Accounts Payable Manager

Accounts Payable ManagerThe Accounts Payable Manager is a one-year limited-term position with an opportunity to make an immediate impact by strengthening financial controls, improving Accounts Payable and purchasing card processes, and implementing effective, sustainable workflows. This position will oversee the daily operation of the accounts payable functions, including the purchasing card program, with supervisory responsibilities of Accounts Payable staff. The Accounts Payable Manager reports to the Associate Vice President for Finance and Controller and works closely with the entire Controller's Office team.Core Duties - Assess current Accounts Payable, purchasing card, and centralized purchasing processes and implement effective workflows, internal controls, and procedures that strengthen efficiency, accountability, and financial stewardship. Identify control gaps and operational risks, develop and implement sustainable solutions to strengthen compliance, fraud prevention, transaction monitoring, and segregation of duties. Manage all operational aspects of the accounts payable function, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant processing of institutional payments. Supervise Accounts Payable staff, establishing workload priorities, service standards and effective workloads, ensuring adherence to internal controls. Manage vendor administration, payment reconciliations, period-end activities, tax documentation, and resolution of complex payment issues. Oversee the institutional purchasing card program and processes, ensuring strong and effective controls are in place and maintained by key campus parters. Perform regular purchasing card audits that review cardholder and approver activity, following up with enforcement efforts to ensure compliance with University policies are met. Oversee centralized purchasing for supplies and services, ensuring appropriate access, transaction controls, reconciliation, and policy compliance. Promote responsible stewardship of institutional resources by ensuring accounts payable and purchasing card practices that balance strong financial controls, regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and effective service to academic and administrative departments. Serve as the institutional subject matter expert for accounts payable and purchasing card practices, providing guidance and training to employees, cardholders, and approvers. Support Controller's Office initiatives and special projects as requested, contributing financial, operational, and process improvement expertise to advance departmental priorities and strengthen financial operations. Other duties as relevant to the duties of the position or as assigned by supervisor or designee.Education & Experience - Required: Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field. Required: Four to five years of relevant and progressive professional experience in accounts payable, inclusive of supervisory duties. Required: Comprehensive knowledge of GAAP and IRS regulations. Preferred: CPA, CMA, or MBA. Preferred: Experience with Ellucian Banner in Higher Education. Or a combination of equivalent education and/or experience.Certifications & Licenses - Preferred: CPA or CMA.Knowledge, Skills & Abilities - Knowledge of accounting and reporting requirements with in-depth understanding of fund and general accounting and reporting. Ability to perform audit functions related to compliance and internal controls. Strong knowledge of accounting principles, purchasing card program administration, and banking and IRS guidance/regulations related to expenses and 1099 reporting. Expertise in internal controls related to expenditure processing, including emerging best practices to protect against fraud. Strong ability to work collaboratively, accomplish organizational goals, communicate clearly, manage conflict, and act proactively. Strong analytical ability, with financial and analytical problem solving. Ability to review and analyze complex information and apply applicable University policies along with federal and state regulations. Demonstrated expertise in advanced Excel functions with strong quantitative and financial reporting skills. Ability to conduct research and present data in a clear and persuasive manner. Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills. Ability to maintain confidentiality and effectively handle highly sensitive and personal information with sound judgment, tact, and discretion. Ability to consistently handle and follow through with multiple projects and assignments and meet deadlines. Strong orientation towards taking ownership of projects and assignments and being proactive with projects, assignments, and process improvements. Excellent relationship management abilities; the ability to manage through influence and persuasion at all levels of an organization. Ability to receive constructive supervisory direction. Ability to exercise excellent judgment. Possess effective interpersonal and customer service skills. Ability to quickly learn and use new technologies and applications in depth. Competence with and commitment to inclusive excellence; ability to be an effective partner with diverse students, faculty, and staff. Ability to establish effective working relationships, professional rapport, and effectively accomplish work within a University setting that includes a wide array of individuals, groups, policies, and processes. Effective ability to use and learn computers, technology, software, and applications at level of sophistication required for the duties of the position, including, without limitation, Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), the internet, and computerized maintenance management systems.Physical Requirements - Frequently: sit, perform desk-based computer tasks; use fine manipulation and grasp; use a telephone; write by hand; sort and file paperwork. Occasionally: stand and walk; twist; lift, carry, push, and pull objects that weigh up to 10 pounds. Occasionally: ability to attend events and activities on or off campus. Frequently: ability to interact and communicate with members of the University and others as necessary.Working Conditions - Hours of employment: sometimes may require working flexible and/or longer hours, including early mornings, evenings, nights, and weekends, when necessitated by projects. Work-related stress: sometimes there may be stress from work-related situations such as those involving challenging, important, urgent, time-sensitive, or multiple matters.Work Standards - Respect for the University's mission and Catholic identity: demonstrates commitment to learning, respecting, and contributing to the mission of the University, a Catholic and Congregation of Holy Cross institution. The University's mission statement states in relevant part: "we pursue teaching and learning, faith and formation, service and leadership in the classroom, residence halls, and the world." The University's Statement of Inclusion states in relevant part: "Our belief in the inherent dignity of each person is founded upon the social teaching of the Catholic Church. At the center of that teaching is the fundamental mandate that every person, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, social or economic class, age, or disability shall be treated with respect and dignity."The full Mission Statement is at: full Statement of Inclusion is at: culture of safety: demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.Compliance with laws and policies and procedures: subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University, departmental, and other applicable policies and procedures, including but not limited to, the personnel, business, and/or other policies of the University.Compliance with driving-related laws and requirements: when conducting university business while driving, must comply with the Oregon Vehicle Code and University of Portland driving requirements.Interpersonal skills: demonstrates the ability to work professionally with all University of Portland community members, external organizations, and any other person or organization employee interacts with in his or her University capacity.Benefits - Medical and dental insurance, life insurance, sick time and vacation time consistent with University policies, long-term disability insurance, flexible spending account benefits, tuition remission benefits generally starting after 90 days (employee) or 2 years (spouse and children) of employment, retirement contributions generally starting after 2 years of employment, and eligibility for the University's home purchase assistance program consistent with program requirements. (Benefits are subject to all relevant University policies, practices, contracts, and any other relevant materials.)