AP Lead

Paying da bills. If you’ve done Accounts Payable, you know there’s so much more that goes into it than just cutting a check or scheduling a payment. The Accounts Payable (AP) Lead plays a critical role in ensuring the timely and accurate processing of invoices and payments in a fast-paced retail environment. This role supports the AP staff in day-to-day operations, enforces company policies, ensures compliance with internal controls, and supports continuous process improvements.

• Assists in reviewing payments to ensure vendors are paid accurately according to the agreed-upon terms.
• Responsible for accounting for prepayments.
• Performs timely due diligence for new vendors in vendor on-boarding process, as needed. Maintains vendor relationships and resolves vendor disputes.
• Acts as the department’s subject matter expert for print-on-demand vendor and dropship vendor inquiries. 
• Monitors and resolves discrepancies related to purchase orders, receipts and vendor invoices.
• Assists with the preparation of accruals and account reconciliations for month-end close and annual year-end close. Assists with the review of accounts reconciliations as necessary.
• Responsible for maintaining and documenting department procedures narrative/documentation and training manuals (SOPs) for areas of responsibility.
• Assists with new/existing associate training. Troubleshoots issues with staff; develops problem-solving capabilities with team members.
• Acts as a back-up to the Supervisor of Accounts Payable for the Damage and Freight uploads and the Distribution Center Chargeback uploads. Includes being the back-up for month-end close and annual year-end accruals as necessary. Acts as a back-up on other A/P areas as needed.
• Supports automation initiatives and ERP system upgrades.
• Supports internal/external audits and reviews as needed.
• Ensures proper controls and procedures are adhered to, and all Sarbanes-Oxley required controls are correctly performed.
• Identifies areas of opportunity for process improvement and recommends solutions.
• Performs other job duties as needed.

• High school diploma required; associates degree preferred.
• 3-5 years of accounts payable experience with at least 1 year in a lead role. 
• Solid understanding of accounts payable processing.
• Experience in a high-volume retail or multi-location environment is highly desirable.
• Proficiency in Excel (pivot tables, lookups, etc.) required.
• Comfortable with professionally facilitating meetings and communicating one-on-one with vendors to resolve issues.
• Illustrates a dedication to meeting requirements of internal and external customers, responding to all customer requests promptly and thoroughly.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Is accountable for results, approaches obstacles proactively and looks for ways to resolve problems and issues.