Program Manager AP/AR Lead

Metropolitan Council•390 Robert St. N St. Paul, MN

About The Position

The Program Manager, AP/AR Lead works in the Finance Department of the Metropolitan Council’s Regional Administration Division. The role serves as the AP/AR Manager’s primary operational support resource, providing technical expertise, coordinating assigned operational activities, assisting with Accounts Payable approval groups, supporting process improvements, and guiding staff on day-to-day operational matters. It helps ensure the efficient, accurate, and compliant administration of Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable while promoting consistency, continuous improvement, and customer service across the organization. The position supports AP/AR staff and operations through technical guidance, process and system initiatives, transaction review, documentation, reporting, training, and cross-functional collaboration. The role also supports the AP/AR Manager with departmental initiatives, assigned projects, training, and priorities.

Requirements

Qualifying experience in accounts payable, accounts receivable, or general accounting operations combined with completed education in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a closely related field: high school diploma/GED and eight years of experience; associate degree and six years of experience; or bachelor’s degree or higher and four years of experience.
Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and requirements necessary for Certification of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting.
Knowledge of financial systems of a size and complexity comparable to the Council’s; advanced proficiency with ERP financial systems, including invoice processing, reporting, workflow management, and troubleshooting.
Knowledge of state laws regarding governmental accounting, AP and AR, including collections, billing, debits, and credits.
Strong analytical and reporting skills using Microsoft Excel and reporting tools to analyze AP/AR metrics, identify trends, reconcile data, and support operational decisions.
Ability to coordinate and prioritize multiple operational activities and balance competing deadlines.
Ability to identify inefficiencies, recommend improvements, and help implement solutions that improve accuracy, efficiency, and internal controls.
Ability to organize and coordinate cross-functional initiatives, communicate effectively with internal departments, and build collaborative working relationships.
Ability to lead, coach, and provide day-to-day guidance to staff.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of public sector accounting practices, governmental financial policies, and procurement regulations.
Experience developing dashboards, KPIs, and operational performance metrics for management reporting and decision-making.
Experience participating in ERP implementations, system upgrades, workflow automation, or user acceptance testing (UAT).
Knowledge of project coordination, change management, and cross-functional implementation practices.
Experience working with diverse populations of internal and external customers.
Knowledge of PeopleSoft financial systems.

Responsibilities

Coordinate assigned operational activities for the Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable teams and assist with designated AP approving groups.
Help ensure timely, accurate, and efficient financial processing.
Provide technical guidance and day-to-day operational support to AP/AR staff, including onboarding, cross-training, and knowledge transfer.
Identify operational challenges, recommend process enhancements, and participate in system-related initiatives, testing, and implementations.
Support compliance with financial policies, internal controls, audit requirements, and applicable regulations by reviewing transactions, maintaining documentation, and assisting with reporting.
Collaborate with Purchasing, Information Technology, project managers, business units, vendors, and customers to resolve operational issues and support service delivery.
Support the AP/AR Manager with departmental initiatives, assigned projects, training efforts, and priorities.
Develop, document, and improve procedures, workflow documentation, training materials, and process maps.
Coordinate system workflows, user access, approval groups, testing, and cross-functional process improvements.
Coordinate and prioritize multiple AP and AR activities while balancing deadlines and ensuring critical work is completed on time.
Lead, coach, and provide day-to-day guidance to staff, reinforce procedures, and promote consistency across the team.
Plan, organize, and facilitate training, cross-training, and knowledge transfer activities.