Accounts Payable Manager

AeroVironment•Simi Valley, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Accounts Payable Manager supports the Senior Manager, Accounts Payable in leading day-to-day Accounts Payable operations across the organization. This role manages the Accounts Payable team and is responsible for the timely, accurate, and compliant processing of invoices, supplier payments, employee reimbursements, and related AP activities. Reporting to the Senior Manager, the Accounts Payable Manager is a hands-on operational leader who balances service, accuracy, internal controls, and continuous improvement. The role will also support the Senior Manager's Oracle Fusion rollout across all other AV business units currently operating in other ERP systems by providing AP subject-matter expertise and helping ensure a smooth transition from legacy environments.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
Seven or more years of progressive Accounts Payable or procure-to-pay experience, including experience in a complex, multi-entity environment.
Three or more years of people-management or AP team-leadership experience.
Strong knowledge of end-to-end AP and procure-to-pay processes, including invoice processing, purchase-order matching, supplier master data, payment processing, AP close, reconciliations, accruals, and 1099 reporting.
Demonstrated understanding of AP internal controls, SOX requirements, audit support, and segregation-of-duties principles.
Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite; experience using project-management, reporting, and issue-tracking tools.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to reconcile detailed transaction data and resolve root causes.
Strong organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.
Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex system and process topics for varied audiences.
Demonstrates ownership, sound judgment, and a high degree of accuracy in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
Able to balance day-to-day operational priorities with project and change-management activities.
Builds collaborative, accountable teams and creates an environment of continuous improvement.
Willing and able to support implementation milestones, cutover windows, and post-go-live hypercare as business needs require.
U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder), asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) or a person approved for an export license from the appropriate governing agency.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting an ERP implementation, enhancement, or system conversion in an AP functional role is preferred.
Hands-on Oracle Fusion Cloud Payables experience is preferred; experience with Oracle Fusion Procurement and Expenses is a plus.
Experience with Costpoint, Unanet, NetSuite, or comparable ERP platforms is preferred.
Experience in a publicly traded company and/or government contracting, aerospace and defense, or other regulated environment is preferred.
Familiarity with Oracle Fusion Payables and ERP implementation concepts, including workflow, testing, data conversion, reporting, and role-based security, is preferred.

Responsibilities

Support the Accounts Payable Senior Manager in overseeing daily AP operations and ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant processing across the AP function.
Manage, coach, and develop AP staff; establish clear priorities, balance workloads, provide training, and foster a service-oriented and accountable team environment.
Oversee invoice intake, coding, purchase-order matching, approvals, exception management, and payment processing to ensure adherence to policy, appropriate approval, and timely supplier payment.
Review AP aging, payment holds, supplier inquiries, and employee reimbursement requests; resolve escalated issues and identify opportunities to improve service levels and discount capture.
Oversee supplier onboarding and maintenance, including review of payment terms, banking information, and tax documentation in accordance with established controls.
Support check runs, ACH and wire payments, and other payment activities; ensure accurate execution, appropriate approvals, and timely resolution of payment exceptions.
Monitor AP performance metrics, aging trends, workflow bottlenecks, and recurring issues; communicate operational results and risks to the Senior Manager.
Partner with Procurement, Treasury, Accounting, and business-unit teams to resolve invoice, receipt, supplier, and payment issues.
Ensure timely and accurate AP month-end close activities, including aging review, accrual support, account reconciliations, and timely resolution of discrepant items.
Maintain effective AP internal controls, policies, procedures, and segregation-of-duties practices that support SOX compliance, audit readiness, and applicable company requirements.
Coordinate preparation and review of 1099 reporting and other AP-related tax or compliance activities.
Support internal and external audit requests by ensuring documentation is complete, accurate, and readily available.
Review and improve AP processes, controls, and standard operating procedures to reduce risk, increase efficiency, and strengthen the user and supplier experience.
Support the Accounts Payable Senior Manager in the Oracle Fusion rollout across all other AV business units currently operating in other ERP systems while maintaining continuity of daily AP operations.
Serve as an AP subject-matter expert for requirements gathering, future-state process design, workflow review, testing, training, and issue resolution.
Partner with Finance Systems, IT, Procurement, Treasury, and external implementation partners to validate AP configuration, integrations, workflows, reports, and role-based access against approved business requirements.
Coordinate assigned AP implementation-readiness activities, including action plans, open-item tracking, defect triage, resource needs, cutover checklists, and go-live readiness inputs for the Senior Manager.
Facilitate AP process reviews and conference-room pilots; document process gaps, configuration decisions, control impacts, and recommended resolutions.
Assist with AP data-conversion activities, including data validation, reconciliation, exception research, and business signoff for supplier records, open invoices, payment information, and other AP data.
Participate in system integration testing, user acceptance testing, mock conversions, cutover readiness, and post-go-live hypercare as assigned by the Senior Manager.
Validate end-to-end AP scenarios in Fusion, including invoice intake, purchase-order matching, approvals, payment processing, supplier maintenance, expense and P-Card interfaces, month-end close, and reporting.
Track AP defects and enhancement requests through resolution; confirm fixes meet business requirements and do not disrupt operational controls or service levels.
Help develop and deliver process documentation, job aids, and training for AP team members, approvers, requesters, and other business users.
Identify operational risks and improvement opportunities during the transition from legacy ERP systems to Oracle Fusion; escalate material issues promptly to the Senior Manager.
Identify and implement practical process improvements, automation opportunities, reporting enhancements, and metrics that improve AP efficiency, accuracy, visibility, and control effectiveness.
Create and maintain AP procedures, desk guides, and training materials; ensure the team is trained on current policies, systems, and processes.
Collaborate with Treasury, Procurement, Accounting, Tax, Internal Audit, Finance Systems, and business-unit leaders to resolve operational issues and advance process improvements.
Serve as a trusted AP subject-matter expert and communicate operational status, risks, and recommendations clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
Perform other duties as assigned.