Mgr., Accounts Payable (US)

Position Overview

The US Accounts Payable Manager is responsible for directing and managing all aspects of the accounts payable function for US operations. This position oversees the accurate and timely processing of invoices, vendor payments, employee expense reimbursements, and AP-related financial reporting activities while ensuring compliance with US GAAP, SOX requirements, IRS regulations, and company financial policies.

This role serves as a key leader within the Finance organization and is responsible for managing high-volume AP operations, strengthening internal controls, improving operational efficiencies, and leading AP process transformation initiatives. The US Accounts Payable Manager collaborates extensively with Procurement, Treasury, Accounting, Tax, Payroll, Internal Audit, Operations, and senior business leaders to ensure efficient financial operations and strong vendor relationships.

The ideal candidate is a highly experienced accounts payable professional with strong leadership capabilities, deep technical accounting knowledge, advanced ERP expertise, and a proven ability to lead teams in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments.

Primary Responsibilities

Accounts Payable Operations Management

• Lead and oversee all US accounts payable activities, ensuring efficient and accurate processing of vendor invoices and employee reimbursements.
• Manage the full invoice lifecycle, including invoice receipt, coding validation, matching, approvals, exception handling, payment processing, and record retention.
• Ensure invoices are processed in compliance with company policies, delegated authority levels, and contractual payment terms.
• Oversee weekly and monthly payment runs including ACH, wire transfers, checks, virtual cards, and other electronic payment methods.
• Monitor AP aging reports and proactively address overdue balances, vendor disputes, and outstanding liabilities.
• Ensure proper reconciliation of vendor statements and resolution of discrepancies in a timely manner.
• Supervise the maintenance and accuracy of vendor master data including banking information, tax documentation, and payment terms.
• Coordinate with Treasury to optimize cash flow management and payment scheduling.
• Manage high-volume invoice environments while maintaining strict quality and accuracy standards.

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, supervise, mentor, and develop the US Accounts Payable team, including AP Supervisors, Specialists, Analysts, and Coordinators.
• Establish performance expectations, KPIs, and service-level agreements for the AP department.
• Conduct hiring, onboarding, training, coaching, and performance evaluations for AP staff.
• Create development plans and succession planning initiatives to strengthen team capabilities.
• Foster a culture focused on accountability, customer service, continuous improvement, and collaboration.
• Manage staffing levels, workload distribution, and resource planning to ensure operational efficiency.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for complex AP issues and vendor disputes.

Financial Controls, Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with US GAAP, SOX requirements, IRS regulations, and company financial policies.
• Maintain strong internal controls, segregation of duties, and approval workflows across AP processes.
• Oversee compliance related to W-9 collection, 1099 reporting, sales and use tax requirements, and vendor tax classifications.
• Partner with Internal Audit and external auditors to support audit requests and compliance testing.
• Review and approve AP reconciliations, accruals, and journal entries.
• Identify financial and operational risks within AP operations and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with fraud prevention procedures and vendor verification controls.
• Support corporate governance and regulatory compliance initiatives.

Month-End, Quarter-End & Year-End Close Activities

• Oversee all AP-related close activities including accrual preparation, reconciliations, and reporting.
• Ensure timely and accurate closing of AP sub-ledger activities.
• Review and approve journal entries related to accounts payable and accrued liabilities.
• Coordinate with Accounting and Finance teams to support financial statement preparation.
• Prepare monthly AP metrics, aging analysis, and management reporting packages.
• Assist with annual audits, tax reporting, and year-end compliance activities.
• Support budgeting and forecasting activities related to AP operations and cash requirements.

Vendor Relationship Management

• Develop and maintain strong professional relationships with vendors, suppliers, and service providers.
• Resolve escalated vendor payment issues, disputes, and invoice discrepancies professionally and efficiently.
• Collaborate with Procurement to ensure compliance with vendor contracts and negotiated payment terms.
• Participate in vendor review meetings and support supplier performance initiatives.
• Ensure timely communication regarding payment status, invoice discrepancies, and onboarding requirements.
• Improve vendor satisfaction through responsive service and operational excellence.

Process Improvement & Automation

• Identify process inefficiencies and implement operational improvements to increase productivity and reduce manual work.
• Lead AP automation initiatives including workflow enhancements, OCR technologies, and electronic invoicing solutions.
• Partner with IT and Finance leadership on ERP implementations, upgrades, and integrations.
• Standardize AP policies and procedures across business units where applicable.
• Develop and maintain process documentation, SOPs, and training materials.
• Utilize reporting and analytics tools to measure department performance and identify trends.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on scalability, compliance, and cost savings.

Systems & Technology Management

• Manage AP-related ERP modules and ensure data integrity within financial systems.
• Support implementation and optimization of systems such as SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Workday, Microsoft Dynamics, or similar platforms.
• Maintain relationships with banking partners and payment service providers.
• Ensure system controls, approval hierarchies, and workflow configurations are functioning effectively.
• Support testing and validation activities for system upgrades and enhancements.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related discipline required.
• CPA, CMA, MBA, or equivalent certification preferred.

Experience

• 14–17 years of progressive accounts payable and finance experience.
• Minimum 5-7 years of leadership or management experience within accounts payable operations.
• Strong experience managing high-volume US AP operations.
• Experience in multinational, publicly traded, or large corporate environments preferred.
• Proven success leading AP transformation, automation, or ERP implementation projects.
• Experience managing teams in shared services or centralized finance environments preferred.

Technical Knowledge & Skills

• Expert knowledge of accounts payable operations and accounting principles.
• Strong understanding of US GAAP, SOX compliance, IRS regulations, 1099 reporting, and sales/use tax requirements.
• Advanced ERP system experience including SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Workday, or Microsoft Dynamics.
• Experience with AP automation platforms such as Coupa, Ariba, Concur, Tipalti, Basware, or Bill.com.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills including pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, formulas, and reporting analysis.
• Familiarity with banking platforms, ACH processing, wire transfers, and positive pay systems.

Leadership Competencies

• Strong strategic thinking and operational leadership skills.
• Excellent team management and employee development abilities.
• Strong conflict resolution and vendor negotiation capabilities.
• Ability to lead change and manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Results-oriented with a focus on continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Communication & Analytical Skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong analytical, reconciliation, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to present financial information and operational metrics to leadership teams.
• High level of professionalism, integrity, and attention to detail.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in manufacturing, retail, healthcare, technology, or shared services industries.
• Lean Six Sigma or process improvement certification preferred.
• Experience with mergers, acquisitions, or system migrations.
• Knowledge of international AP operations and foreign currency payments is a plus.