Accounts Payable Manager

About Adams Group Adams Group is a fifth-generation, family-owned specialty food company built on over 110 years of a simple but powerful belief: good food starts with good people. Founded on the principle of doing the right thing, we are the most trusted provider of high‑quality specialty grains, oils, and seeds—delivering quality ingredients from seed to shelf. Position Summary The Accounts Payable Manager is a hands‑on, process‑driven leader responsible for overseeing and continuously improving the full‑cycle accounts payable function across all divisions and legal entities within Adams Group. Reporting directly to the Corporate Controller, this role serves as a key financial operations partner—standardizing AP policies and procedures at a global level, driving technology and process improvements, and ensuring the AP function supports the organization’s cash flow management objectives. The ideal candidate brings both strategic vision and a willingness to roll up their sleeves to build a best‑in‑class AP operation. Key Responsibilities AP Operations & Leadership Oversee the end‑to‑end AP process, including invoice receipt, coding, approval workflows, and payment execution across all divisions and legal entities. Lead, assist, mentor, and develop AP team members, fostering a culture of accuracy, accountability, and continuous improvement. Ensure timely and accurate month‑end close activities related to AP, including accruals, reconciliations, and reporting. Global Policy & Procedure Standardization Identify inefficiencies in existing AP processes and lead initiatives to streamline workflows, reduce costs, and improve turnaround times. Develop, implement, and enforce standardized AP policies and procedures across all divisions, entities, and global engagements within Adams Group. Ensure consistent application of internal controls, procurement policies, and approval authority matrices company‑wide. Partner with divisional finance and operational leaders to drive adoption of global standards while accommodating local regulatory requirements. Cash Flow & Payment Forecasting Develop and maintain a weekly payment forecast plan to support the organization’s cash flow projection and treasury planning efforts. Build and manage a 13‑week rolling payment forecast, providing visibility into upcoming payment obligations to enable proactive cash management decisions. Collaborate with the Corporate Controller to align payment timing with cash availability and working capital goals. System Implementation & Strategic Projects Lead or actively participate in AP‑related system implementations, upgrades, and integrations—including ERP systems implementation, AP automation platforms, and payment solutions. Identify opportunities to leverage technology to eliminate manual processes, reduce cycle times, and improve accuracy throughout the AP function. Define system requirements, support user acceptance testing, and manage change management efforts for new tools and platforms. Lead the Vendor Master Data Cleanup project—reviewing, validating, and consolidating vendor records to ensure data integrity across all systems. Drive the conversion of all vendor payments to electronic payment methods (ACH and wire), reducing reliance on paper checks and improving payment security and efficiency. Ensure compliance with GAAP, company policies, and applicable regulatory requirements; support internal and external audit processes. Qualifications Education and Experience Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field; equivalent experience will be considered. 7+ years of progressive AP experience, including 3+ years in a supervisory or management role. Proven experience leading or participating in ERP or AP system implementations. Demonstrated success in developing and implementing AP policies and procedures across multiple entities or business divisions. Hands‑on experience building and managing payment forecasts, including a 13‑week rolling cash forecast. Skills and Competencies Strong command of AP best practices, internal controls, and three‑way matching processes. Proficiency in ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics) and AP automation tools; advanced Microsoft Excel skills. Ability to build and manage rolling payment forecast models and translate financial data into actionable cash management insights. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; able to influence stakeholders at all levels and drive cross‑functional adoption of new policies and processes. Detail‑oriented with a continuous improvement mindset and willingness to refine processes and add efficiencies at the departmental level. Certifications/Licenses CPA or AP certification (e.g., IAPP Certified AP Professional) preferred but not required. Preferred Qualifications Experience in a multi‑entity or global AP environment, particularly within food manufacturing, agriculture, or CPG industries. Familiarity with treasury and cash management functions, including working capital optimization. Experience leading vendor master data governance and electronic payment conversion initiatives. CPA or AP professional certification (e.g., IAPP Certified AP Professional). Working Conditions Primarily sedentary role; extended periods of computer use. Minimal physical demands. Office‑based or hybrid work environment. Standard business hours with occasional extended hours during month‑end close, year‑end, departmental projects, or system implementations. Minimal travel may be required to other company facilities or divisions. Core Values Quality in all we do Doing the right thing Building relationships for shared success Adapting to change Leaving the world better than we found it Food Safety Policy Adams Group is committed to producing and distributing high‑quality products through adherence to industry and regulatory standards. As an employee, you will be trained on our food safety policies and will be held accountable to adhering to them. You will be encouraged and required to notify supervision about actual or potential food safety issues. Everyone at Adams is involved in delivering safe food—within your scope of work you will be empowered to act to resolve food safety issues. EEO Statement Adams Group is committed to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, lactation, childbirth or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, age (40 and over), national origin or ancestry, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), or protected veteran status, uniformed servicemember status or any other status protected by federal, state or local law. This commitment extends to all aspects of the Company’s employment practices including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, promoting, transferring, compensation, benefits, training, leaves of absence, termination, and other terms and conditions of employment. #J-18808-Ljbffr Adams Group