Accounting/Financial Specialist

Argonne National Laboratory•Lemont, IL

11d•$26 - $40

About The Position

The Financial Management and Procurement Services (FMPS) division is looking for an experienced Accounting and Financial Specialist to join their Accounts Payable team. In this role you will perform a variety of general accounts payable and financial support tasks to authorize accurate, timely payments and resulting cost transactions. Provide strong customer service to internal and external stakeholders. Work independently toward objectives with general guidance, while consistently assessing, prioritizing, and organizing incoming work, and resolve routine to moderately complex issues in support of Laboratory Research and Development. Key Responsibilities: Invoice & Payment Processing Process, verify, and approve supplier invoices and contract invoices in Workday and Coupa, within established cycle times. Prepare and verify wires, prepayments, coding splits, credits and correct accounting details. Expense Reports & Travel Review and process employee expense reports within established cycle times Account & Closeout Support Support closeout activities: identify aging invoices, maintain aging within terms, assist in contract and project closeouts, and document closeout steps. Escalate and coordinate resolution for coding or purchase order variances. Issue Resolution & Stakeholder Communication Research invoice or payment discrepancies using available documentation and communicate findings to appropriate stakeholders for review and resolution. Communicate proactively and professionally with vendors, technical representatives, buyers, requisitioners, receiving, and management regarding processing status, required documentation, or potential delays within established workflows. Process Improvement & Documentation Maintain and contribute to standard operating procedures (SOPs), job aids, and procedure documentation for assigned AP processes. Proactively research unfamiliar situations, suggest improvements, and participate in system initiatives and integrations. Training & Team Support Share workload to support service‑level and response‑time goals and provide coverage during absences. Audit & Compliance Support audit requests by preparing documentation, acknowledging requests within one business day, and meeting committed due dates. Ensure payments conform to Lab Policies, Prime Contract requirements, and Federal contracting standards. Works under general supervision; new assignments receive general guidance. Performs tasks in terms of results to be achieved; exercise judgment within defined guidelines. Work is reviewed for soundness of judgment and overall accuracy.

Requirements

SA3: High school and minimum of 8+ years of Accounts Payable or related experience, or equivalent.
Independent problem solving: Assess work, determine priorities, and make decisions that support Lab operations with general guidance.
Time management & prioritization: Anticipate workload, balance competing deadlines, and prevent bottlenecks.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with a heavy workload and prioritize appropriately.
Customer service & communication: Clear, diplomatic, and professional interactions with vendors and internal customers.
Accuracy & judgment: Maintain high accuracy to protect the Lab’s finances and reputation; explain root causes when issues occur.
Initiative: Proactively research solutions, identify opportunities for improvements, and support implementation.
Core Values: Ability to model Argonne's core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork.

Nice To Haves

Experience with federal invoicing or other purchase order-based payment processes.
Familiarity with Workday, Coupa, and Concur.
Experience implementing financial and/or purchasing systems.
Associate’s degree or higher in Accounting or related field.

Responsibilities

Invoice & Payment Processing Process, verify, and approve supplier invoices and contract invoices in Workday and Coupa, within established cycle times.
Prepare and verify wires, prepayments, coding splits, credits and correct accounting details.
Expense Reports & Travel Review and process employee expense reports within established cycle times
Account & Closeout Support Support closeout activities: identify aging invoices, maintain aging within terms, assist in contract and project closeouts, and document closeout steps.
Escalate and coordinate resolution for coding or purchase order variances.
Issue Resolution & Stakeholder Communication Research invoice or payment discrepancies using available documentation and communicate findings to appropriate stakeholders for review and resolution.
Communicate proactively and professionally with vendors, technical representatives, buyers, requisitioners, receiving, and management regarding processing status, required documentation, or potential delays within established workflows.
Process Improvement & Documentation Maintain and contribute to standard operating procedures (SOPs), job aids, and procedure documentation for assigned AP processes.
Proactively research unfamiliar situations, suggest improvements, and participate in system initiatives and integrations.
Training & Team Support Share workload to support service‑level and response‑time goals and provide coverage during absences.
Audit & Compliance Support audit requests by preparing documentation, acknowledging requests within one business day, and meeting committed due dates.
Ensure payments conform to Lab Policies, Prime Contract requirements, and Federal contracting standards.