Accounts Payable Manager

H2O America; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 142,000 - 173,000; Full time

Job summary

San Jose Water Company in San Jose, CA seeks an Accounts Payable Manager to lead the AP function, drive accuracy, and ensure timely disbursements. The role covers vendor data governance, payment strategies, and internal control adherence.

The ideal candidate has a strong accounting background, proven leadership, and experience with AP processes and ERP systems. This full-time role includes occasional travel and a competitive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 10+ years of relevant accounting experience.
• CPA license preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading technical or cross‑functional teams.
• Expertise in GAAP, accounts payable, and bookkeeping best practices.
• Expertise in accounts payable processes (1099 reporting, invoice coding, 3‑way match, and payment processing).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and ERP systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead day‑to‑day accounts payable operations (invoice intake, coding, approvals, payment disbursements, vendor communications).
• Oversee AP workflows to ensure accuracy, timeliness and compliance.
• Oversee vendor master data governance and 1099 reporting.
• Direct and schedule AP month/quarter/year-end close processes.
• Provide cash‑flow projections and spend analyses to inform leadership.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Project management

Vendor management

Analytical skills

GAAP knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree

CPA license preferred

Tools

Bottomline

TAP

JD Edwards Enterprise One

Bottomline Technologies

Insight

QuickBooks

Oracle

Job description

Annual Salary

Founded in 1866, San Jose Water Company is an investor owned water company headquartered in Silicon Valley. With a service area of 140 square miles, it is one of the largest and most technically sophisticated urban water system in the United States. We serve over 1 million people with high quality, life sustaining water, with an emphasis on exceptional customer service.

Job Title

Accounts Payable Manager

Requisition ID

req1200

Type of Employment

Regular Full-Time Employee

Job Openings

1

Compensation Range

141,953.00 - 173,498.00

Compensation Type

Annual Salary

Founded in 1866, San Jose Water Company is an investor owned water company headquartered in Silicon Valley. With a service area of 140 square miles, it is one of the largest and most technically sophisticated urban water system in the United States. We serve over 1 million people with high quality, life sustaining water, with an emphasis on exceptional customer service.

We are actively seeking talented, driven and highly-productive applicants for the position of Accounts Payable Manager to join our dynamic team. We offer a challenging and rewarding work environment along with a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package.

Department Overview

The Accounts Payable (AP) team is part of the Accounting & Finance function and plays a critical role in maintaining compliance and operational excellence for H2O America. This team is responsible for ensuring vendors, suppliers, and service providers are paid accurately and on time. They serve as a business partner to the organization to support and train on the self-service features such as the AP invoice payment software and company credit card program. This team regularly troubleshoots issues and works with various stakeholders, including Accounting leadership and ITS, to improve the AP function.

Position Overview

This role is responsible for managing day-to-day accounts payable operations to ensure compliant enterprise financial disbursement activities. This role leads the accounts payable function, from managing invoice flow and vendor data governance to guiding payment strategies, strengthening adherence to internal controls, and upholding financial integrity. This role manages a high-performing team to drive operational excellence, in addition to advancing process improvements and coordination of AP-related audit procedures. This role contributes to financial planning by providing AP-related cash-flow insights, analysis of spending trends, and advising leadership on AP-related compliance, performance, and operational impacts. Success in this role blends technical expertise, strategic thinking, and collaborative leadership to support efficient operations and the enterprise’s overall financial health.

Occasional domestic travel may be required for this role.

Key Responsibilities

• Leads day-to-day accounts payable operations (incl. invoice intake, coding, approval workflows, payment disbursements, vendor communications).
• Manages and prioritizes the accounts payable workflows to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and compliance.
• Oversees vendor reconciliation activities including maintenance and governance of vendor master data (incl. Vendor files, aging schedules, tax documentation, compliance records) and resolution of any complex discrepancies.
• Supervises preparation and execution of payment runs (e.g. check, ACH, wire, P-Card disbursements).
• Oversees company P-Card program administration (e.g. card issuance, account setup, timely resolution of discrepancies).
• Oversees end-to-end 1099 reporting while ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant filings.

Additional Responsibilities

• Oversees complex reconciliations for the AP ledger to the general ledger. Acts as escalation point for complex discrepancies and establishes standards for escalation and review.
• Conducts reviews for complex journal entries, including AP accruals and adjustments, to ensure accuracy and compliance. Posts journal entries as needed.
• Directs and schedules AP month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes (incl. AP ledger maintenance, reconciliations, adjustments, complex schedules).
• Provides cash-flow projections by analyzing upcoming payment obligations, vendor terms, and historical disbursement patterns.
• Manages a team of accounting staff in the production of accounting deliverables. Performs hiring, mentoring, and performance decisions to build high-performing teams.
• Leads development and review of complex financial reports to support strategic decisions (e.g. cost reports, AP aging, audit documentation).
• Develops strategies to strengthen accounting processes, enhance internal controls, and minimize liabilities.
• Coordinate complex audit procedures relating to AP processes (incl. Preparing responses to complex inquiries). Provides analysis and reports and presents data as requested to various groups, including leadership.
• Serves as liaison with internal department and external agencies as it relates to accounts payable operations, as needed.
• Assists in development of financial strategic plan, as needed.
• Manages AP-related spending trends and communicates analysis of actual versus budget variances to management.
• Regularly educates stakeholders and senior leaders on AP topics and financial insights to inform strategic decision making.
• Builds and maintains relationships with vendors, staff, and stakeholders to support organizational objectives.
• Assists in the implementation of software and system upgrades, as needed.
• Oversees AP module improvements and integrations between enterprise accounting systems, as needed.
• Manages organizational cash-management tools, as needed.
• Conducts research on latest developments on accounts payable related regulations, standards, and best practices. Advises management and related stakeholders on accounting compliance impact.
• Makes recommendations for process improvements to increase efficiency.
• Required to complete occasional evening and weekend work to meet deadlines or address emergencies as needed.
• Performs other duties or special projects as required or assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and/or 10+ years of relevant professional experience with progressively increased levels of responsibility.
• Holds relevant certifications required for the team’s need or directed by management.
• CPA license preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading technical or cross‑functional teams.
• Expertise in GAAP, accounts payable, and bookkeeping best practices.
• Expertise in accounts payable processes (e.g. 1099 reporting, invoice coding, 3‑way match, and payment processing).
• Expertise in accounts payable software (e.g. Bottomline, TAP).
• Expertise in ERP/accounting systems (e.g. JD Edwards Enterprise One, Bottomline Technologies, Insight, QuickBooks, Oracle).
• Strong expertise in journal entries and account reconciliations.
• Experience coordinating audit processes and preparing relevant documentation.
• Experience in budget development, monitoring, and forecasting.
• Expertise in accounts payable financial data analysis and providing actionable insights into complex anomalies.
• Deep understanding of accounts payable related compliance, internal controls (e.g. SOX) and regulatory reporting requirements.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (e.g. Excel).
• Strong skills in stakeholder engagement, vendor management, and project management.
• Strong research, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills.

EEO Statement

Our company provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.