Accounts Payable Specialist, Senior

Accounts Payable Specialist, Senior

Under general supervision, plans, assigns, directs and reviews the work of assigned staff; and provides difficult, technical, complex or specialized financial, business and accounting office support; processes accounts payable invoices, reconciles vendor statements, reviews and enters data, processes transactions, verifies data integrity and ensures accuracy and timely payments.

Provides lead direction, training and work review to assigned staff; organizes and assigns work, sets priorities and follows-up to ensure coordination and completion of assigned work. Receives and verifies invoices for goods and services; ensures that the transactions comply with MPS financial policies, controls and procedures; verifies information with site/department that goods were received, or service was provided. Determines proper use of account codes, object codes, discount, and payment terms; processes invoices for payment. Reconciles monthly statements from vendors. Answers vendor inquiries in reference to payments, data, receipt of goods, etc. Maintains updated vendor files; establishes and maintains complex records/filing system of accounts payable vendor files and other financial records, including invoices for retrieval/review by auditors. Trains new and temporary personnel regarding accounts payable transactions. Supervises the weekly 3rd party payroll system; coordinates efforts with Payroll Unit to reconcile 3rd party vendor payments. Confirms accuracy of totals of invoices processed to totals paid to vendors; acts as back-up for maintaining spreadsheet compiling total invoice amounts processed on a daily basis; investigates discrepancies and make corrections as needed. Maintains files for independent contractors; monitors the payments to independent contractors so that payments and tax codes are accurate; continually compares total payment amounts made to contractors against the total amount of their contract to avoid overpayment. Verifies tax codes for contractors in preparing to process 1099s; matches and collates vendor numbers in the event there are duplicates; prepares 1099s for mailing; ensures that the paperwork related to the processing of 1099s is done in an accurate and timely manner. Performs investigative transactions to ensure that payments are processed within budget amounts and have proper approval. Prepares journal entries and /or uploads in SAP. Demonstrates courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with students, clients, visitors, and MPS staff; acts in a manner that promotes a harmonious and effective workplace environment Enthusiastically promotes the Superintendent's goals and priorities in compliance with all policies and procedures. Maintains absolute confidentiality of work-related issues, records and MPS information.

High School Diploma/GED; AND four (4) years of Accounts Payable experience; OR an equivalent combination of education, training and experience as determined by Human Resources. Knowledge of basic supervisory principles and practices. Accounting and budgeting principles and methods, including grant fund and special fund procedures. Applicable policies, procedures and regulations covering specific areas of assignment. Principles and practices of auditing financial documents and records. Specialized MPS and state agency accounting software applications. Principles of record keeping and records management. Personal computers utilizing standard and specialized software applications. Skill in planning, directing and reviewing the work of others on a day-to-day basis. Instructing others in work procedures. Maintaining accurate accounting records, and identifying and reconciling errors. Analyzing and resolving varied financial office administrative problems. Organizing, researching and maintaining financial files. Reviewing financial documents for completeness and accuracy. Reviewing, posting, balancing and reconciling financial records. Performing mathematical calculations with skill and accuracy. Entering numerical data into a computer system with speed and accuracy. Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with co-workers. Effective verbal and written communication.