Accounts Payable Operations Leader (North America)

Position Description & Qualifications Serco Inc. seeking a dynamic and highly skilled individual to fill the newly created role of Manager, Accounting Services , reporting directly to the Director of Accounting. You will be responsible for overseeing the end-to-end accounts payable process, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance. You will lead the accounts payable team for North America and collaborate with other internal teams as you implement best practices and leverage technology to scale our AP operations. This role is perfect for a detail-oriented leader passionate about operational excellence and continuous improvement. This role calls for a well-rounded performer who thrives in a fast-paced, demanding environment. Key attributes we are seeking for this role include both the willingness to dig deeply into details, as well as the ability to assess the big picture and impacts to up/downstream activities. The selected individual will consistently demonstrate high levels of technical and professional knowledge and quickly assimilate new knowledge. The person in this role must have the ability to manage tight deadlines and have strong technical, leadership, communication, and customer service skills. The position will interface regularly with stakeholders across locations in the US and Canada in Finance, Procurement, Business Operations, and accounting application support. The successful candidate will also have a strong understanding of best practices and key controls over procure-to-pay processes, with significant experience in government contracting and Deltek Costpoint. In this role, you will: Accounts Payable Operations Lead and manage the Accounts Payable team, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement while overseeing day-to-day operations to ensure efficient workflows, accuracy and timeliness in invoice posting and payment processing, correct reporting, and compliant data management. Manage accounts payable processing for all US and Canadian entities, including travel and expense reimbursement policies and practices, workflows, and processing benchmarks. Ensure timely and accurate month-end close activities related to A/P. Analyze and maintain company Travel and Purchasing Card Program including banking applications, policies, and processes. Ensure the programs are effectively managed and optimized to meet the company's needs in conjunction with Procurement and Treasury teams as required. Partner with key corporate stakeholders (e.g., Procurement, Vendor Management, Accounting, FP&A, Treasury, IT) and operations leadership to ensure alignment of financial processes to corporate objectives. Perform general accounting duties, including preparing and reviewing journal entries, subsidiary to general ledger reconciliations, and intercompany account reconciliations. Prepare and file annual IRS Forms 1099 and 1096. Monitor payment schedules to ensure adherence to payment terms and cash flow optimization. Perform additional duties and special projects as needed or assigned. Master the AP workflow software to become the departmental subject matter expert to support functional users and the administrator. Team Leadership and Development Supervise, mentor, and develop staff and provide AP training for new employees.Provide training and guidance on AP processes, systems, and compliance standards. Supervise, mentor, and set performance goals for AP staff, including mid-year and annual reviews. Vendor Management In collaboration with Procurement, own vendor master records management, setup, review, and solutioning to ensure compliance with company policies and statutory regulations. Will supervise all changes as well as be able to perform vendor record modifications as needed. Recommend vendor fraud mitigation practices and train relevant stakeholders. Reporting and Analysis Prepare and analyze AP-related reports, including aging reports and accruals, for management. Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to drive performance improvements and ensure high-quality output. Compliance and Internal Controls Ensure compliance with all relevant accounting standards, regulations, and internal policies, mitigating risks and safeguarding the company’s financial integrity. Develop and maintain company accounts payable and accounting policies and procedures. Provide documentation and support for internal and external audits. Process Improvement and Technology Utilization Identify and implement process improvements to streamline payables workflows, enhance automation for efficiency and scalability, and reduce operational costs. Respond to internal business user requests for assistance with issues related to AP-related system application functions. Troubleshoot and resolve issues in a timely manner with oversight and coordination with business stakeholders. Work with technical teams for configuration of applications and issue resolution as needed. Lead or support system enhancement projects and as the AP subject matter expert for system update and enhancement projects. Test changes to business applications and ensure performance is as designed; work with team members to resolve any issues. To be successful in this role, you will have: U.S Citizenship required Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field Minimum 6 years of experience in Accounts Payable accounting with a strong understanding of AP processes, fundamentals of procurement and purchase order invoice processing, internal controls, and accounting principles, including in-depth knowledge of accruals and prepaid processes Minimum 4 years of experience in a leadership role managing finance operations teams, including accounts payable Proven ability to lead and motivate a team Excellent people management skills, with a focus on coaching, development, and fostering