Harish R
Bengaluru
Summary
Dynamic Accounts Payable Manager with a proven track record at Tesco HSC, driving £2+ million in working capital through process optimization. Skilled in internal controls and training, I excel in enhancing workflows and fostering team engagement, delivering measurable improvements in efficiency and compliance.
Talented Accounts Payable Manager with 10 years of experience and success in leading 19 direct reports. Consistently enhances operations and streamlines timelines while upholding all quality standards and regulatory mandates. Excellent record of reducing operational costs through shrewd negotiations, vendor selection and contract overhaul.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Accounts Payable Manager
Tesco HSC
01.2023 - Current
- Accountable for managing £42 billion in annual payments, ensuring 500K+ invoices are processed accurately and on time for payment each period in line with SLA and compliance requirements.
- Acted as a trusted business partner to UK & ROI Finance, Technology, Audit, Supply Chain, and Market stakeholders, driving alignment and shared outcomes.
- Owned end-to-end value realization, delivering £2+ million in working capital and cash benefits through process optimization initiatives.
- Led and developed a team of 25+ colleagues, fostering strong colleague experience, engagement, and sustained productivity.
- Delivered value stream mapping and continuous improvement programs, identifying inefficiencies and driving scalable, data-led solutions.
- Led process re-engineering and automation initiatives, resulting in the release of 10 FTE through sustainable efficiency gains.
- Influenced senior stakeholders to adopt standardized, future-ready processes, balancing efficiency, control, and customer outcomes.
- Collaborated with Technology teams to design and implement system-based preventive and detective controls aligned with ICFR requirements.
- Partnered with UK stakeholders to establish and embed SOX-compliant payment and invoice matching controls, ensuring audit readiness.
- Successfully transformed operations across UK & ROI, including merging two teams and releasing two Manager roles, while improving KPIs, SLA adherence, and risk controls.
Manager - Process Design
Tesco HSC
12.2021 - 01.2023
- Led end-to-end process design and re-engineering initiatives, defining future-state workflows to improve efficiency, scalability, and control.
- Designed standardized, repeatable processes with clear RACI, controls, and handoffs across upstream and downstream teams.
- Built process maps (As-Is / To-Be) and identified automation and simplification opportunities to reduce manual intervention.
- Embedded risk, compliance, and control frameworks into process design to ensure audit readiness and governance.
- Partnered with IT, Automation, and Business stakeholders to translate business requirements into system-enabled solutions.
- Defined SLAs, KPIs, and control metrics during the design phase to ensure measurable performance outcomes.
- Designed exception-handling and escalation models to manage high-risk and non-standard scenarios efficiently.
- Led pilot runs and UAT for newly designed processes, incorporating feedback before full-scale rollout.
- Enabled smooth adoption through change management, training, and documentation for redesigned processes.
- Delivered sustainable process designs that improved cycle time, accuracy, and stakeholder experience.
- Designed and implemented an end-to-end Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for the Republic of Ireland, ensuring full compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
- Implemented a Debit Cockpit platform to monitor and manage aged collections, delivering £500K+ in value recovery through improved visibility and controls.
- Partnered with MDM, Accounts Receivable, and Payments teams to establish supplier auto-netting, reducing manual effort, leakage, and reconciliation timelines.
- Led cross-functional stakeholder collaboration to align finance operations, system capabilities, and compliance requirements.
- Drove process standardisation and automation, improving governance, audit readiness, and operational efficiency.
Team Lead - Transition & Operational Role
Tesco HSC
12.2018 - 11.2021
- Successfully transitioned and stabilized 2 AP roles for the UK process, ensuring seamless knowledge transfer, SLA adherence, and business continuity.
- Owned and managed team KPIs including productivity, quality, aging, and SLA performance, driving consistent improvements against targets.
- Led process improvement initiatives to streamline invoice processing, reduce rework, and improve turnaround time.
- Acted as the first point of contact for escalations from UK stakeholders, suppliers, and internal teams, resolving issues promptly and maintaining strong relationships.
- Provided day-to-day team leadership, coaching, and performance management, ensuring capability building and engagement.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to address systemic issues impacting AP performance and controls.
- Ensured compliance with AP controls, audit requirements, and policy adherence across the team.
Senior Associate
Tesco HSC
11.2017 - 11.2018
- Performed supplier balance reconciliations, identifying and resolving discrepancies to ensure accurate vendor statements and ledger balances.
- Managed end-to-end supplier query resolution, coordinating with internal stakeholders to ensure timely and effective closure.
- Prepared and supported VAT reports for Czech Republic and Slovakia, ensuring accuracy and compliance with local requirements.
- Automated daily operational reports, reducing manual effort and improving data accuracy and turnaround time.
- Trained and onboarded new joiners, providing process guidance and hands-on support to accelerate productivity.
- Developed and maintained performance dashboards and KPI reports, enabling clear visibility of team productivity, quality, and SLA adherence.
- Supported continuous improvement initiatives by providing insights through data analysis and reporting.
Associate - Invoice Matching
Tesco HSC
06.2015 - 11.2017
- Processed end-to-end P2P transactions including invoice receipt, 2-/3-way matching, posting, and payment processing.
- Managed vendor queries related to invoices, payments, and discrepancies, ensuring timely resolution and supplier satisfaction.
- Supported GR/IR reconciliation and followed up with buyers and suppliers to clear open items.
- Ensured compliance with P2P controls, policies, and audit requirements.
- Maintained accurate documentation and master data updates in line with process guidelines.
- Assisted in month-end activities including accruals, reconciliations, and reporting.
- Met productivity, quality, and SLA targets consistently while handling high-volume transactions.
Education
Bachelor’s in Commerce - Finance
Kristu Jayanti College
Bengaluru, India07-2013
Skills
- Business processes and procedures
- Accounts payable expertise
- Process improvements
- Training and mentoring
- Workflow management
- Internal controls
- Onboarding and training
Languages
English
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
Hindi
Upper intermediate (B2)
Tamil
Advanced (C1)
kannada
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
Telugu
Upper intermediate (B2)
Timeline
Accounts Payable Manager
Tesco HSC
01.2023 - Current
Manager - Process Design
Tesco HSC
12.2021 - 01.2023
Team Lead - Transition & Operational Role
Tesco HSC
12.2018 - 11.2021
Senior Associate
Tesco HSC
11.2017 - 11.2018
Associate - Invoice Matching
Tesco HSC
06.2015 - 11.2017
Bachelor’s in Commerce - Finance
Kristu Jayanti College