Required Skills

Job Description

We are looking for a strategic and experienced Senior Director of Shared Services to lead our finance operations supporting a robust and growing retail organization across multiple countries. This position will oversee critical finance transactional functions including Accounts Payable (AP), Accounts Receivable (AR), and Fixed Assets within a shared services model. The ideal candidate will be bilingual in Spanish and English, possess deep experience in finance automation, and bring a strong track record of strategic leadership in shared services—ideally within the retail or consumer goods industry.

The Senior Director will be based in either Guatemala or Panama and will play a key role in defining the strategic direction, driving operational excellence, and supporting the scalability of the finance function in line with our growing retail footprint.

The Accounts Payable (AP) function manages merchandise payables globally as well as freight and non-merchandise payments for the US and USVI.

The Accounts Receivable (AR) manages the sales audit and collection process for each retail location (>50) as well as intercompany billings and reconciliations with foreign subsidiaries.

Fixed Asset Managed Services provides transactional support for Fixed Assets, including oversight of construction spending.
• Define and lead the strategic vision for finance shared services, supporting the company’s retail expansion and operational goals across Latin America.
• Manage and optimize end-to-end finance operations for AP, AR, and Fixed Assets, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and compliance across all retail markets.
• Lead a high-performing, multilingual shared services team with a focus on quality, service, and continuous improvement.
• Act as a strategic partner to Buying, Logistics, Operations Local Accounting and Treasury to ensure alignment.
• Ensure the shared service teams deliver an exceptional customer service experience to bother internal and external customers.
• Responsible for Accounts Payable Shared Service Center. This department processes merchandise (including pharmacy), freight and US and USVI non-merchandise accounts payable for the corporation.
• Responsible for Accounts Receivable (Sales Audit) Shared Service Center. This department processes the sales audit packages and records the revenue for all retail locations.
• Responsible for the Fixed Asset Managed Services Department (MSD). The MSD records the fixed asset additions and the disposals as well as processes review and approval of construction payments.
• Define, monitor, and improve KPIs, SLAs, and operational metrics to ensure timely and accurate financial processing within each function and across each region.
• Oversee reconciliation processes, month-end close activities, and internal audit support for all shared service functions.
• Identify opportunities to automate manual processes, reduce processing times, and enhance accuracy in transactional workflows.
• Partner with IT to implement new system solutions (e.g. Procure to Pay system) and develop new Robotic Process Automations
• Champion EDI and electronic invoice initiatives to enhance straight through processing capabilities.
• Responsible for process improvements for the assigned departments to ensure scalability as the organization grows.
• Ensure compliance with local regulatory and tax requirements in all supported countries.
• Ensure compliance with existing Internal Control procedures and work with other departments to strengthen the controls. Evaluate and update as necessary or create new internal control processes impacting the assigned departments.
• The Sr. Director will be a leader able to motivate, evaluate and direct each team member in accomplishing their daily tasks. Responsible for recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, coaching, counseling, and disciplining employees; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results. A strong communicator, with excellent written and computer skills is required.
• Knowledge of JD Edwards accounting system and Microsoft Suite is a plus.