a cohesive team culture Hands-on experience with OCR and Intelligent Document Processing (IDP) technologies in an AP environment, including invoice data extraction, validation, automation, implementation, or optimization of these solutions Advanced knowledge of general and corporate business practices, general ledger accounting, with a fundamental understanding of treasury practices and US government contracting regulations (FAR, JTR) including DCAA compliance Familiarity with international payments, multi-currency transactions, and tax compliance requirements Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments and at all levels of the organization Strong critical thinking and analytical skills, with a proactive approach to problem-solving Proven track record of managing and optimizing processes Strong Microsoft Office skills including advanced Excel skills with data analysis capabilities Ability to travel up to 10% to local office on an as needed basis Additional desired skills and experience: Strong working knowledge of Deltek Costpoint v.8.1 or higher Working experience with Hyland OnBase IAConnect, SAP Concur, MS Power BI preferred Company Overview Serco Inc. (Serco) is the Americas division of Serco Group, plc. In North America, Serco’s 9,000+ employees strive to make an impact every day across 100+ sites in the areas of Defense, Citizen Services, and Transportation. We help our clients deliver vital services more efficiently while increasing the satisfaction of their end customers. Serco serves every branch of the U.S. military, numerous U.S. Federal civilian agencies, the Intelligence Community, the Canadian government, state, provincial and local governments, and commercial clients. While your place may look a little different depending on your role, we know you will find yours here. Wherever you work and whatever you do, we invite you to discover your place in our world. Serco is a place you can count on and where you can make an impact because every contribution matters. To review Serco benefits please visit: . If you require an accommodation with the application process please email: View email address on click.appcast.io or call the HR Service Desk at View phone number on click.appcast.io, option 1. Please note, due to EEOC/OFCCP compliance, Serco is unable to accept resumes by email. Candidates may be asked to present proof of identify during the selection process. If requested, this will require presentation of a government-issued I.D. (with photo) with name and address that match the information entered on the application. Serco will not take possession of or retain/store the information provided as proof of identity. For more information on how Serco uses your information, please see our Applicant Privacy Policy and Notice. Serco does not accept unsolicited resumes through or from search firms or staffing agencies without being a contracted approved vendor. All unsolicited resumes will be considered the property of Serco and will not be obligated to pay a placement or contract fee. If you are interested in becoming an approved vendor at Serco, please email View email address on click.appcast.io . Serco is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. Pay Transparency Our Total Rewards package includes competitive pay, performance-based incentives, and benefits that promote well-being and work-life balance—so you can thrive both professionally and personally. Eligible employees also gain access to a wide range of benefits from comprehensive health coverage and health savings accounts to retirement plans, life and disability insurance, and time-off programs that support work-life balance. Program availability may vary based on factors such as contract type, location, hire date, and applicable collective bargaining agreements. Salary range: The range for this position can be found at the top of this posting. This range is provided as a general guideline and represents a good faith estimate across all experience levels. Actual base salary will be determined by a variety of factors, including but not limited to, the scope of the role, relevant experience, job-related knowledge, education and training, key skills, and geographic market considerations. For roles available in multiple states, the range may vary to reflect differences in local labor markets. In addition to base salary, eligible positions may include other forms of compensation such as annual bonuses or long-term incentive opportunities. Benefits – Comprehensible benefits for full-time employees (part-time employees receive a limited package tailored to their role): Medical, dental, and vision insurance Robust vacation and sick leave benefits, and flexible work arrangements where permitted by role or contract 401(k) plan that includes employer matching funds Tuition reimbursement program Life insurance and disability coverage Optional coverages that can be purchased, including pet insurance, home and auto insurance, additional life and accident insurance, critical illness insurance, group legal, ID theft protection Birth, adoption, parental leave benefits Employee Assistance Plan To review all Serco benefits please visit: . Serco complies with all applicable state and local leave laws, including providing time off under the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act for eligible Colorado residents, in alignment with our policies and benefit plans. The application window for this position is for no more than 60 days. We encourage candidates to apply promptly after the posting date, as the position may close earlier if filled or if the application volume exceeds expectations. Please submit applications exclusively through Serco’s external (or internal) career site. If an applicant has any concerns with job posting compliance, please send an email to: View email address on click.appcast.io . #J-18808-Ljbffr Serco