Manager AP / AR

The Manager, Accounts Receivable & Accounts Payable is responsible for leading the organization's AR and AP functions and supporting effective cash and working-capital management. Reporting to the VP, Accounting, this role oversees customer collections, credit management, deductions and chargebacks, vendor payments, aging analysis, reconciliations, and daily cash activities.

Client Details

Fast-growing, multi-brand beauty and personal care company

Description

Accounts Payable Management

• Oversee day-to-day Accounts Payable operations and ensure invoices and payments are processed accurately and within established timelines.

• Review weekly payment recommendations and ensure approved vendors are paid accurately and on schedule.

• Manage escalated vendor inquiries, invoice discrepancies, payment issues, and other AP-related matters.

Accounts Receivable, Credit & Collections

• Oversee Accounts Receivable activities, including customer collections, deductions, chargebacks, and dispute resolution.

• Monitor past-due accounts and establish appropriate collection strategies to improve cash flow and reduce aging exposure.

• Review customer financial information as part of new account setup and credit limit evaluations.

• Review and approve recommendations related to customer credit limits in accordance with established policies.

• Monitor deductions and chargebacks and ensure aging balances receive timely investigation and follow-up.

• Oversee customer disputes through retailer and customer portals and coordinate resolution with internal business partners.

Cash, Aging & Reconciliations

• Own weekly and monthly AR and AP aging reviews, reconciliations, and related issue resolution.

• Manage daily cash activities and provide timely and accurate cash reporting.

• Support monthly cash flow forecasting by providing AR, AP, collection, and payment information.

• Monitor collection performance, payment timing, outstanding deductions, vendor balances, and other key working-capital drivers.

• Identify trends, risks, and exceptions that could affect cash flow or financial performance.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, train, and develop the Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable teams.

• Establish clear responsibilities, priorities, service expectations, operating procedures, and performance standards.

• Promote accountability for accuracy, responsiveness, issue resolution, and timely execution.

• Conduct performance evaluations and provide ongoing coaching and feedback.

• Develop cross-training and coverage plans to strengthen continuity across AR and AP operations.

Process Improvement & Controls

• Standardize AR and AP procedures to improve consistency, accuracy, efficiency, and scalability.

• Evaluate existing workflows and identify opportunities to eliminate manual processes, reduce errors, and improve turnaround times.

• Strengthen controls surrounding customer accounts, vendor setup, invoice processing, payment approvals, credit, collections, and cash activities.

• Support implementation of workflow automation, reporting tools, and technology-enabled process improvements.

• Develop and maintain process documentation, operating procedures, and appropriate control standards.

• Establish meaningful performance measures and reporting to monitor AR and AP effectiveness.

Issue Resolution, Systems & Special Projects

• Maintain effective communication with customers, vendors, and internal teams to resolve escalated discrepancies, deductions, payment issues, and collection matters.

• Lead or support system enhancements, automation initiatives, and finance process improvement projects.

• Participate in ERP enhancements and other technology initiatives affecting AR, AP, cash, and working-capital processes

Profile

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business, or a related field.

• 6+ years of progressive finance or accounting experience with responsibility for Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, credit, collections, cash operations, or related functions.

• Demonstrated experience managing, coaching, and developing employees in a fast-paced environment.

• Working knowledge of customer deductions, chargebacks, disputes, collections, vendor payments, credit management, and aging analysis.

• Strong Excel skills with demonstrated analytical and reconciliation capabilities.

• Experience working with ERP, accounting, or financial systems.

• Strong organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively manage customer, vendor, and internal business relationships.

• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and deadlines, and maintain a high level of accuracy and follow-through.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience within consumer products, beauty, personal care, retail, e-commerce, or another product-based or inventory-intensive industry.

• Experience supporting large retail or e-commerce customers and managing their associated billing, deductions, chargebacks, or collection requirements.

• Experience working with customer portals, credit insurance providers, collection agencies, ERP systems, payment platforms, or AR/AP automation tools.

• Experience improving cash application, collections, deduction management, vendor onboarding, invoice processing, or payment controls.

• Experience implementing workflow automation, reporting solutions, or technology-enabled process improvements.

• Experience operating in a growing, multi-brand, or high-volume consumer products environment.

Job Offer

• Competitive compensation with a comprehensive benefits package.

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage to support you and your family.

• 401(k) retirement plan to help support your long-term financial goals.

• Paid time off and company holidays to encourage a healthy work-life balance.

• Hybrid work environment offering a combination of in-office collaboration and flexibility.

• Employee product discounts across a portfolio of beauty and personal care brands.

• Career growth opportunities within a growing, multi-brand consumer products organization.

• High-visibility leadership role with direct exposure to senior Accounting and Finance leadership.

• Meaningful ownership and impact over AR, AP, collections, credit, cash operations, and working-capital initiatives.

• Opportunity to lead and develop a team while shaping processes, controls, and operating standards.

MPI does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or based on an individual's status in any group or class protected by applicable federal, state or local law. MPI encourages applications from minorities, women, the disabled, protected veterans and all other qualified applicants.