Accounts Payable Manager (f/m/d)

About Focused Energy Focused Energy is building the future of clean energy through laser-driven inertial fusion. Backed by our $240M Series A — the largest fully secured Series A in the global fusion industry — we are scaling rapidly across multiple geographies. Based in Germany and the US, we have brought together the top scientific and engineering minds using proven technologies to unlock fusion power at commercial scale. Focused Energy is working to realize game-changing scientific innovation that promises to deliver a clean, sustainable and abundant source of power globally. Your Role We are looking for a dedicated Accounts Payable Manager (f/m/d) : someone who runs the bill-to-pay process end-to-end with the rigor a multi-entity, multi-currency environment requires. You will take over AP from our external bookkeeper during the transition period and lead the move from manual processing to automated workflows. What You'll Do Own the end-to-end accounts payable process across all Focused Energy entities, from Bill receipt through payment and reconciliation. Lead the resolution of supplier and internal payment discrepancies, including duplicate invoices and incorrect payments. Drive timely month-end and year-end close support, including reconciliations, accruals, prepaid expenses, amortization, and AP reporting. Ensure bills are coded, approved, and paid in line with company policy and segregation-of-duties controls. Build and maintain complete, audit-ready documentation for internal and external audits. Improve automation and data quality across the invoice-to-pay process using our ERP and AP systems. Partner with suppliers and internal teams to resolve invoice and account-related issues quickly and professionally. Enable scalable, auditable AP operations by keeping clear, current procedures across all entities. What You Bring • 2-3 years of experience in accounts payable in a German company , with solid knowledge of AP processes and controls: bill-to-pay, PO and non-PO workflows, supplier master data, and segregation of duties. • Hands-on experience with NetSuite (or a comparable ERP) and the month-end close, including reconciliations, cost accruals, and AP reporting. • A process-improvement mindset: you document procedures clearly, care about data quality, and are open to automation and AI-enabled tools. • Strong knowledge of German accounting principles and internal controls, with the ability to work to audit requirements. • Clear, professional communication in English and German, with the ability to explain payment status and policy requirements without ambiguity. • Ownership and reliability: you take full accountability for accuracy and timeliness and flag issues before they are asked about. Nice to Have • Experience with Moss or Ramp for AP automation and invoice workflows. • Experience in a multi-entity, multi-currency environment. • Experience in a scale-up environment.   What We Offer • Innovative Technology & Mission: Be part of a cutting-edge company working on groundbreaking research in clean energy and scientific discovery. • Career Development: We invest in our people. This is an opportunity to join an early, growing company at the forefront of new technology, where you’ll have the opportunity to develop and grow your career. • Collaborative Culture: Work with great people in a dynamic, international environment with top-tier scientists, engineers and professionals passionate about solving global challenges. • Ownership: Take ownership from day 1 and drive impact by making decisions, solving challenges and shaping the future of our company. • Your Success is our Success: We offer a competitive salary and company ownership in the form of stock options, giving you a direct stake in our success and