ACCOUNTS PAYABLE LEAD

Gelmart International / Rafar Group; Bentonville (AR); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Rafar Group Companies, Gelmart's wholesale and manufacturing umbrella, seeks an Accounts Payable Lead to drive accurate payables, timely payments, and strong controls. You will lead the AP Support member, optimize processes, and ensure an auditable, efficient AP function across brands.

You will collaborate with vendors and internal partners, resolve discrepancies, and push for continuous improvements using AI-enabled invoice capture and workflow tools.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of accounts payable experience with invoice processing and vendor reconciliation.
• Experience supervising or training a support team member and managing priorities.
• Experience matching invoices to POs/receipts and supporting month-end close.
• Knowledge of payment approvals, positive pay, and separation of duties.
• Strong Excel, data analysis, and ability to improve manual processes.
• Experience with freight, customs, or multi-currency payments is a plus.
• Familiarity with ERP systems like Dynamics 365 BC or NetSuite preferred.

Responsibilities

• Receive, code, and enter vendor invoices. Match invoices to purchase orders and receipts where applicable, obtain required approvals, and resolve missing documents or discrepancies before payment.
• Prepare and process scheduled payment runs under the approved authorization process. Follow the approval matrix, maintain positive pay controls, and preserve separation between payment preparation and approval.
• Maintain vendor records, including setup, updates, W-9 forms, and tax documentation. Check for duplicates and follow controls when payment information changes.
• Reconcile vendor statements, investigate credits and payment discrepancies, and communicate with vendors and internal partners about holds and outstanding items.
• Prepare accrual support, reconcile AP to the general ledger, and resolve cutoff differences. Prepare AP audits and respond to audit requests with Senior Accounting Manager.
• Assign daily work to the AP Support team member, provide training and feedback, review their work, and maintain procedures and backups while staying involved in daily AP tasks.
• Identify opportunities to automate recurring work; use approved AI tools for invoice capture, matching, and workflows; validate outputs and maintain audit trails.
• Own weekly EOS scorecard updates for assigned AP measures; highlight exceptions and action plans in team meetings.

Skills

Accounts payable

Vendor reconciliation

Team supervision

Excel

Data analysis

Internal controls

Month-end close

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting

Tools

Dynamics 365 BC

NetSuite

Job description

Rafar Group Companies is seeking a hands-on Accounts Payable Lead to keep vendor invoices accurate, payments timely, and disbursements properly controlled. You will process invoices and payment runs, resolve vendor issues, and supervise one AP Support team member.

You will work with vendors, internal approvers, and the Senior Accounting Manager to resolve discrepancies and maintain reliable payables records through month-end. This is a working lead role that combines transaction processing, team oversight, and process improvement. You will be expected to spot issues early, communicate their impact, and follow through on resolution.

Key Responsibilities

• Receive, code, and enter vendor invoices. Match invoices to purchase orders and receipts where applicable, obtain required approvals, and resolve missing documentation or discrepancies before payment.
• Prepare and process scheduled payment runs under the approved authorization process. Follow the approval matrix, maintain positive pay controls, and preserve separation between payment preparation and approval.
• Maintain vendor records, including setup, updates, W-9 forms, and tax documentation. Check for duplicates and follow verification and approval controls when payment information changes.
• Reconcile vendor statements, investigate credits and payment discrepancies, and communicate with vendors and internal partners about holds and outstanding items.
• Prepare accrual support, reconcile AP to the general ledger, and resolve cutoff differences. Prepare AP audit schedules and invoice, payment, and approval support; respond to audit requests through the Senior Accounting Manager.
• Assign daily work to the AP Support team member, provide training and feedback, review their work, and maintain documented procedures and backup coverage while remaining actively involved in daily AP work.
• Learn the AP system, invoice-capture tools, approval workflows, and reporting capabilities. Improve invoice processing, payments, and reconciliations by using existing system features, reducing duplicate entry, and recommending practical enhancements.
• Identify opportunities to automate recurring work and use approved AI tools for invoice capture, matching, approval workflows, and exception review. Test and validate outputs, protect vendor and financial information, and maintain payment approvals, controls, and an audit trail.
• Own weekly EOS scorecard updates for assigned AP measures. Validate the data, compare results with agreed targets, and bring exceptions, payment risks, corrective actions, and progress on prior commitments to team meetings.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of accounts payable experience, including invoice processing, vendor reconciliation, and responsibility for payment runs. Experience with import, apparel, or supply-chain AP is preferred.
• Experience supervising or training a support team member, reviewing work, and managing competing daily priorities.
• Experience matching invoices to purchase orders and receipts, supporting month-end close, and reconciling the AP subledger to the general ledger.
• Working knowledge of payment approvals, positive pay, and separation of duties, with the judgment to hold a payment and elevate concerns when needed.
• Strong Excel, reconciliation, and data analysis skills, with the ability to improve manual processes and maintain accurate records across high transaction volumes, entities, or brands.
• Clear, professional communication with vendors and internal partners when resolving invoice, approval, or payment issues.
• Experience with freight, duty, or customs broker invoices; international or multi-currency payments; or vendor master and ERP implementation work is a plus.
• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, NetSuite, or a similar system is preferred. Familiarity with invoice-capture, automation, or AI tools is helpful.

About Rafar Group Companies

Rafar Group Companies is the parent organization behind Gelmart Industries, Rafar Brands, Fullstride, and Rafar Manufacturing. Our businesses span intimate apparel wholesale, brands, and manufacturing. This role supports Gelmart's wholesale business within Rafar's broader finance organization.

Our core values are Be Adaptable, Have High Standards, Play for Each Other, and Focus on the Outcome. We use EOS, the Entrepreneurial Operating System, to set quarterly priorities, review performance, and resolve issues in regular team meetings. We look for people who take ownership, collaborate across teams, raise issues early, and follow through on commitments.

The Rafar Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, disability, genetic information, marital status, citizenship, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

We are not accepting inquiries or candidate submissions from recruiting agencies.