Vice President, Payment Operations

Summary The Vice President, Payment Operations is a leadership role responsible for the oversight, operational excellence, and continuous evolution of Carlyle's end-to-end procure-to-pay process. This leader will bring deep expertise in complex financial operations, a sharp instinct for process innovation, and the executive presence required to drive critical outcomes across a matrixed, global organization. The VP will lead and develop a high-performing team, navigating competing priorities and compressed timelines without sacrificing accuracy or compliance. This individual thrives under pressure, is an exceptional problem-solver, and possesses the agility to rapidly absorb complex firm structures, processes, and stakeholder dynamics. They will serve as a trusted partner to senior leadership, fund & firm operations, and technology teams. They will also engage with external banking partners, consultants and auditors in support of daily operations. The VP will operate at the intersection of finance, technology, and operations with direct visibility to senior Finance leadership and influence over how Carlyle manages its most critical financial workflows. In-Office Requirement: 4 days a week Primary Responsibilities Payment Operations Ownership (Primary Focus ~60%) Serve as the policy and process owner for all Carlyle procure-to-pay activities; act as a key governance stakeholder for the Appian payment modules, ensuring platform integrity and compliance with firm standards Oversee and continuously monitor end-to-end payment operations processes, ensuring all requests across firm, fund, and deal transactions are handled accurately, prioritized appropriately, and resolved proactively Lead engagement with key stakeholders through structured weekly and monthly cadences to anticipate deal activity, align on transaction priorities, and ensure critical payment dates are met without exception Orchestrate cross-functional coordination with Payment Operations, Technology, and external banking partners to manage downstream infrastructure requirements and enable seamless execution of complex, high-value transactions Own and administer the US Corporate Credit Card program; provide oversight of T&E reimbursement processes - ensuring policy compliance and risk mitigation Review and approve reconciliations prepared by the team for Accounts Payable and Sales & Use tax accounts; lead and own the Abandoned & Unclaimed Property compliance process Serve as the primary point of contact on audits; lead coordinated responses to information requests and maintain comprehensive, audit-ready SOX documentation for all Payment Operations processes Develop and report on a robust metrics and KPI framework to measure SLA performance, policy adherence, and payment trends across Carlyle; enforce SLAs with rigor to ensure timely processing and exception management Innovation, Technology & Process Transformation (~20%) Cultivate a culture of continuous improvement by regularly evaluating existing processes, identifying inefficiencies, and designing and implementing scalable solutions that keep pace with evolving business and stakeholder needs Partner with Technology teams to conceptualize, solution, and deploy automation initiatives and system enhancements that reduce manual effort, increase throughput, and elevate control environments Apply a rapid-learning approach to quickly understand complex system architectures, firm structures, and interdependencies - translating that knowledge into actionable process improvements and stakeholder recommendations Lead or contribute to firm-wide special projects and cross-functional initiatives as required, bringing intellectual curiosity, structured thinking, and a bias for action Leadership & Team Management (~20%) Lead, mentor, and develop a team of payment operations professionals, establishing a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement in a high-volume, deadline-driven environment Set