Accounts Payable Lead

Dentons Canada; Montreal (administrative region); Hybrid; CAD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Extended health and mental health bene

Paid time off

Retirement savings plans

Fitness subsidy

Parental leave top-up

Job summary

Dentons Canada is seeking an Accounts Payable Lead in Montreal for a hybrid role requiring some in-office presence each week. You will oversee daily AP operations, ensure accurate processing of invoices and expenses, and drive process improvements across procure-to-pay.

Leading the AP team, you will collaborate with Finance and stakeholders to maintain controls and service levels. The role emphasizes month-end close support, reconciliations, and AP reporting, with a focus on accuracy,

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in a high volume environment, preferably within a professional services firm.
• Experience in lead, senior, or supervisory accounts payable roles preferred.
• Strong knowledge of accounts payable processes, internal controls, invoice lifecycle management, and payment operations.
• Experience supporting month-end close, reconciliations, and audit requests.
• Strong proficiency with ERP systems and accounts payable automation tools, including 3E is an asset.
• Proficiency with MS Office, especially Excel (lookups, pivot tables, text functions).
• Experience with T&E and invoice management software; Chrome River is an asset.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to work independently and in a team.
• High level of integrity and commitment to confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate daily accounts payable operations, including invoice intake, coding review, approvals follow-up, payment processing, and exception handling.
• Ensure vendor invoices, employee expense claims, and payment requests are processed accurately and within service level targets.
• Review and monitor payment runs to ensure timely disbursements and compliance with payment terms.
• Act as primary escalation point for complex vendor inquiries, payment discrepancies, aged items, and unresolved exceptions.
• Maintain vendor master data, including banking details, tax information, and onboarding documentation.
• Support month-end and year-end close activities by preparing reconciliations, accrual support, and AP reporting.
• Monitor AP aging and open items, investigate unusual balances, drive timely resolution.
• Adhere to internal controls, approval authorities, audit requirements, and tax obligations.
• Partner with Finance to improve workflow efficiency and support operational needs.
• Develop, document, and maintain AP procedures and process guides.
• Identify process improvements, automation opportunities, and reporting enhancements.

Skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Analytical skills

Time management

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field

Tools

ERP systems

Accounts payable automation tools

3E

MS Excel (lookups, pivot tables)

Chrome River

Job description

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Dentons is designed to be different. Our Firm leads the way in a rapidly changing legal marketplace. We challenge the status quo and deliver consistent results as well as uncompromising quality and value to our clients. Our global presence is renowned as a firm with over 21,000 individuals in more than 200 offices serving clients across 80+ countries.

Dentons Canada is committed to its people and communities. We are consistently recognized as an employer of choice having received numerous awards including being selected as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers (2026); Canada’s Top Employers for Young People (2026), and Canada’s Best Diversity Employers (2026).

This role is an opportunity for you to join Canada's Global Law Firm, a firm that offers opportunities to build your career while growing your skills and deepening your expertise.

