AP/AR Manager

Vaco by Highspring; Markham; On-site; CAD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Vaco by Highspring in the Greater Toronto Area is seeking an experienced AR/AP Manager to lead and grow a 11-person AR/AP team. You will set performance goals, conduct coaching, and oversee hiring, onboarding, and training to build a high-performing finance function.

You will drive KPI reporting, aged AR/AP analysis, and cash flow optimization across Canada and the US, while guiding automation initiatives and ensuring strong internal controls and month-end close processes.

Qualifications

• Experience leading AR/AP teams.
• Ability to set performance goals and coach individuals.
• Strong experience with KPI reporting and financial analytics.
• Ability to implement automation and system improvements across AR/AP.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor an AR/AP team of 11 and drive performance.
• Oversee AR aging, cash application, and collections across Canada/US.
• Oversee AP processing, vendor payments, and select AP software solutions.
• Partner with IT to design AI-driven automation for AR workflows.
• Maintain SOPs, controls, and support month-end close and audits.

Skills

People management

Performance coaching

Hiring & onboarding

KPIs & reporting

Process improvement

Tools

AP tracking software

ERP systems

AI automation tools

Job description

• Manage, mentor, and develop a team of 11 AR and AP team members.

• Set individual and team performance goals; conduct regular one-on-ones, performance reviews, and coaching.

• Oversee hiring, onboarding, and training for the AR/AP team as it grows.

• Establish clear accountability for daily, weekly, and monthly AR and AP deliverables across the team.

• Foster a collaborative, customer-focused, and accountable team culture.

Reporting & KPIs

• Develop and monitor aged AR and aged AP reporting, ensuring accuracy and timely distribution to stakeholders. Design and maintain a KPI framework for the team, including collections effectiveness, outbound call and email volume/quality, DSO, DPO, dispute resolution timelines, and payment processing accuracy.

• Report on team and individual performance against KPIs to senior finance leadership on a regular cadence.

• Use reporting and KPI trends to identify risk areas (e.g., aging concentrations, at-risk accounts) and drive corrective action.

Support on net working capital optimization.

AR Oversight & Collections

• Oversee accounts receivable aging, cash application, and collections activity across the Canada and US AR teams.

• Ensure timely follow-up on past-due accounts and effective escalation of high-risk or disputed accounts.

• Partner with Sales and Customer Service to resolve customer disputes and align on credit and billing terms.

• Liaise with external collections agencies where required.

AP Oversight

• Oversee accounts payable processing, vendor payment cycles, and aged AP reporting.

• Lead the evaluation, selection, and implementation of an AP tracking and approvals software solution to replace/enhance current manual processes.

• Ensure appropriate approval workflows, segregation of duties, and internal controls are maintained over vendor payments.

• Act as the primary escalation point for supplier payment discrepancies.

Automation & Systems Improvement

• Partner with IT to design and implement AI-driven automation for AR cash posting and AR collections workflows (e.g., automated payment matching, intelligent dunning/collections outreach).

• Identify and lead technology and process improvement initiatives across both AR and AP functions to reduce manual effort and improve accuracy and cycle time.

• Support system evaluations, testing, and rollout for new AR/AP tools, including the AP approvals software and any ERP-related enhancements.

SOPs, Controls & Compliance

• Develop, update, and maintain SOPs across AR and AP functions, ensuring processes are documented, consistent, and scalable.

• Ensure compliance with internal controls, company policies, and applicable accounting standards across both AR and AP including appropriate G/L coding.

• Support month-end and year-end close activities related to AR and AP, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting, including the reconciliation of sub-ledgers to the general ledger. Support internal and external audits by preparing and providing required documentation.

• Maintain accurate records of customer/vendor account structures, ownership, and payment terms to ensure proper invoicing, collections, and disbursements.

----- DISCLAIMERS -----

This position for employment is for a current vacancy with Highspring’s client. You must currently reside within the Greater Toronto Area and be permitted to work in Canada to be considered for this opportunity.

Vaco by Highspring values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, people of colour, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply. The company is also committed to ensuring that persons who need them are provided with reasonable accommodations; if one is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact [e-mail].

Vaco by Highspring respects your privacy and is committed to providing transparent notice of our policies in English here and in French here. Additionally, the company uses AI to perform preliminary screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco/Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client’s use of AI products in hiring.

Pay Transparency Notice

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

• the individual’s skill sets, experience and training;
• licensure and certification requirements;
• office location and other geographic considerations;
• other business and organizational needs.

Having said that Vaco by Highspring believes that the salary range referenced reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses and/or participation in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company’s retirement plan (or similar retirement benefits).