Senior Accounts Payable Specialist

Lavazza North America Inc•New York, NY

3d•$76,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Finance team at Lavazza North America supports the organization’s financial health by leading planning, budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and analysis across commercial channels. The team partners with sales, operations, accounting, and executive leadership to provide financial insight, strengthen controls, manage risk, and support profitable growth across the business. The Senior Accounts Payable Analyst supports accurate, timely, and compliant accounts payable operations, including complex invoice processing, vendor reconciliations, payment administration, and financial reporting. Serving as a subject matter expert and escalation point, this role resolves complex issues, maintains internal controls, supports month-end and year-end close activities, and helps strengthen Purchase-to-Pay processes through reporting, automation, and system improvements. The role partners with Procurement, Finance, Supply Chain, and other business teams to improve operational efficiency and payment accuracy.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field; or equivalent professional experience.
4+ years of progressive experience in accounts payable or related accounting work, preferably in a high-volume environment.
Demonstrated knowledge of end-to-end accounts payable processes, including three-way match, vendor reconciliations, payment controls, accruals, month-end close, and internal controls.
Experience using enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, preferably Systems, Applications, and Products in Data Processing (SAP), and accounts payable workflow or automation tools.
Advanced Microsoft Excel experience, including PivotTables, lookup functions, and analysis of large data sets.
Experience analyzing complex accounts payable issues, identifying root causes, and implementing practical resolutions.
Experience in a multi-entity, shared services, manufacturing, or global accounts payable environment.
Demonstrated experience improving Purchase-to-Pay processes through automation, workflow optimization, or system enhancements.
Experience developing accounts payable metrics, aging analyses, and data-driven recommendations for leadership.
Experience serving as an escalation resource and providing process guidance or training to accounts payable team members.

Responsibilities

Lead the review and processing of complex accounts payable transactions, ensuring accurate coding, supporting documentation, approvals, and compliance with accounting policies and internal controls.
Reconcile vendor accounts and the accounts payable subledger, researching and resolving discrepancies, blocked invoices, payment variances, billing disputes, and other exceptions.
Prepare, review, and process Automated Clearing House (ACH), wire, and check payments in accordance with authorization, documentation, and control requirements.
Resolve complex vendor inquiries and internal stakeholder questions in partnership with Procurement, Supply Chain, Finance, and other business teams.
Support month-end and year-end close activities, including account reconciliations, accruals, aging analysis, and financial reporting.
Analyze accounts payable data and report on key performance indicators (KPIs), aging, payment trends, exceptions, duplicate payments, process gaps, operational risks, and savings opportunities.
Maintain accurate, complete, and compliant vendor master data in accordance with established controls and requirements.
Support internal and external audits by preparing documentation, validating transaction support, and responding to related inquiries.
Identify, recommend, and support Purchase-to-Pay process improvements, automation initiatives, system enhancements, and accounts payable best practices.
Provide subject matter guidance to accounts payable team members on complex transactions, reconciliations, research items, and process requirements.