Accounts Payable Manager

Ryan Specialty; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Ryan Specialty is seeking an Accounts Payable Manager to lead the carrier payables function and related sub-functions within Global Premium Accounting. You will drive service levels, controls, and performance across onshore teams and a managed-service provider, leveraging analytics and AI tools to scale operations and improve outcomes.

You will mentor supervisors and senior ICs, oversee vendor governance for AP delivery, and ensure fiduciary and regulatory compliance across payments, claims, and

Qualifications

• Leadership of supervisors and senior ICs.
• Experience with managed-service delivery across geographies.
• Strong knowledge of fiduciary operations and controls.

Responsibilities

• Manage carrier payables function including service levels, quality, controls, and risk.
• Lead and develop performance for supervisors and senior contributors.
• Own vendor governance for AP delivery in MSP/BPO.
• Ensure robust internal controls and regulatory compliance across carrier payments.
• Own service levels, controls, and quality for claims payment and reporting.
• Set and monitor metrics and SLAs; drive improvements.

Skills

People leadership

Analytics AI

Cross-functional partnership

Budget planning

Vendor governance

Process improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree

CPA preferred

Tools

Power BI

Excel

SharePoint

Job description

Position Summary

The Accounts Payable Manager manages the carrier payables function or a major sub-function within Global Premium Accounting, owning service levels, controls, talent, and process strategy across onshore teams and managed-service (BPO) production. The role ensures that payments to carriers and markets are accurate, timely, and fully compliant with fiduciary and regulatory requirements. Leading through supervisors and senior individual contributors, the Manager is accountable for team performance and development, vendor governance for AP delivery, and continuous improvement of carrier payables processes. The role uses analytics and AI tools to manage performance and drive scalable outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the carrier payables function or sub-function, including service levels, quality, controls, and risk.
• Lead, develop, and manage performance for supervisors and senior individual contributors.
• Own vendor governance for AP managed-service (BPO) production, including service-level, quality, and continuous-improvement oversight.
• Ensure robust internal controls, fiduciary safeguards, and regulatory compliance across carrier payments, managed claims, and bordereaux reporting.
• Own service levels, controls, and quality for managed-claims payment and reporting.
• Set and monitor metrics and SLAs; analyze performance and drive corrective action and process improvement.
• Partner across Premium Accounting (Cash Application, AR, Service & Operations) and with corporate, front-office, and back-office teams on cross-functional initiatives.
• Contribute to budgeting, resource planning, and capacity management for the AP function.
• Lead standardization, automation, and transformation initiatives for carrier payables.
• Leverage analytics and artificial intelligence tools (e.g., Microsoft Copilot and approved GenAI platforms) to manage performance and inform strategy.
• Support talent acquisition, succession planning, and capability building across the team.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Core Skills & Responsibilities

• People leadership of leaders (supervisors and senior ICs)
• Functional ownership of carrier payables service, controls, and risk
• Vendor governance and managed-service delivery management
• Resource, capacity, and budget planning
• Cross-functional partnership and influence
• Analytics- and AI-informed performance management and strategy
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (especially Excel and Outlook); accounting, policy administration, CRM, and ticketing systems; SharePoint, Power BI, Power Apps and approved AI tools

Experience

• 10–12 years of experience in premium accounting, accounts payable, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience managing teams and managed-service delivery, ideally across geographies.
• Strong knowledge of insurance fiduciary operations and controls.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field required; equivalent experience considered.
• Relevant certifications (e.g., CPA, APA/AAP, or insurance designations) preferred.

Ryan Specialty is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building and sustaining a diverse workforce throughout the organization. Our vision is an inclusive and equitable workplace where all employees are valued for and evaluated on their performance and contributions. Differences in race, creed, color, religious beliefs, physical or mental capabilities, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation and many other characteristics bring together varied perspectives and add value to the service we provide our clients, trading partners, and communities. This policy extends to all aspects of our employment practices, including but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, discipline, firing, promoting, transferring, compensation, benefits, training, leaves of absence, and other terms, conditions, and benefits of employment.

Benefits

• Paid time off for company holidays, vacation, sick and personal days.
• Paid parental leave, mental health services and more.

The target salary range for this position is $84,735.00 - $100,000.00 annually. The wage range for this role considers many factors, such as training, transferable skills, work experience, licensure and certification, business needs, and market demands. The pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future.

Full-time roles are eligible for bonuses and benefits. For additional information on Ryan Specialty Total Rewards, visit our website https://benefits.ryansg.com/.

We provide individuals with disabilities reasonable accommodations to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment in accordance with applicable law. Please contact us to request an accommodation at [e-mail]. The above is intended to describe this job's general requirements. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or physical requirements. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

A multi-time winner of Newsweek’s Most Loved Workplaces and Insurance Business’s Top Insurance Employers, Ryan Specialty is home to some of the brightest talent in the insurance industry. Join our team and help provide innovative solutions for insurance brokers, agents and carriers.

Ryan Specialty, LLC and its affiliates (“Ryan Specialty”) do not accept unsolicited resumes or candidate profiles submitted by any staffing agencies, placement services or professional recruiters (“Agencies”), including any submissions made through our website or to email accounts of Ryan Specialty employees. Agencies must be registered in Ryan Specialty’s agency portal and have a fully executed contract for service between the Agency and the Agency. Agency fee agreements will only be valid if provided in such fully executed contract between the Agency and the Agency. Any unsolicited resume or candidate profile received from an Agency without prior approval from Ryan Specialty’s HR department and in compliance with Ryan Specialty’s candidate submission process shall be considered unsolicited, gratuitous and property of Ryan Specialty for recruiting purposes and, as such, is not subject to payment of any Agency fees.