Accounts Payable Specialist - Utilities

Job Description Job Description ROLE: Accounts Payable Specialist – Utilities REPORTS TO: Senior Accounts Payable Manager LOCATION: Hybrid / Corporate Office in Houston, Texas COMPANY OVERVIEW Venterra Realty is a growing developer, owner, and operator of multifamily apartments with 90 mixed-use and multifamily communities across 22 major US cities. Over 50,000 people and more than 16,000 pets call Venterra "home"! The Venterra Team is focused on achieving excellence in serving its three major stakeholders: residents, employees, and investors. Venterra has enjoyed tremendous growth and financial success over its 24-year history. This success has been achieved through the exceptional commitment and dedication of Venterra's approximately 950 team members. Find out more about Venterra Realty and its award-winning company culture at Venterra.com . We’re thrilled to be recognized as a leading workplace with numerous prestigious awards year after year! US Awards: 2025 Best Workplaces in Real Estate™ 2025 Best Medium Workplaces ™ FortuneBest Workplaces in Texas™ List Canada Awards: 2025 Best Workplaces™ forProfessional Development 2025 Best Workplaces™ for Inclusion 2025 Best Workplaces™ for Mental Wellness 2025 2025 Best Workplaces™ in Canada 2025 Best Workplaces™ with Most Trusted Executive Team 2025 Best Workplaces™forYoung Talent 2025 Best Workplaces™ in Real Estate & Property Development 2025 Explore our communities at VenterraLiving.com , and visit Venterra.com to learn more about how we’re out-caring the competition by staying true to our value proposition: “We care more about renter experiences, which drives superior results.” THE OPPORTUNITY The Accounts Payable Specialist – U.S. Utilities plays a critical role in building a high-performing, modern Accounts Payable function centered on accuracy, automation, and operational excellence. This role owns the end-to-end Accounts Payable lifecycle for a complex portfolio of U.S. utility vendors across 90+ properties, requiring strong analytical capability, attention to detail, and proactive problem-solving. This position serves as a key point of accountability for utility invoice accuracy, payment timeliness, and issue resolution, while partnering closely with internal stakeholders (Property Operations, Treasury, Procurement) and external utility providers. Success in this role requires the ability to manage high-volume, recurring invoices, navigate billing variances, and drive continuous process improvements in a fast-paced environment. KEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES Own the full-cycle Accounts Payable process for U.S. utility invoices, including common area utilities, vacant utilities, residential utility billing services, permits, and licenses across a large multi-property portfolio. Investigate, analyze, reconcile, and resolve billing variances and discrepancies, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely resolution. Manage and oversee weekly payment runs, including approval of designated payment batches. Serve as the primary point of contact for utility-related inquiries, responding to tickets and email requests with clear documentation. Perform utility bank reconciliations and support month-end close activities. Identify trends, recurring issues, and root causes, and partner with internal teams to drive sustainable process improvements. Participate in automation and efficiency initiatives, including oversight of automated invoicing and dashboard reviews. Collaborate cross-functionally with Finance, Treasury, Procurement, Operations, and Technology teams. Support ad hoc reporting, analysis, and special projects as needed. CANDIDATE PROFILE Post-secondary education in Business, Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline. 2-3 years of demonstrated Accounts Payable experience with U.S. utility invoice processing experience. Strong analytical skills with exceptional attention to detail. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Natural curiosity and ability to dig into complex issues. Proven ability to leverage technology to drive efficiency and accuracy. Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office, with strong Excel skills preferred. Experience with ERP systems such as Oracle Fusion, Coupa, or similar platforms is highly desirable. BENEFITS Competitive Base Salary and performance bonus. A robust package of Health (Medical (PPO), Dental, Vision), 401k matching, paid vacation suite benefits and employer-paid Short & Long-Term Disability, among other things. Educational Assistance / Reimbursement to support your drive to learn. 8 paid hours per year of Volunteer Time Off to serve the organization(s) of your choice. Access to thousands of employee discounts with BenefitHub. Venterra Realty is an equal opportunity employer. Accessibility accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all stages of the selection process.