Senior Accounting Specialist

The Senior Accounting Specialist serves as the principal senior individual contributor within the Accounts Payable (AP) function and acts as the primary operational partner to the Accounts Payable Supervisor. This role supports the Supervisor in overseeing complex AP operations across multiple entities, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, strong internal controls, and compliance with company policies. In this capacity, the Senior Accounting Specialist provides day to day operational oversight, serves as a key escalation point for complex issues, and helps translate departmental priorities into consistent execution across the AP team and distributed AP support resources. This role is also responsible for developing, monitoring, and analyzing AP performance metrics (KPIs), identifying trends and risks, and driving continuous process improvement initiatives—including standardization, automation, and adoption of enabling technologies. RESPONSIBILITIES Provide day‑to‑day guidance and coaching to AP team members and distributed AP support resources, assisting with onboarding, knowledge transfer, and reinforcement of standard work to promote consistent execution of AP activities in accordance with established policies, procedures, service expectations, and quality standards. Serve as an escalation point for complex AP matters, including payment exceptions, vendor inquiries, system issues, and cross‑functional process breakdowns, using sound judgment to resolve issues where appropriate or elevate them to the Accounts Payable Supervisor. Execute and support AP compliance and internal control activities, including vendor tax reporting requirements such as Form 1099, by performing detailed reviews, resolving exceptions, maintaining audit‑ready documentation, monitoring adherence to policies and procedures, and identifying recurring issues or emerging risks. Execute established procedures for ACH and wire setup, changes, and verification, including required validation, documentation, and logging, while adhering to internal controls and segregation of duties and promptly escalating control exceptions, suspicious activity, or process gaps to the Accounts Payable Supervisor. Partner with the Accounts Payable Supervisor to support performance management by preparing and maintaining AP KPI reporting and dashboards, analyzing results to identify trends, risks, control gaps, and improvement opportunities, and monitoring performance of distributed AP support resources, escalating significant issues or trends as appropriate. Support continuous improvement of AP processes through standardization, scalability, automation, and reduction of manual effort, including supporting the evaluation, testing, and adoption of automation and emerging system capabilities such as AI‑enabled features, and recommending practical, system‑enabled improvements to address risks in legacy workflows. Ensure proper accounting and execution of AP transactions in accordance with U.S. GAAP and company policies by reviewing reconciliations and exceptions and supporting accurate, timely transaction processing. QUALIFICATIONS Bachelors Degree in Accounting, Business, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience Minimum 3-5 years of progressive Accounts Payable or accounting experience in a complex or multi-entity environment, including exposure to procure-to-pay processes, period-end close activities, reconciliations, and internal controls. Demonstrated experience resolving complex or recurring AP issues, supporting process improvements, and acting as a senior resource to peers. Experience supporting or participating in system enhancements, automation initiatives, or process change efforts preferred. Industry experience in retail, manufacturing, and automotive preferred. Strong understanding of Accounts Payable operations, procure-to-pay workflows, and accounting flows impacting downstream reporting and controls. Solid working knowledge of U.S. GAAP and internal control considerations relevant to AP. Experience using ERP systems, preferably Oracle Financial Cloud; familiarity with DealerTrack preferred. Demonstrated aptitude for technology and automation, including experience supporting automated workflows, system enhancements, or AI‑enabled tools within finance or accounting operations. Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to investigate issues, identify root causes, and evaluate multiple solution paths. Effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain issues, solutions, and process changes clearly to technical and non‑technical audiences. High attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment. Strong learning agility and curiosity, with a willingness to continuously build knowledge of systems, processes, and emerging tools. COMPETENCIES Advanced Analytical & Independent Thinking : Demonstrates strong analytical capability by structuring and interpreting qualitative and quantitative data to identify trends, root causes, and practical solutions to complex Accounts Payable issues, thinking beyond individual transactions to broader process impacts. Automation‑First & Continuous Improvement Mindset : Actively looks for opportunities to reduce manual effort, simplify workflows, and improve quality by leveraging system capabilities, automation, and AI‑enabled tools. Challenges status quo and brings forward ideas to improve efficiency and scalability. Technology & AI Adoption Enablement : Comfortable using and learning new technologies, including ERP platforms, automation solutions, and emerging AI‑enabled capabilities. Actively supports testing, adoption, stabilization and reinforcement of new tools and workflows, helping translate technology changes into day‑to‑day execution. Curiosity & Continuous Learning Orientation : Demonstrates a strong desire to understand end‑to‑end procure‑to‑pay processes, system behavior, and downstream accounting impacts. Seeks out information, training, and feedback to continuously expand knowledge and improve execution effectiveness. Advanced Problem Solving & Judgment : Values teamwork, recognizing that collaboration leads to greater results, and communicates challenges and insights promptly to the group. Positive Attitude : Conducts duties with professionalism and respect, showing empathy and consideration when working with others. Lifelong Learner : Remains curious and driven to understand processes and pursue necessary information for assigned tasks. Process Improver : Continuously seeks opportunities to improve efficiency, identifying and proposing solutions to workflow inefficiencies. Equal Opportunity Employer and Drug-Free Workplace Pay Range: $26.88 - $34.43 per hour #J-18808-Ljbffr