Accounts Payable Manager

Department Overview The Accounts Payable (AP) team is part of the Accounting & Finance function and plays a critical role in maintaining compliance and operational excellence for H2O America. This team is responsible for ensuring vendors, suppliers, and service providers are paid accurately and on time. They serve as a business partner to the organization to support and train on the self-service features, such as the AP invoice payment software and company credit card program. This team regularly troubleshoots issues and works with various stakeholders, including Accounting leadership and ITS, to improve the AP function.

Position Overview This role is responsible for managing day-to-day accounts payable operations to ensure compliant enterprise financial disbursement activities. This role leads the accounts payable function from managing invoice flow and vendor data governance to guiding payment strategies, strengthening adherence to internal controls, and upholding financial integrity. This role manages a high-performing team to drive operational excellence, in addition to advancing process improvements and coordination of AP-related audit procedures. This role contributes to financial planning by providing AP-related cash-flow insights, analysis of spending trends, and advising leadership on AP-related compliance performance and operational impacts. Success in this role blends technical expertise, strategic thinking, and collaborative leadership to support efficient operations and the enterprises overall financial health. Occasional domestic travel may be required for this role.

Key Responsibilities

• Leads day-to-day accounts payable operations, including invoice intake, coding, approval workflows, payment disbursements, and vendor communications.
• Manages and prioritizes the accounts payable workflows to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and compliance.
• Oversees vendor reconciliation activities, including maintenance and governance of vendor master data, including vendor files, aging schedules, tax documentation, compliance records, and resolution of any complex discrepancies.
• Supervises preparation and execution of payment runs, e.g., check, ACH, wire, P-Card disbursements.
• Oversees company P-Card program administration, e.g., card issuance, account setup, timely resolution of discrepancies.
• Oversees end-to-end 1099 reporting while ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant filings.

Additional Responsibilities

• Oversees complex reconciliations for the AP ledger to the general ledger.
• Acts as escalation point for complex discrepancies and establishes standards for escalation and review.
• Conducts reviews for complex journal entries, including AP accruals and adjustments, to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Posts journal entries as needed.
• Directs and schedules AP month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes, including AP ledger maintenance, reconciliations, adjustments, and complex schedules.
• Provides cash-flow projections by analyzing upcoming payment obligations, vendor terms, and historical disbursement patterns.
• Manages a team of accounting staff in the production of accounting deliverables.
• Performs hiring, mentoring, and performance decisions to build high-performing teams.
• Leads development and review of complex financial reports to support strategic decisions, e.g., cost reports, AP aging, audit documentation.
• Develops strategies to strengthen accounting processes, enhance internal controls, and minimize liabilities.
• Coordinates complex audit procedures relating to AP processes, including preparing responses to complex inquiries.
• Provides analysis and reports and presents data as requested to various groups, including leadership.
• Serves as liaison with internal departments and external agencies as it relates to accounts payable operations as needed.
• Assists in development of financial strategic plan as needed.
• Manages AP-related spending trends and communicates analysis of actual versus budget variances to management.
• Regularly educates stakeholders and senior leaders on AP topics and financial insights to inform strategic decision making.
• Builds and maintains relationships with vendors, staff, and stakeholders to support organizational objectives.
• Assists in the implementation of software and system upgrades as needed.
• Oversees AP module improvements and integrations between enterprise accounting systems as needed.
• Manages organizational cash-management tools as needed.
• Conducts research on latest developments on accounts payable related regulations, standards, and best practices. Advises management and related stakeholders on accounting compliance impact.
• Makes recommendations for process improvements to increase efficiency.
• Required to complete occasional evening and weekend work to meet deadlines or address emergencies as needed.
• Performs other duties or special projects as required or assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree and/or 10 years of relevant professional experience with progressively increased levels of responsibility.
• Holds relevant certifications required for the teams need or directed by management.
• CPA license preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading technical or cross-functional teams.
• Expertise in GAAP, accounts payable, and bookkeeping best practices.
• Expertise in accounts payable processes, e.g., 1099 reporting, invoice coding, 3-way match, and payment processing.
• Expertise in accounts payable software, e.g., Bottomline TAP.
• Expertise in ERP/accounting systems, e.g., JD Edwards Enterprise One, Bottomline Technologies Insight, QuickBooks, Oracle.
• Strong expertise in journal entries and account reconciliations.
• Experience coordinating audit processes and preparing relevant documentation.
• Experience in budget development, monitoring, and forecasting.
• Expertise in accounts payable financial data analysis and providing actionable insights into complex anomalies.
• Deep understanding of accounts payable related compliance, internal controls, e.g., SOX, and regulatory reporting requirements.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, e.g., Excel.
• Strong skills in stakeholder engagement, vendor management, and project management.
• Strong research, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills.