Lead- Accounts Payable- Accounting - Shift 1

NEW CARROT FARMS LLC•Bakersfield, CA

4d•$24 - $29

About The Position

The Lead Accounts Payable oversees the daily AP workflow and ensures timely and accurate processing of invoices, payments, and account reconciliations in a fast‑paced farming and manufacturing environment. This role supports inventory‑related purchasing, grower payments, freight and logistics invoicing, 3‑way match processes, and compliance with company policies and internal controls. The Lead Accounts Payable acts as a point of contact for internal departments and external vendors, providing guidance, training, and support to AP Specialists while driving process improvements and month‑end close accuracy.

Requirements

Strong understanding of AP processes, general accounting principles, and 3‑way match controls.
High attention to detail, accuracy, and ability to manage competing priorities.
Excellent communication skills; able to interact effectively with vendors, supervisors, and cross‑functional teams.
Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, especially in resolving invoice variances and receiving issues.
Proficient in Excel (VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, pivot tables, basic analytics).
Ability to lead by example and support a positive team culture.
High School Diploma or equivalent; or five-year related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience
3-5 years of experience in a full cycle Accounts Payable or a related financial role.
Strong planning and problem-solving skills
Candidates must have a verifiable history of safe vehicle operation and meet company standards for driving eligibility. This includes maintaining a clean driving record, which will be verified through a background check.

Nice To Haves

Experience working cross-functionally with departments such as Procurement, Operations, Treasury, and Accounting.
Familiarity with AP audit processes and internal controls.
Understanding of vendor credit management and variance analysis.
Experience with year-end 1099 processing.
Experience with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, JD Edwards, Microsoft Dynamics, NetSuite).

Responsibilities

Manage weekly Check Run Reports and coordinate with Treasury and internal departments to ensure payment accuracy and efficiency.
Lead day‑to-day AP activities, ensuring timely and accurate processing of high-volume invoices related to farming operations, raw materials, packaging, ingredients, utilities, services, and freight.
Serve as the first escalation point for internal inquiries from Purchasing, Receiving, Operations, and Accounting.
Review, approve, and troubleshoot 3‑way match exceptions (PO, receipt, invoice).
Perform check run reconciliations to validate payments and resolve discrepancies.
Prepare weekly and monthly AP KPI reporting.
Collaborate with Operations and Procurement teams to resolve any vendor discrepancies.
Review and manage AP Discrepancy Tracker.
Prepare and review weekly vendor reconciliations.
Assist with clearing and processing manual checks.
Provide guidance and support to AP staff, including training, mentoring, and assist with general inquiries when necessary.
Perform monthly account reconciliations, research and resolve any variances.
Reviewing and posting of AP vouchers.
Verification of cleared payments as needed.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Train, support, and mentor AP Specialists; review workload distribution and provide guidance on complex issues.
Assist the AP Supervisor/Manager in establishing team goals and performance expectations.
Provide backup coverage for team members as needed.
Prepare AP accruals for goods/services received but not yet invoiced, including farm inputs, and manufacturing supplies.
Support audits (internal, external) with documentation and process explanations.
Ensure compliance with company policies, GAAP, and internal control requirements.
Support KPI reporting such as invoice throughput, exception rates, processing times, and discounts captured.
Identify gaps, inefficiencies, or recurring problems in AP workflows, especially related to procurement and manufacturing PO processes.
Recommend and assist in implementing system enhancements, automation tools, and improved procedures.
Support ERP and AP automation initiatives (e.g., OCR invoicing, workflow automation, vendor self-service portals).