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Accounts Payable Lead

On-site in Barcelona·Added today

Esteve

6 open roles

Overview

Requirements

  • Have the right to work in Spain

    Esteve doesn't mention sponsorship in the ad.

  • Work on-site in Barcelona

    No relocation package mentioned.

  • Have 5+ years of experience

    Mid-level role.

  • University degree

    “Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field.” — per the ad.

Requirements

What we're looking for

  • 5+ years of experience in Accounts Payable, Finance Operations, or Shared Services.
  • Experience as a technical AP expert supporting global processes.
  • Participate in initiatives aimed at enhancing process efficiency, automation, and operational excellence.
  • Experience managing stakeholder relationships across different functions and organizational levels.
  • Strong expertise in Accounts Payable end-to-end processes.
  • Proven people leadership and team management capabilities.
  • Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence and collaborate across functions and organizational levels.
  • Strong business orientation with the ability to balance operational excellence and business needs.

Nice to have

  • Experience participating in SAP implementations, finance transformation, shared service migrations, or process standardization projects is highly valued.
  • Knowledge of Lean, process optimization methodologies, and automation tools is considered a plus.

Education & certifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field.
  • Additional certifications in Finance, Accounting, SAP, Process Improvement, or Project Management are valued.

The role

Lead the Accounts Payable function for Iberia, ensuring high-quality service delivery, business continuity, compliance, and operational excellence across the Procure-to-Pay process. Manage and develop the Iberia AP team, act as a key business partner for internal stakeholders, and actively drive process improvements, standardization, automation, and transformation initiatives aligned with global finance objectives.

What you'll do

  • Own and lead the Accounts Payable operations for Iberia, ensuring efficient, compliant, and business-oriented service delivery.
  • Supervise, coach, and develop the AP team, fostering accountability, engagement, knowledge sharing, and continuous professional growth.
  • Monitor team performance through KPIs and SLAs, ensuring service quality, operational efficiency, and timely issue resolution.
  • Act as the primary point of contact for Iberia business stakeholders, building strong relationships and ensuring alignment between business needs and AP operations.
  • Provide functional leadership and expert guidance on Accounts Payable processes, controls, systems, and policies.
  • Ensure timely and accurate processing of supplier invoices, payments, employee expenses, and vendor master data activities.
  • Lead the resolution of complex operational issues, escalations, supplier disputes, and system-related incidents.
  • Identify, prioritize, and implement process improvement opportunities to enhance efficiency, controls, user experience, and service quality.
  • Actively participate in global and regional transformation projects, promoting best practices, harmonization, automation, and digitalization initiatives.
  • Support the design and implementation of new processes, SAP enhancements, system upgrades, and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Ensure compliance with company policies, internal controls, audit requirements, and regulatory obligations.
  • Monitor operational risks and implement corrective actions to strengthen process governance and control effectiveness.Collaborate closely with Procurement, Accounting, Treasury, Tax, Internal Audit, IT, and Shared Service teams to optimize end-to-end P2P processes.
  • Analyze operational performance, identify trends, and provide actionable insights to support decision-making and business objectives.
  • Support internal and external audits, acting as a subject matter expert for Accounts Payable processes and controls.
  • Promote a culture of continuous improvement, operational excellence, customer service, and proactive problem-solving across the AP organization.

About Esteve

Esteve is a Spanish pharmaceutical company headquartered in Barcelona, specializing in the research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of innovative medicines. With a strong focus on therapeutic areas such as pain, cardiology, and respiratory health, Esteve operates internationally and maintains a significant presence in Europe and Latin America. The company is known for its commitment to improving patient health through high-quality pharmaceutical products and services.

In Spain, Esteve has its main offices and production facilities in Barcelona, where it employs a diverse workforce of scientists, production specialists, and commercial teams. The company offers a collaborative and innovative work environment, with opportunities for international professionals in areas like R&D, manufacturing, and sales. As a Spanish-founded company, Esteve provides a unique chance to work within a leading national pharmaceutical player while contributing to global health initiatives.

Industry
Pharma
Founded
1929
Employees
1,000–5,000
Headquarters
Barcelona, Spain
In Spain
Barcelona
Website
esteve.com

Good to know if you are moving

  • Esteve is headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, offering a prime location in one of Europe's most vibrant cities.
  • The company has a strong international presence, with operations in several countries, providing opportunities for cross-border collaboration.
  • Esteve invests significantly in R&D, making it an attractive employer for professionals in pharmaceutical research and development.
  • The company offers a diverse range of roles, from production and operations to sales and management, suitable for various professional backgrounds.
  • As a Spanish-founded company, Esteve provides a unique opportunity to work within a leading national pharmaceutical firm with a global reach.

In their own words

About the company & team

Since 1929, ESTEVE has been driven by a clear and powerful purpose: improve people's lives. Headquartered in Barcelona, we are a global pharmaceutical company with affiliates in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, France, the UK, and the USA, as well as world-class production sites in Mexico and China supporting our global CMO business.

We are on an exciting growth journey, transforming into a leading international specialty pharma company, focused on highly specialized medicines that address unmet medical needs. At the heart of everything we do are our core values: people matter, transparency, and accountability.

We care, we do: Our commitment goes beyond medicine. We care about making a positive impact on people, the environment, and the way we do business.

Additional information

Ready to join us on our purpose to improve people's lives? Become part of a team where your passion can make a real difference.

All open roles at Esteve

Location

Esteve · Barcelona

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