Lead - Accounts Payable

Role: Lead - Accounts Payables

Experience: 5+ years

Reports to : Financial Controller

Location: Mumbai , Maharashtra

Who we are and Why we exist

At The Whole Truth, our mission is to ‘re-build the world’s trust in its food’. Consumers have lost faith in big food companies that hide behind misleading claims. We exist to change that—with honesty, simplicity, and unmissable storytelling.

We are India’s first (and maybe only) 100% Clean Label food brand. That means we proudly declare every single ingredient on the front of the pack. But that’s not all…We don’t just make products. We build brand love. Loudly, proudly, and consistently through content, community, and creative campaigns that break clutter. And now, we’re ready to scale that brand love even further—through smart, memorable, and well-placed media. That’s where you come in.

About the job:

At The Whole Truth Foods, transparency drives everything we do including how we manage our finances. As Accounts Payable Lead, you'll be the backbone of our vendor and business financial relationships, leading a team of AP Business Partners who act as trusted finance SPOCs for every business and operations function. You'll drive performance through disciplined invoice processing, clean and on-time payments, strong SOP governance, and an accurate, audit-ready expense MIS.

Key Responsibilities

1. Team Management & Business Partnering

● Manage a team of 4–5 AP Business Partners, each acting as functional SPOC for specific

business/operations teams.

● Ensure each team member is effectively resolving end-to-end AP queries for their aligned

stakeholders invoice booking, vendor reconciliation, payment status, discrepancy

resolution.

● Set clear ownership, TATs, and quality standards; conduct regular 1:1s and performance

reviews.

● Build bench strength and cross-train the team so business continuity isn't dependent on a

single person per vertically.

● Drive cross-functional alignment with procurement, warehouse/ops, and business teams to

reduce recurring invoice/payment disputes at the source.

2. SOP Governance & Process Compliance

● Own and continuously improve AP SOPs covering invoice processing, vendor master

governance, PO/non-PO invoice workflows, TDS/GST compliance on vendor bills, and

payment approval matrices.

● Ensure the team adheres to defined SOPs consistently no ad-hoc exceptions without

proper approval trail.

● Drive periodic SOP audits/spot checks across all SPOCs to catch process drift early.

● Standardize documentation and process notes across the team so processes aren't person

dependent.

3. Invoice Processing & Payments Oversight

● Ensure timely and accurate invoice booking across all vendor categories (raw material,

packaging, 3P/co-manufacturing, marketing, logistics, admin/opex).

● Oversee the payment cycle end-to-end: vendor due-date tracking, payment batch

preparation, approvals, and release ensuring no missed due dates or duplicate/erroneous

payments.

● Monitor ageing of vendor payables and proactively fl ag/resolve overdue or blocked vendor

accounts.

● Ensure proper three-way matching (PO–GRN–Invoice) discipline is followed by the team.

● Review and approve high value/exception payments before release.

4. Month-End Close & Expense MIS

● Own the AP month-end close calendar ensure all accruals, provisions, and vendor

invoice bookings are completed within the close timeline.

● Consolidate and review the expense MIS with accurate cost-center/department/SKU-level

tagging as required.

● Ensure completeness of the books no missed liabilities, correct cut-off, and accurate

accrual reversals.

● Partner with the Business Finance/controllership team to explain variances in expense MIS

vs. budget/forecast.

● Ensure ledger scrutiny (vendor/GL) is completed and signed off before books are closed

each month.

5. Compliance, Audit & Controls

● Ensure GST input credit reconciliation, TDS compliance, and other statutory requirements

are met on all vendor payments.

● Be the primary point of contact for internal and statutory auditors on all AP-related queries;

ensure timely closure of audit observations.

● Maintain strong internal controls around vendor master creation/changes, payment

approvals, and segregation of duties.

● Ensure documentation (approvals, contracts, debit/credit notes) is complete and retrievable

for audit purposes.

Skills You Bring

● Strong hands-on knowledge of AP processes, invoice-to-pay cycle, and vendor accounting.

● Working knowledge of GST, TDS, and other statutory requirements applicable to vendor

payments.

● Experience managing month-end close and building & reviewing expense MIS.

● Strong people management skills proven experience leading teams of 4+ members.

● Process orientation with the ability to build and enforce SOPs across a team.

● Strong Excel skills and hands-on experience with Tally ERP are a must; working

knowledge of SAP is an added advantage.

● Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills comfortable interfacing

with business/ops leadership.

● Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-transaction-volume FMCG/D2C environment.

Qualifications

● A finance professional (B.Com/M.Com/CA-Inter/MBA Finance or equivalent) with 6–9

years of overall experience in Accounts Payable/Finance Operations, including 2–3 years

leading a team, preferably in a high-growth FMCG or consumer startup.

● Detail-obsessed, you love clean processes and bring structure to the team without slowing

the business down.

● Most importantly, you believe in transparency — in numbers, in intent, and in how vendors

and business partners should be treated.