Lead Accounts Payable Associate

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Act as the main operational support for the AP Supervisor

• Organize daily tasks, establish priorities, manage queue coverage, and balance workloads among AP team members

• Oversee backlogs, aging items, pending approvals, payment discrepancies, and unresolved vendor or employee concerns

• Create operational reports for the AP Supervisor

• Assist with departmental objectives, procedures, control changes, and activities related to acquisitions

• Address routine first-level escalations and present more complex issues along with suggested solutions

• Offer daily process guidance to AP Associates and offshore AP team members

• Lead onboarding, cross-training, refresher training, and knowledge transfer initiatives

• Develop and update desk procedures, standard operating procedures, checklists, and training resources

• Conduct risk-based quality assessments of invoices, expenses, corporate card transactions, vendor records, payment support, and reconciliations

• Manage or supervise intricate vendor invoices, reimbursements, corporate card charges, expert payments, retainers, credits, discounts, and payment discrepancies

• Confirm contracts, W-9s, approvals, payment details, and supporting documents prior to processing payments

• Assist in the setup and maintenance of 1099 contractors and vendors

• Evaluate vendor statements, aged items, risks of duplicate payments, unresolved credits, and high-priority escalations

• Collaborate with Finance, Tax, Operations, Cash Applications, project teams, and other related stakeholders

• Ensure payment-run readiness and verify necessary approvals

• Report suspected fraud, risks of duplicate payments, unusual vendor requests, control overrides, and approval bypasses

• Aid in AP control testing and remediation efforts

• Manage the AP aspect of the month-end close

• Prepare or review reconciliations, aging analyses, accrual support, cutoff reviews, open-item reports, and closing schedules

• Gather and analyze operational metrics

• Provide support for internal and external audits

• Function as an AP workstream leader or operational resource during acquisition onboarding

• Facilitate AP discovery, validation of open payables, vendor data review, transition of payment methods, onboarding of expenses and cards, approval routing, and readiness for cutover

• Assist with data validation, user acceptance testing, issue tracking, and post-conversion stabilization

• Serve as an AP power user for designated ERP, AP automation, expense, payment, documentation, and workflow systems

• Identify automation and workflow enhancement opportunities and provide support in testing, documentation, deployment, and training

• Analyze recurring exceptions, manual interventions, service delays, and control challenges, and suggest improvements

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to enhance approval processes and handoffs

• Undertake additional related projects and responsibilities as required

⛳️ Requirements

• Proven experience in independently managing complex full-cycle AP transactions, vendor challenges, payment preparation, and reconciliations

• Demonstrated capability in training, mentoring, coordinating work, or acting as a process lead

• Experience in supporting month-end close, audits, system implementations, process conversions, or acquisition integrations

• Ability to grasp system administration concepts, workflow configuration, reporting, and user acceptance testing within designated platforms

• Capacity to uphold confidentiality and exercise sound judgment when dealing with banking, tax, vendor, employee, contract, and payment information

• Experience in professional services, legal services, consulting, multi-entity operations, or an acquisition-focused environment is highly preferred

• Associate degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field, or a combination of education and relevant experience

• At least five years of progressively responsible experience in accounts payable, accounting operations, or a closely related field, preferably in professional services

• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Outlook, and Word

• Strong proficiency in Sage Intacct, BILL, Ramp, Concur, Nexonia, or similar ERP, AP automation, spending, or expense platforms

• Position supports east to west coast time zones

🏝️ Benefits

• Competitive compensation package

• 401K match

• Flexible PTO

• 12 paid holidays

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits

• HSA

• Short-term disability insurance

• Long-term disability insurance

• Life insurance with substantial company contributions

• Career development programs supported through an integrated Learning Platform

• Talent Identification Program offering career growth opportunities and distinctive development experiences

• Values-driven culture based on respect, care, growth, and excellence