Position Overview

The Accounts Payable Lead is responsible for overseeing the day‑to‑day accounts payable function to ensure invoices, employee expenses, and vendor payments are processed accurately, efficiently, and in accordance with company policies and internal controls. This role provides hands‑on operational support while leading workflow coordination, issue resolution, vendor management, and continuous improvement across the procure‑to‑pay process. The Accounts Payable Lead works closely with Accounts Payable team and business stakeholders to maintain service levels, support month‑end activities, and strengthen compliance and process effectiveness. This role is a hybrid role requiring some in office presence every week.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate daily accounts payable operations, including invoice intake, coding review, approvals follow‑up, payment processing, and exception handling.
• Ensure vendor invoices, employee expense claims, and payment requests are processed accurately and within established service level targets.
• Review and monitor payment runs to ensure timely disbursements and compliance with approved payment terms.
• Act as the primary escalation point for complex vendor inquiries, payment discrepancies, aged items, and unresolved exceptions.
• Maintain the integrity of vendor master data, including banking details, tax information, and onboarding documentation.
• Support month‑end and year‑end close activities by preparing reconciliations, accrual support, and accounts payable reporting.
• Monitor accounts payable aging and open items, investigate unusual balances, and drive timely resolution.
• Ensure adherence to internal controls, approval authorities, audit requirements, and relevant tax or statutory obligations.
• Partner with Finance and other Business teams to improve workflow efficiency, and support operational needs.
• Develop, document, and maintain accounts payable procedures and process guides.
• Identify process improvements, automation opportunities, and reporting enhancements to improve accuracy, cycle time, and user experience.
• Provide day‑to‑day guidance, training, and work allocation for accounts payable team members, helping to build capability and ensure business continuity.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in in a high volume environment, preferably within a professional services firm.
• Previous experience in a lead, senior, or supervisory accounts payable role preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of accounts payable processes, internal controls, invoice lifecycle management, and payment operations.
• Experience supporting month‑end close, reconciliations, and audit requests.
• Strong proficiency with ERP systems and accounts payable automation tools, experience with 3E an asset.
• Strong proficiency with MS Office, especially with Excel (e.g. lookups, pivot tables, text functions).
• Strong proficiency with T&E and invoice management software, experience with Chrome River an asset
• Exceptional attention to detail, accuracy, and ability to meet recurring deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills to effectively prioritize and manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and interpersonal abilities.
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast‑paced environment.
• High level of integrity and commitment to maintaining confidentiality.
• Ability to lead by example and provide practical guidance to team members.
• Ability to identify process gaps and drive continuous improvement.
• Proactive mindset with the ability to demonstrate initiative.
• A team player with a positive outlook.
• Prior experience in a multi‑entity or share service environment an asset.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

This role is a new position.

The target salary range for this position is $75,000 to $85,000, commensurate with the successful candidate’s skills, experience, and qualifications. Dentons is committed to equitable and competitive compensation. This target range falls within our internal salary ranges, which are based on comparable roles in the external market. We strive to hire, promote, and transfer individuals at the entry point of the range, with consideration given to prior experience, relevant skills, and market conditions.

We recognize that rewarding exceptional talent goes beyond salary. Our comprehensive total rewards package includes inclusive and flexible benefits that support the wellbeing and development of our people. This includes extended health and mental health benefits, paid time off, retirement savings plans, a fitness subsidy, parental leave top‑up, and more.

In addition, our learning and development programs—such as mentorship opportunities, employee networks, and leadership development initiatives—are designed to support personal and professional growth.

At Dentons, all candidate screening, assessment, and hiring decisions are made by people. From time to time, we use AI‑enabled tools to assist in enhancing our recruitment process and materials; however, these tools do not screen candidates or make hiring decisions.

Note: Availability of benefits and programs may vary depending on your location and employment type and may be subject to eligibility criteria. Dentons reserves the right to modify or discontinue offerings, in whole or in part, at its discretion and without prior notice.

Equal Opportunity Statement

At Dentons Canada, inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA) are not just ancillary values, they are foundational to our business. We believe that IDEA is essential to the shared success of our team and our clients. Our forward‑thinking and inclusive culture supports the professional development of all our people, enhances the leading services we offer to our clients, and informs our commitment to make a positive impact in the communities where we live and work. As a testament to our commitment to IDEA, we have been recognized as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employer’s for 16 consecutive years (2011‑2026), as well as one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People (2026) for the ninth time.

Dentons Canada is an equal opportunity employer, and we welcome your application. All employment decisions, including hiring, will be made without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, colour, creed, disability, ethnic origin, family status, gender identity, marital status, place of origin, race, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable human rights legislation.

We are committed to providing you with an inclusive, barrier‑free, and accessible workplace to support your success. Should you require accommodation during the recruitment process, for example as a result of a disability, please contact us at [e-mail] .