday) and AI-native AP automation platforms. • Ability to architect AI solutions from POC through to scaled production deployment in BPO environments. • Strategic mindset with the ability to quantify and communicate AI-driven cost efficiencies and STP gains. • Exceptional communication skills – able to translate AI strategies into actionable finance insights for C-suite audiences. a. Strategic Finance & AI Transformation • Develop and execute a roadmap for AP process transformation integrating AI, automation, and analytics at each stage of the P2P lifecycle. • Identify and prioritise AI use cases across invoice processing, exception management, vendor master governance, and payment optimisation. • Design Target Operating Models that embed AI Agents, co-pilots, and intelligent workflows as standard delivery components. • Champion Lean, Six Sigma, and AI-augmented methodologies to drive operational excellence in AP processes. • Support new solution development via sole source, RFP, and renewal activities, including AI-differentiated value propositions. b. AI & Technology Leadership in P2P • Oversee end-to-end AI deployment across the P2P stack, including Generative AI invoice extraction, AI-driven exception triage, and predictive payment analytics. • Lead implementation of Agentic AI workflows (e.g., Microsoft Copilot Studio, IBM watsonx) to automate recurring AP tasks such as intercompany billing, PO matching, and payment runs. • Evaluate and implement AP automation tools, including RPA, AI-native platforms (Hypatos, Kofax, Esker), and S/4HANA intelligent automation capabilities. • Govern AI model performance, hallucination risk, and exception escalation paths in production AP environments. • Drive POC-to-production scaling of AI solutions, including Smart Billing AI Assistants and Vendor Master AI cleansing tools. • Assess and bring forward differentiated AI solutions that strengthen IBM's market position in F&A BPO. c. Stakeholder & Vendor Management • Cultivate strong relationships with senior finance leaders, CPOs, and external partners to align AP transformation and AI adoption goals. • Collaborate with global finance teams to ensure standardisation, compliance, and AI governance across international payment regulations. • Lead negotiations with ERP vendors, AI platform providers, and financial institutions to deliver cost-effective, future-ready payment solutions. d. Operational Excellence & Compliance • Establish and maintain KPIs for AP performance inclusive of AI impact metrics: touchless invoice rate, AI exception resolution rate, straight-through processing (STP) %, and cost-per-invoice. • Ensure adherence to financial governance policies, regulatory frameworks (GST, e-invoicing mandates, Peppol), and AI ethics standards. • Conduct periodic audits to assess fraud risks, AP controls, and AI model integrity. • Create sub-offerings to add incremental AI-enabled value to client engagements. e. Consulting & Change Management • Drive AP process improvement initiatives leveraging AI diagnostics, process mining, and intelligent benchmarking. • Develop a structured change management approach covering AI adoption readiness, workforce reskilling, and digital trust building. • Conduct training and upskilling sessions on AI-augmented AP tools, Copilot/Claude usage, and Prompt Engineering for finance teams. f. Leadership & Communication • Lead a high-performing finance transformation team, mentoring professionals in AP strategy and AI-enabled delivery. • Present AP transformation insights, AI business cases, and financial impact reports to senior leadership and board members. • Foster a culture of continuous innovation, AI experimentation, cost efficiency, and accountability in finance operations. AI Skills & Competency Framework – P2P AI Skill Domain Required Proficiency / Tools Generative AI for AP Prompt engineering for invoice extraction and exception resolution; experience with LLM-based AP copilots (Microsoft Copilot, Claude,GPT-4) Agentic AI & Automation Design and govern AI Agents for end-to-end AP tasks; familiarity with Microsoft Copilot Studio, Power Automate, Claude Intelligent Document Processing AI-OCR, IDP platforms (Opentext, ABBYY, Kofax); structured/unstructured invoice data extraction AI-Augmented Analytics Predictive payment analytics, supplier risk scoring, anomaly detection; Power BI / Tableau with AI overlays Process Mining & AI Diagnostics Celonis, SAP Signavio, or equivalent for AI-driven P2P bottleneck identification and remediation AI Governance & Responsible AI Model risk management, AI audit trails, hallucination controls, GDPR/data privacy in AI-enabled AP workflows ERP-Native AI Capabilities SAP S/4HANA Intelligent Invoice Management, SAP Cash Application, Oracle AI for Payables, Workday AI features AI Change Management Workforce reskilling strategies for AI adoption; AI literacy programme design for AP/P2P teams • MBA, CA, or CPA qualification will be an advantage. • Certification in Lean Six Sigma, AI for Finance, Microsoft Copilot Studio, or IBM watsonx. • Experience in global finance transformation and shared service centre environments. • Familiarity with e-invoicing regulatory mandates (India GST, EU Peppol, ZATCA) and their AI compliance implications. India Consulting Professional Bangalore, IN (0063) IBM India Private Limited