Accounts Payable & Travel Expense Manager

Los Angeles, CAFinance – Finance /Full-time /On-siteHermeus is a venture-backed defense aviation company reclaiming the lost art of rapid iterative prototyping to build the fastest aircraft in the world today. By prioritizing relentless hardware iteration, we deliver high-speed systems at the pace of the modern battlefield. We work with the Department of War to provide the high-speed capabilities our nation and its allies need to maintain a durable, asymmetric advantage.About the RoleThe AP/T&E Manager will own and scale the full Accounts Payable and Travel & Expense functions in a high-growth environment. This role is responsible for building efficient, automated, and compliant processes that can handle increasing transaction volume, support multiple government contracts, and prepare the company for further scaling.ResponsibilitiesOwn End-to-End AP Operations: Manage invoice intake, three-way matching, coding, approval workflows, payment execution (ACH, wire, checks), vendor reconciliations, and aging management to ensure timely and accurate payments.Lead T&E Program: Administer corporate card programs, expense policy enforcement, review and approval of expense reports (using tools like Ramp, Concur, or similar), and employee reimbursements.Scale Processes for Growth: Design and implement scalable workflows, automation (OCR, workflow tools, AI-assisted matching), and system integrations to handle growth. Prepare for and support internal/external audits.Vendor & Relationship Management: Maintain strong vendor relationships, negotiate payment terms and discounts, resolve disputes, and manage 1099/Misc reporting.Month End Close Reporting & Analysis: Book AP journal entries and perform reconciliations for month end close. Provide AP/T&E metrics and insights (aging reports, cash flow forecasting, spend analytics) to leadership.Team Leadership & Development: Build and mentor a high-performing AP/T&E team as the company grows (hiring, training, performance management).Continuous Improvement: Identify and drive process automation, policy updates, and system enhancements to increase efficiency and visibility.CAS & Government Compliance: Ensure AP and T&E processes support CAS standards (e.g., proper cost accumulation, segregation of direct/indirect costs, treatment of unallowable costs) and DCAA audit readiness. Ensure compliance with FAR/CAS rules on allowable/unallowable travel costs.RequirementsExperience: 6+ years in Accounts Payable and T&E, with at least 3–4 years in a managerial role. Prior experience in a high-growth company or government contracting environment is strongly preferred.Systems & Automation: Hands-on experience implementing or optimizing AP/T&E tools (e.g., NetSuite, Ramp, Concur, or similar). Proven track record of driving automation and process improvement in scaling environments.Education & Certifications: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required.Skills: Strong project management and change management abilities. Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills. Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, ambiguous startup environment while maintaining compliance rigor.Leadership: Demonstrated success building or scaling an AP/T&E team.$90,000 - $150,000 a yearThe salary range listed for this role is intended as a general guideline. Final compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including role scope and responsibilities, relevant experience, education and training, key skills, market data, and business needs.At Hermeus, compensation is only one part of our total rewards package. We offer competitive pay, equity, and a range of benefits designed to support our team.Benefits:Health & Wellness: 100% employer-paid healthcare and pet insuranceFinancial: Competitive pay, stock options, 401(k) retirement plan, and potential year-end bonusesTime Off: Paid parental leave, 12 federal holidays, unlimited PTO for exempt employees, and generous accrued PTO for non-exempt employeesOffice Perks: Weekly paid office lunches and fully stocked breakroomsU.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. US persons include U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending. EQUAL OPPORTUNITYHermeus is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions at Hermeus are based solely on merit, competence, and qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.