ACCOUNTS PAYABLE MANAGER

Accounts Payable Manager

Location: Hybrid/Remote – Agawam, MA; or North Aurora, IL Preferred Reports To: Shared Services Manager

About Catalyst Acoustics Group

Catalyst Acoustics Group (CAG) is a leading designer and manufacturer of engineered acoustical solutions supported by a centralized Shared Services organization focused on operational excellence, scalability, continuous improvement, and growth through acquisition.

Position Summary

The Accounts Payable Manager leads the end-to-end Procure-to-Pay process across a multi-entity manufacturing platform. This role is responsible for invoice processing, vendor management, payment execution, employee expense and corporate card administration, internal controls, and AP reporting while supporting working capital objectives. This is a hands-on player/coach role responsible for developing a high-performing team while actively participating in daily operations, resolving escalated issues, and driving standardization across multiple companies and ERP systems. The successful candidate is a builder who thrives in a fast-paced, private equity-backed environment, creates scalable processes, strengthens controls, leverages automation, and partners across the business to eliminate root causes rather than repeatedly addressing exceptions.

1. Accounts Payable Operations

• Lead the end-to-end Accounts Payable process including invoice receipt, coding, three-way matching, approval routing, payment processing, and posting across multiple entities.
• Ensure invoices are processed accurately, timely, and in accordance with company policies, approval authorities, and accounting requirements.
• Oversee vendor reconciliations and ensure accurate processing of invoices, credits, adjustments, and vendor statements.
• Resolve complex invoice discrepancies, duplicate payments, matching exceptions, tax questions, and vendor issues.
• Ensure accurate coding to the general ledger, cost centers, projects, and tax classifications.

2. Vendor Management & Payment Governance

• Develop strong vendor relationships while maintaining appropriate financial controls and payment discipline.
• Partner with Treasury to optimize payment timing, cash flow, and working capital.
• Oversee payment governance across ACH, wire, check, corporate card, and employee expense programs while maintaining segregation of duties and payment security.
• Monitor AP aging, payment exceptions, vendor credits, and outstanding liabilities.

3. Root Cause Resolution & Operational Excellence

• Analyze recurring purchasing, receiving, pricing, approval, vendor setup, and invoice issues to identify root causes.
• Partner with Purchasing, Operations, Finance, IT, and business leaders to eliminate recurring process failures.
• Develop standardized SOPs, approval workflows, KPIs, controls, and operating metrics.
• Lead AP automation, ERP optimization, and process standardization across business units and acquisitions.

4. Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, coach, and develop the Accounts Payable team while remaining actively engaged in daily operations.
• Establish accountability, responsiveness, customer service, and continuous improvement expectations.
• Support hiring, onboarding, cross-training, succession planning, and employee development.
• Provide hands-on support during month-end close, payment runs, implementations, and acquisitions.

5. Financial Reporting & Compliance

• Manage AP-related month-end close activities including accrual support, reconciliations, and aging reviews.
• Support internal and external audits, tax reporting, and compliance with company policies.
• Develop KPIs for invoice cycle time, payment performance, exception rates, vendor experience, discount capture, and automation.

6. Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partner with Purchasing, Operations, Treasury, Finance, IT, and executive leadership to improve the Procure-to-Pay process.
• Support integration of acquired businesses into standardized AP processes.
• Balance excellent vendor service with strong financial discipline and internal controls.
• Operate with an enterprise-wide Shared Services mindset across all business units.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
• 7–10+ years of progressive Accounts Payable or Procure-to-Pay leadership experience.
• Experience leading AP in a multi-entity manufacturing or distribution environment; private equity-backed experience preferred.
• Demonstrated success building SOPs, controls, KPIs, workflows, and scalable processes.
• Strong knowledge of invoice processing, vendor management, payment execution, cash disbursements, month-end close, and internal controls.
• Experience with multiple ERP systems, AP automation, and process improvement.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with the ability to balance strategic leadership and hands-on execution.