Japanese Bilingual - Accounts Payable Specialist

HC required: 5

Role Summary:

The Accounts Payable Specialist will be responsible for managing end-to-end accounts payable

processes for our Japanese operations. This role requires a high degree of accuracy in

processing invoices, reconciling vendor statements, and resolving payment discrepancies. The

ideal candidate must possess strong accounting fundamentals and business-level fluency in

both Japanese and English to communicate effectively with vendors and internal stakeholders

in Japan.

Key Responsibilities:

Core Accounts Payable Duties:

• Invoice Processing: Accurately review, code, and process high volumes of vendor invoices and employee expense reports within the company’s ERP system (e.g., SAP, Oracle).
• 3-Way Matching: Perform 3-way matching of purchase orders (PO), goods receipt, and invoices to ensure payment accuracy.
• Payment Execution: Prepare and execute weekly/monthly payment runs (wire transfers, ACH, checks) in accordance with company policies and vendor terms.
• Month-End Close: Assist with month-end closing activities, including AP accruals, journal entries, and account reconciliations.
• Compliance: Ensure all transactions comply with internal auditing standards, local tax regulations, and corporate policies.

Bilingual Support & Vendor Management:

• Vendor Relations: Serve as the primary point of contact for Japan-based vendors.
• Respond to inquiries regarding payment status, invoice discrepancies, and account balances in professional Japanese (written and verbal).
• Discrepancy Resolution: Investigate and resolve billing errors, misapplied payments, or missing invoices by collaborating with procurement and receiving departments.
• Translation Support: Translate AP-related documents, vendor communications, and process guidelines between Japanese and English as needed.

Qualifications:

Nationality:

• Open to Filipino candidates (Native and Non-Native speakers are accepted)

Language and Communication:

• Business-level fluency in Japanese (JLPT N1 or N2 preferred; strong N3 considered) with

• Business-level fluency in English.
• Must be able to read, write, and speak Japanese fluently

Experience & Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 1 to 3+ years of experience in Accounts Payable, Procure-to-Pay (P2P), or general

accounting.

Technical Skills:

• Hands-on experience with major ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel (VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables).
• Familiarity with Japanese business etiquette and corporate communication styles.

• Previous experience working in a Shared Services Center (SSC) or BPO environment.
• Understanding of Japanese Consumption Tax (JCT) and withholding tax rules.