Accounts Payable Specialist - Automotive Dealership

Job Description

Job Description

The Accounts Payable Specialist supports the dealership accounting department by processing vendor invoices, maintaining accurate vendor accounts, preparing payments, and reconciling payables in CDK. This position works closely with Parts, Service, Sales, Facilities, and dealership management to ensure dealership expenses are properly documented, coded, approved, and paid on time. Hands-on CDK experience and strong attention to dealership accounting controls are required.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Enter and process vendor invoices, credits, and other accounts payable transactions accurately in CDK using the correct vendor, amount, date, account coding, and dealership location or department.
• Review invoices for proper supporting documentation, authorization, pricing, purchase orders, receiving information, and management approval before payment.
• Process invoices related to Parts, Service, sublet work, supplies, advertising, facilities, utilities, professional services, and other operating expenses.
• Match parts and service-related vendor invoices to receiving documents, purchase orders, statements, or other dealership records when applicable.
• Reconcile vendor statements to CDK, identify missing invoices or credits, research duplicate charges, and resolve discrepancies before payment.
• Prepare dealership payment runs by check, ACH, wire, or other approved methods in accordance with authorization limits and internal controls.
• Maintain accurate vendor records in CDK, including payment terms, remittance information, tax documentation, and approved changes to vendor information.
• Respond to vendor inquiries regarding invoice status, payment timing, credits, statements, and account discrepancies in a timely and professional manner.
• Coordinate with Parts, Service, Sales, department managers, and dealership leadership to resolve invoice, receiving, coding, or approval issues.
• Monitor open payables, due dates, credit balances, payment holds, and available discounts to support timely payments.
• Process employee reimbursements, corporate card activity, and recurring dealership expenses in accordance with company policy.
• Support month-end and year-end close by reconciling AP-related schedules and assigned general ledger accounts.
• Identify duplicate, unusual, unsupported, or potentially fraudulent invoices and escalate concerns before payment is released.
• Perform other dealership accounting duties and special projects as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Hands-on experience using CDK (CDK Global / CDK Drive) is required. Candidates must be comfortable entering, researching, and reconciling dealership payables within CDK.
• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate or bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field preferred.
• At least 1–2 years of accounts payable, bookkeeping, purchasing support, or general accounting experience. Automotive dealership accounting experience strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of invoice processing, vendor account reconciliation, general ledger coding, payment processing, and basic accounting principles.
• Ability to manage a high volume of transactions, research discrepancies, and meet recurring payment and month-end deadlines.
• Strong organizational and communication skills with the ability to work effectively with dealership departments and vendors.
• High level of accuracy, confidentiality, professional judgment, and attention to detail.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Pay Range: $28.00 – $32.00 per hour ($58,240 – $66,560 annualized at 40 hours per week). Placement within the range is based on CDK experience, dealership accounting background, and demonstrated skill.

Additional compensation and benefits:
1. Quarterly performance bonus — $1,000 to $1,500 per quarter ($4,000 – $6,000 annually) based on a defined scorecard: on-time month-end close, vendor statement reconciliation current, no late fees, and early-payment discounts captured.
2. $2,000 retention bonus paid at 90 days of employment.
3. $2,000 retention bonus paid at 12 months of employment.
4. $500 per month medical benefit allowance ($6,000 per year) toward the individual health plan of your choice.
5. COBRA reimbursement — up to three months of COBRA premiums reimbursed for candidates leaving employer-sponsored coverage to join us.
6. Retirement savings program available through payroll deduction.
7. Paid holidays and paid time off.
8. Employee vehicle purchase pricing plus discounted parts and service.

Estimated first-year total compensation: $72,000 – $83,000.