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.
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Oversee organizational structure across Managers, Supervisors, Leads, and Specialists to support seasonal retail fluctuations.
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Establish and monitor KPIs and SLAs, including invoice cycle times, error rates, aging, productivity, and accrual accuracy.
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Drive workforce planning aligned with store lifecycle changes, promotional cycles, and vendor seasonality.
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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
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Accrual rollforwards and reconciliation status
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Invoice processing metrics and throughput
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Vendor spend trends and concentration analysis
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- Partner with Finance and FP&A to ensure accurate accruals across inventory, freight, utilities, rent, and store expenses.
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Support month-end and quarter-end flux analysis, cash forecasting, and disbursement planning.
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Develop automated dashboards and executive reporting using Excel and BI tools.
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Analyze large datasets to identify duplicate payments, missed discounts, inefficiencies, and cost-saving opportunities.
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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.
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Coordinate high-volume accrual inputs from Operations, Procurement, and field leadership.
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Ensure proper cutoff procedures and reconciliation of accrued vs. actual expenses.
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Manage intercompany AP transactions and eliminations.
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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.
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Optimize paperless processing and document management systems.
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Implement best practices tailored to high-volume retail AP environments.
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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.
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Manage relationships with high-volume vendors, landlords, utilities, and service providers.
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Lead resolution of complex vendor disputes and escalations that impact store operations.
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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.
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Maintain audit-ready documentation in a high-volume transactional environment.
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Lead AP participation in internal and external audits.
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Enforce controls to prevent duplicate payments, unauthorized vendors, and fraud.
Administrative Oversight
- Oversee payments related to leases, utilities, property taxes, licenses, and store operations.
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Ensure compliance with vendor contracts and payment terms.
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Conduct team performance reviews and drive organizational improvements.
Requirements
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required.
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10+ years of Accounts Payable experience, preferably in retail or other high-volume industries.
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5+ years in senior AP leadership roles with multi-layered team management experience.
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Proven success managing multi-entity AP environments with complex accrual structures.
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Advanced knowledge of accrual accounting, month-end close, and reconciliations.
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Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, Power Query, data modeling) and ERP experience.
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Experience with BI tools (Power BI, Tableau, etc.) strongly preferred.
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Demonstrated ability to drive automation, efficiency, and cost savings.
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Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable insights.
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Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management abilities.
Pay for this position is $120,000-$130,000 per year DOE
Benefits
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Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance
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401K Plan
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Paid Time Off
