Lead Accounts Payable Specialist

Lead Accounts Payable Specialist Location: Chandler, AZ (Onsite, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM) Compensation: $58,000 to $63,000 DOE About the Opportunity We are seeking an experienced Accounts Payable professional who thrives in a high volume environment and enjoys digging into complex payment issues. This role will be responsible for full cycle AP activities, payment processing, account research, vendor support, reconciliation work, and process improvement initiatives. The ideal candidate is highly analytical, detail oriented, and comfortable managing large volumes of transactions while maintaining accuracy and meeting deadlines. Key Responsibilities Manage the full accounts payable process, including invoice review, payment processing, and vendor account maintenance. Process and reconcile a high volume of vendor payments through check, ACH, wire, and credit card transactions. Investigate and resolve payment discrepancies, unapplied payments, outstanding vendor balances, and other exceptions. Perform detailed payment research and work directly with vendors and internal departments to resolve issues promptly. Review payment batches for accuracy and ensure all approvals and supporting documentation are complete prior to disbursement. Monitor invoice workflow queues and follow up on items requiring action to support timely payment processing. Research and process payment reversals, voids, stop payments, and related adjustments. Reconcile accounts payable activity and assist with month end close responsibilities, including subsidiary ledger maintenance and account reviews. Use Excel to analyze payment data, identify trends, track exceptions, and prepare reporting. Support KPI reporting, audit requests, and internal controls initiatives to maintain compliance and accuracy. Partner with team members to identify opportunities for process improvements and increased efficiency. Assist with special projects, reporting requests, and other accounting support functions as needed. Qualifications Minimum 3 years of recent Accounts Payable experience in a high volume environment. Strong experience conducting payment research, discrepancy resolution, and vendor account analysis. Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including Pivot Tables and VLOOKUP. Experience processing large transaction volumes while maintaining a high level of accuracy. Strong understanding of accounts payable processes, reconciliations, and accounting fundamentals. Ability to prioritize competing deadlines and manage multiple tasks simultaneously. Excellent problem solving and analytical skills. Strong communication skills and ability to interact professionally with vendors and internal stakeholders. Experience working with ERP or accounting systems. High school diploma or equivalent required; additional accounting coursework is a plus. Ideal Background This position is a strong fit for an AP professional who enjoys solving payment issues, working with large data sets, and taking ownership of accounts payable activities from invoice processing through payment resolution. Success in this role requires strong organization, attention to detail, and the ability to work effectively in a fast paced, high transaction environment. LHH