Senior Accounts Payable Manager
18 days ago
Upland
Job Description We are seeking an experienced and strategic Senior Accounts Payable Manager to lead a high-volume, multi-entity AP function supporting retail operations, distribution, and corporate entities. This role is responsible for overseeing end-to-end accounts payable operations, driving process automation and efficiency, and delivering high-impact financial insights through advanced analytics and reporting. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in retail AP environments, accrual accounting, and large-scale operations, combined with a strong leadership mindset and a focus on continuous improvement. Key Responsibilities Leadership & High-Volume Operations • Lead daily AP operations across multiple entities, managing large-scale invoice volumes and vendor relationships., • Oversee organizational structure across Managers, Supervisors, Leads, and Specialists to support seasonal retail fluctuations., • Establish and monitor KPIs and SLAs, including invoice cycle times, error rates, aging, productivity, and accrual accuracy., • Drive workforce planning aligned with store lifecycle changes, promotional cycles, and vendor seasonality., • Foster a high-performance culture emphasizing accountability, efficiency, and continuous improvement. Reporting, Analytics & Financial Insight • Own and deliver entity-level and consolidated AP reporting, including:, • Aging and liability exposure, • Accrual rollforwards and reconciliation status, • Invoice processing metrics and throughput, • Vendor spend trends and concentration analysis, • Partner with Finance and FP&A to ensure accurate accruals across inventory, freight, utilities, rent, and store expenses., • Support month-end and quarter-end flux analysis, cash forecasting, and disbursement planning., • Develop automated dashboards and executive reporting using Excel and BI tools., • Analyze large datasets to identify duplicate payments, missed discounts, inefficiencies, and cost-saving opportunities., • Ensure strong data governance and integrity across ERP systems. Accruals, Close & Multi-Entity Complexity • Lead the AP accrual process across multiple entities, ensuring complete and accurate reporting of period-end liabilities., • Coordinate high-volume accrual inputs from Operations, Procurement, and field leadership., • Ensure proper cutoff procedures and reconciliation of accrued vs. actual expenses., • Manage intercompany AP transactions and eliminations., • Deliver accurate, timely month-end close cycles in a fast-paced retail environment. Process Improvement & Systems • Drive automation initiatives including OCR, EDI, invoice capture, approval workflows, and vendor portals., • Optimize paperless processing and document management systems., • Implement best practices tailored to high-volume retail AP environments., • Partner with IT and Finance to enhance ERP systems and reporting capabilities. Cross-Functional & Vendor Management • Serve as the primary AP partner for Operations, Procurement, Treasury, Logistics, and Store Finance teams., • Manage relationships with high-volume vendors, landlords, utilities, and service providers., • Lead resolution of complex vendor disputes and escalations that impact store operations., • Provide insights to support vendor negotiations, discount utilization, and payment term strategies. Compliance, Audit & Controls • Ensure compliance with internal controls and audit standards across all entities., • Maintain audit-ready documentation in a high-volume transactional environment., • Lead AP participation in internal and external audits., • Enforce controls to prevent duplicate payments, unauthorized vendors, and fraud. Administrative Oversight • Oversee payments related to leases, utilities, property taxes, licenses, and store operations., • Ensure compliance with vendor contracts and payment terms., • Conduct team performance reviews and drive organizational improvements. Requirements Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required., • 10+ years of Accounts Payable experience, preferably in retail or other high-volume industries., • 5+ years in senior AP leadership roles with multi-layered team management experience., • Proven success managing multi-entity AP environments with complex accrual structures., • Advanced knowledge of accrual accounting, month-end close, and reconciliations., • Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, Power Query, data modeling) and ERP experience., • Experience with BI tools (Power BI, Tableau, etc.) strongly preferred., • Demonstrated ability to drive automation, efficiency, and cost savings., • Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable insights., • Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management abilities. Pay for this position is $120,000-$130,000 per year DOE Benefits • Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance, • 401K Plan, • Paid Time Off