Financial Operations Lead, Vendor Operations

About the role

You will own the end-to-end financial operations for Airbnb's vendor ecosystem, driving accuracy and efficiency across the full lifecycle of vendor relationships. This role requires you to translate complex financial data into actionable insights that directly support strategic workforce and vendor decisions. You will act as a critical partner to finance, procurement, and legal teams, ensuring seamless alignment on policies and compliance. You will design and maintain robust processes that govern vendor invoicing, payments, and contractual obligations. Your work will directly influence cost optimization and financial governance at scale. You will champion automation initiatives that enhance productivity and reduce manual risk across global operations. You will serve as the primary financial control point for vendor-related activities, safeguarding company resources while enabling growth. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in ambiguity and can lead process transformation across a dynamic, global organization.

Key facts

What you'll do

Analyze and enhance end-to-end vendor financial processes, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and scalability across global vendor engagements.

Oversee vendor invoicing and payment processing, performing rigorous reviews for correctness, completeness, and adherence to contractual terms.

Monitor and report on vendor spend in real time, enabling proactive budget management, forecasting, and identification of cost-saving opportunities.

Partner with Strategic Finance to reconcile vendor liabilities, manage accruals, and support period-end close activities related to vendor operations.

Lead cross-functional initiatives with Procurement, Legal, and Accounts Payable to streamline workflows and resolve financial discrepancies efficiently.

Develop and maintain strong relationships with key vendors to ensure transparency, foster collaboration, and uphold financial integrity.

Track vendor headcount and incentive programs, ensuring alignment with workforce strategies, policies, and financial controls.

Evaluate and implement financial and operational tools to automate manual processes, improving speed, accuracy, and scalability.

Provide actionable insights and dashboards to stakeholders, supporting data-driven decisions related to vendor performance and financial health.

Own documentation for vendor financial procedures, ensuring clarity, consistency, and ease of training for current and future team members.

Identify and mitigate financial risks within the vendor lifecycle, implementing controls and checks to prevent errors and fraud.

Collaborate with internal auditors and compliance teams to ensure adherence to financial regulations and internal policies.

Champion continuous improvement by gathering feedback from stakeholders and driving iterative enhancements to vendor financial workflows.

Serve as a subject matter expert for the Workforce & Vendor Excellence organization, providing thought leadership on financial best practices.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Minimum of 9 years of progressive experience in vendor management, accounts payable, procurement operations, or a closely related domain.

Demonstrated expertise in financial processes, including contract administration, invoice management, and payment reconciliation.

Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while maintaining attention to detail.

Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret financial data, identify trends, and present clear recommendations.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.

Solid understanding of financial systems and tools, such as Oracle and Zip, or similar enterprise platforms.

Experience working with global vendors and cross-functional teams in a large, complex organization.

Strong knowledge of procurement policies, contract law basics, and compliance requirements relevant to vendor operations.

Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive financial information with discretion and professionalism.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office and advanced spreadsheet skills, particularly in Excel, for financial analysis and reporting.

Willingness to collaborate closely with legal, finance, and operations teams to ensure alignment on policies and procedures.

Commitment to upholding Airbnb's values of integrity, transparency, and operational excellence in all financial activities.

Nice to have

Proficiency in financial systems such as Oracle and Zip is preferred.

Experience with vendor incentive programs and headcount tracking mechanisms.

Familiarity with automation tools or platforms that can streamline financial operations.

Practical notes

This is a full-time position based in India.

Travel requirements, visa sponsorship details, and application deadlines are not specified in this source document.