AP Specialist

Job DescriptionJob DescriptionBenefits: 401(k)401(k) matchingBonus based on performanceCompetitive salaryDental insurancePaid time off POSITION OVERVIEW | Position | Accounts Payable Specialist | Location | Birmingham, Alabama | Employment Type | Full-Time, Direct Hire | Schedule | Monday – Friday, In-Office | Experience | 3+ Years AP Experience Preferred | Key Requirement | Must Be Able to Own the AP Function | Compensation | Competitive + Full Benefits THE OPPORTUNITY A well-regarded Birmingham company is seeking a sharp, self-sufficient Accounts Payable Specialist who can step in and take full ownership of the AP function. This is not a support role or a shared responsibility position — the right person will be the AP department. They will build the process, keep it running cleanly, and be the go-to resource for everything payables-related within the organization. If you are an AP professional who is tired of working in a large department where your contributions get lost, and you want a role where your expertise is visible, valued, and essential to the business every single day — this is the opportunity you have been waiting for. WHAT YOU WILL OWN • Full-cycle accounts payable processing — from invoice receipt through payment execution with accuracy and efficiency • Vendor setup, maintenance, and relationship management — you are the primary contact for all AP-related vendor inquiries • Three-way match of purchase orders, receiving documents, and vendor invoices prior to payment approval • Payment runs — checks, ACH, and wire transfers — processed on schedule with proper authorization and documentation • Vendor statement reconciliations and resolution of discrepancies, disputes, and aged payables • Month-end AP close including accruals, cutoff procedures, and AP aging review • 1099 preparation and annual vendor tax compliance • AP aging report maintenance and weekly reporting to management on outstanding liabilities • Process improvement — identify inefficiencies, recommend solutions, and implement better workflows • Internal audit support and documentation of AP policies and procedures • Collaboration with purchasing, operations, and the accounting team to ensure accurate and timely invoice processing WHO YOU ARE The right candidate does not need to be managed through the AP process — they understand it deeply enough to manage it themselves and to improve it. You are the kind of person who walks into a new role, assesses the current state, identifies what is working and what is not, and quietly makes it better. You are organized, accurate, dependable, and proud of your work. • You take ownership — when AP is your responsibility, you treat it that way • You are detail-obsessed — an invoice error or a duplicate payment bothers you personally • You are a problem solver — vendor disputes, coding questions, and process gaps do not stump you • You communicate clearly — internally with the accounting team and externally with vendors • You are proactive — you do not wait to be asked; you see what needs to be done and you do it REQUIREMENTS • 3 or more years of full-cycle accounts payable experience — required • Experience functioning as the sole or primary AP professional in an organization — strongly preferred • Proficiency with accounting software — QuickBooks, Sage, NetSuite, SAP, or comparable ERP systems • Advanced Microsoft Excel skills — VLOOKUP, pivot tables, and basic data management • Strong understanding of AP best practices including three-way match, approval workflows, and payment controls • Experience preparing and filing 1099 • Ability to manage high invoice volumes accurately and independently with minimal supervision • High level of integrity and discretion in handling sensitive financial information • Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business — preferred but not required with sufficient experience