Accounts Payable Manager

Polsinelli•Kansas City, MO

About The Position

Polsinelli is seeking an Accounts Payable Manager to lead the Firm’s Accounts Payable function. This position is responsible for the effective management of Accounts Payable operations, team leadership and development, internal controls, systems, process improvement, and service delivery across the Firm. The Accounts Payable Manager will serve as a key point of contact between Accounts Payable and attorneys, professional staff, Firm leadership, Accounting and Finance teams, and other departments throughout the Firm. Success in this role requires strong technical knowledge, sound judgment, a customer service-oriented mindset, and the ability to communicate effectively with individuals at all levels of the organization.

Requirements

Five or more years of progressively responsible Accounts Payable experience, preferably within a large professional services or law firm environment.
Prior experience leading or managing employees, including coaching, performance management, workload prioritization, and employee development.
Strong knowledge of Accounts Payable processes, policies, procedures, internal controls, and payment practices.
Experience with financial and expense management systems.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively and professionally with attorneys, professional staff, leadership, vendors, and colleagues across departments and offices.
Demonstrated ability to build productive cross-functional relationships, navigate competing priorities, and communicate effectively with both financial and non-financial stakeholders.
Strong judgment, problem-solving, organizational, and decision-making skills.
Ability to identify opportunities for improvement and successfully lead process, technology, and operational changes.
High attention to accuracy and detail while maintaining an appropriate focus on broader departmental and Firm objectives.
Strong customer-service orientation and commitment to providing responsive, practical, and professional support to internal and external stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Elite and Chrome River is preferred.

Responsibilities

Manage the Accounts Payable function with responsibility for adherence to Firm policies, procedures, internal controls, service standards, and operational objectives.
Lead, develop, coach, and mentor Accounts Payable team members, promoting accountability, collaboration, professional growth, and a positive, team-oriented environment.
Establish priorities, coordinate workloads and schedules, and ensure the timely and accurate completion of Accounts Payable activities.
Ensure effective processes and controls are maintained for the timely and accurate disbursement of payments.
Oversee vendor invoice and payment processing, vendor statement research and follow-up, and vendor file maintenance, providing direct support and escalation assistance as needed.
Oversee and provide guidance for client trust disbursements, foreign vendor payments, sales and use tax review, and 1099 reporting.
Build and maintain strong working relationships across the Firm, serving as a trusted resource for attorneys, professional staff, leadership, Accounting and Finance teams, and other departments on Accounts Payable matters.
Communicate clearly, proactively, and professionally across departments, offices, and levels of the Firm, translating Accounts Payable processes, requirements, and issues into practical and understandable information for both financial and non-financial audiences.
Respond to and resolve internal and external inquiries in an effective, timely, and professional manner, including issues requiring coordination among multiple departments or stakeholders.
Develop a strong understanding of how Accounts Payable processes affect other departments and Firm operations and proactively identify opportunities to improve the experience of internal clients and stakeholders.
Evaluate existing processes and controls and lead the implementation of improvements that increase efficiency, accuracy, timeliness, scalability, and service quality.
Serve as a functional leader for key Accounts Payable systems, including Emburse/ChromeRiver and Elite 3E, and make informed decisions regarding system administration, functionality, and Firmwide support.
Partner with Accounting, Finance, IT, vendors, and other stakeholders on system implementations, testing, upgrades, and process changes.
Lead and coordinate Accounts Payable audit requests and provide documentation, analysis, and support as required.
Exercise sound judgment and appropriate discretion when handling critical, sensitive, and confidential payment and financial matters.
Serve as an escalation point for complex Accounts Payable issues and make appropriate operational decisions within the scope of the position.
Partner with Accounting leadership on departmental priorities, initiatives, and operational decisions and provide leadership continuity as appropriate.
Recruit, interview, select, onboard, and train Accounts Payable employees.
Manage employee performance through regular feedback, coaching, mentoring, goal setting, and professional development.
Prepare annual performance reviews for direct reports and contribute to broader team performance discussions as appropriate.
Approve timecards and PTO requests and coordinate staffing and work schedules to maintain appropriate coverage and service levels.
Establish clear expectations and foster an environment of accountability, collaboration, responsiveness, continuous improvement, and excellent service.
Encourage open communication within the Accounts Payable team and facilitate effective communication between the team and stakeholders throughout the Firm.