Job Description

King’s College Riyadh is seeking a passionate and knowledgeable Regional Accounts Payable Executive to join our growing team for July 2026, this position will work across both of our Riyadh Schools.

King’s College Riyadh:

- Brings 140 years of educational excellence to Saudi Arabia
- Offers a holistic curriculum, adapted from King’s UK to suit the Saudi context
- Provides exceptional pastoral care and a strong sense of community
- Creating outstanding career development opportunities within an international school network

The partnership with King’s College UK is central to the school’s success. Collaboration in areas such as vision and ethos, curriculum design, professional development, and co-curricular activities ensures the highest international standards. Pupils and staff in Riyadh benefit directly from the expertise and reputation that King’s College has built over nearly a century and a half.

The school balances academic achievement with a strong emphasis on sport, music, the arts, and a wide range of activities. Central to this is its commitment to pastoral care: pupils thrive when they feel happy, supported, and secure. Staff work to foster a warm, inclusive community where every child has trusted peers and adults to turn to, ensuring they feel valued and connected.

Together, Cognita schools provide a uniquely global education that goes beyond grades, developing academic excellence alongside adaptability, agency, and the positive attitudes that prepare young people to grow, thrive, and find success in a rapidly evolving world.

Cognita Middle East has 14 schools within its portfolio, including: RGS Guildford Dubai, Repton Dubai, Repton Al Barsha and Repton Abu Dhabi, Horizon English School, Horizon International School, Ranches Primary School and Al Ain English Speaking School in the UAE, Dasman Bilingual School in Kuwait, Downe House Riyadh and King’s College Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Downe House Muscat and Cheltenham Muscat in Oman, and King’s College Doha in Qatar

The Regional Accounts Payable Executive is responsible for processing payment transactions in the region. This role ensures timely, accurate, and compliant processing of supplier invoices and payments for our schools and business units. The position acts as a key liaison between schools, vendors, our banking partners and internal finance team, supporting with process improvement initiatives, digital initiatives, supplier relationship management, cashflow tracking, month-end support and alignment with Cognita Middle East centralized Procure to Pay (P2P) policy.

Key Accountabilities

Accounts Payable Operations
• Process payments in accordance with Cognita policy, including invoice receipt, invoice compliance checks, 3-way matching, submission for approval, and preparing payment runs.
• Ensure timely and accurate processing of all supplier invoices and employee payroll and expense claims.
• Preparation of reconciliation of accounts payable ledgers and resolve discrepancies promptly.

Compliance & Controls
• Ensure all accounts payable activities comply with Cognita policies, country-level laws and regulations, and ethical standards.
• Coordinate and verify compliance documents for all payment transactions and vendor management.

Process Improvement and Systems
• Support with continuous improvements in accounts payable processes, leveraging ERP systems (e.g., NetSuite) and digital platforms.
• Support with the development and implementation of standard operating procedures to enhance efficiency and control.

Stakeholder Engagement
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to resolve payment-related queries.
• Build strong relationships with vendors, banks, auditors ensuring timely resolution of issues.

Risk Management
• Identify and mitigate operational, financial, and reputational risks.
• Support with the implementation of contingency plans to address risks such as payment delays, compliance breaches, or system failures.

Responsibilities

Accounts Payable Operations
• End-to-End Process: Process payment transactions, from the initial receipt of invoices through to verification, submission for approval, and final payment preparation. This includes ensuring all documentation is accurate and complete before processing.
• Invoice & Expense Processing: Ensure all supplier invoices, payroll and employee expense claims are processed promptly and accurately, minimizing delays and errors.
• Ledger Reconciliation: Regularly reconcile accounts payable ledgers, investigating and resolving any discrepancies to maintain accurate financial records.
• Audit Trail Maintenance: Maintain comprehensive records and supporting documentation for all transactions to facilitate smooth internal and external audits.

Compliance & Controls
• Policy Adherence: Ensure all accounts payable activities strictly comply with Cognita’s internal policies, as well as country-level legal and regulatory requirements.
• Vendor Management & Payment Compliance: Ensure all compliance documentation for new vendors and for each payment transaction, including tax, VAT, and anti-fraud checks.
• Audit Support: Prepare and provide all necessary documentation and explanations for internal and external audits, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Process Improvement and Systems
• Continuous Improvement: Identify inefficiencies in current processes and support improvements and automation initiatives.
• ERP & Digital Platform Utilization: Self-driven to ensure the best use of our ERP system (such as NetSuite) and work towards streamlining workflows to reduce manual intervention and enhance data accuracy.
• Standard Operating Procedures: Ensure compliance with SOPs to reduce risk, drive consistency, efficiency, and robust internal controls.

Stakeholder Engagement
• Internal Collaboration: Work closely with internal stakeholders—including finance, procurement, operations, and academic teams to deliver best in class services and resolve payment-related queries efficiently.
• Vendor Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, banks, and auditors, acting as a key point of contact for accounts payable matters and ensuring timely resolution of issues.
• Service Excellence: Have a customer service mindset within the accounts payable team, ensuring all stakeholders receive timely and accurate responses.

Risk Management
• Risk Identification: Identify operational, financial, and reputational risks within the accounts payable function, such as potential payment delays, compliance breaches, or system failures.
• Mitigation & Contingency Planning: Support with contingency plans to address identified risks, ensuring business continuity and minimizing financial exposure.
• Control Environment: Support a strong internal control environment, regularly reviewing and updating controls to address emerging risks.

Personal Specific

• More than 3-5 years’ experience in accounts payable or finance operations, ideally in an
education or multi-site environment.
• Proven track record of delivering results and managing supplier relationships.
• Strong communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Awareness of compliance, controls, and risk mitigation within accounts payable.
• Experienced with ERP systems (especially NetSuite) and digital finance platforms.
• Accounting and Finance Degree level (preferred).

If
you are driven by challenge and aspire to make a lasting impact, we invite you
to apply and be a key player in shaping the future of the King’s College Riyadh
and Cognita schools.

Cognita is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers, and other third parties to share this commitment. Safer recruitment practices and pre-employment background checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.