Accounts Payable Specialist

KIPP Public Schools Northern California; Oakland (CA); Hybrid; USD 47,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Paid time off

Retirement plan

Commuter benefits

Job summary

KIPP NorCal in Oakland seeks an Accounts Payable Specialist (Associate) to ensure vendors and staff are paid accurately and on time, aligning with fiscal policy to safeguard the funds that support our public schools.

Reporting to the Controller and AP Manager, you will manage invoice processing, vendor records, and balance sheet activities, while supporting 1099 reporting and the transition from checks to ACH payments. Hybrid work is offered.

Qualifications

• 1–2 years of experience in accounts payable or another accounting role, including invoice processing and vendor payments.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or a related field, or equivalent education/experience.
• Working knowledge of AP processes, including GL coding, reimbursements, internal controls and 1099 reporting.
• Experience with Ramp, Sage Intacct or comparable systems preferred.

Responsibilities

• Process invoices in Ramp and Sage Intacct, assign bills to the correct entity, verify GL coding and required fields.
• Track bills pending approval and ensure timely vendor payments.
• Maintain accurate vendor records and respond to vendor inquiries to ensure secure payments.
• Complete AP journal entries and assist with month-end and year-end close.

Skills

Accounts payable

Vendor payments

Attention to detail

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

Tools

Ramp

Sage Intacct

Job description

Regional Support OfficeOakland,California

Role: Accounts Payable Specialist (Associate)

About KIPP NorCal

We are a thriving nonprofit network of 23 free, public charter schools open to all students. At KIPP, we believe all children should grow up free to create the future they want for themselves and that schools can and should be a critical factor in making that vision a reality. Together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose—college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world.

Our student community consists of nearly 7,000 elementary, middle, and high school students in East Palo Alto, Oakland, San Francisco, San Lorenzo, San José, Redwood City, and Stockton. 81% qualify for free or reduced price lunch, 34% are multilingual learners, and 12% have special needs. We strive to cultivate a representative team of teachers and leaders that reflect our students’ diversity.

Role Overview

The Accounts Payable Specialist ensures that KIPP NorCal's vendors and staff are paid accurately, on time and in line with fiscal policy, safeguarding the public funds that support our schools. Reporting to the Controller, with day-to-day direction from the AP Manager, this role maintains accurate accounts payable records and contributes to timely month-end and year-end closing processes for schools and Regional Support Office (RSO) departments. This role has no direct reports.

In this role, you execute assigned tasks with quality and on time, working within a scope set by others. You decide how to approach your work; you escal

Core Responsibilities

Accounts Payable

Execute invoice processing in Ramp, assigning each bill to the correct entity and verifying GL coding and required fields, so that bills move through approval without errors or rework.

Track bills pending school and RSO approval, vendor onboarding and outstanding checks each week, following through so vendors are paid accurately and on time.

Maintain accurate vendor records, including W-9s, validated bank details and payment methods, and respond to vendor payment inquiries to ensure secure payments and a steady shift from check to ACH.

Executes reviews of employee reimbursements, mileage submissions, and credit card transactions against established fiscal policies, escalating exceptions to the AP Manager.

EOM and EOY Closing

Complete assigned AP-related journal entries and manual checks in Sage Intacct accurately and on schedule so month-end and year-end close stay on track.

Completes assigned AP and payroll balance sheet reconciliations, collaborating with Accounts Receivable, to ensure financial records are accurate and audit-ready.

Supports annual 1099 reporting by completing

annual 1099 review and support 1096 and 1099 filings so the organization meets IRS reporting requirements.

Maintains organized

AP records and follow internal controls to ensure compliance with fiscal policy, grant regulations and public funding requirements.

Stakeholder Support and Process Improvement

Support school and department staff on AP policies, deadlines and systems so payment requests are coded correctly and submitted on time.

Contribute ideas that reduce manual work and strengthen AP workflows, and support special projects as assigned.

These competencies describe the core leadership behaviors expected at this level–they guide how we hire, develop, and grow our people at KIPP NorCal.

Lead Self: You seek feedback, reflect on your strengths and growth areas, and build the job-specific skills needed to do your work well.

Lead People: You lead with integrity, follow through on commitments, and collaborate openly — contributing to team purpose and bringing others along.

Lead Results: You manage your workload, meet deadlines, solve routine problems, and escal thoughtfully when something is beyond your scope.

Knowledge & Skills

Required Qualifications

Experience

1–2 years of experience in accounts payable or another accounting role, including invoice processing and vendor payments.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Knowledge/skills

Working knowledge of AP processes, including GL coding, reimbursements, internal controls and 1099 reporting.

Ability to use accounting software, spreadsheets, and digital recordkeeping systems to process transactions, maintain accurate records, and meet deadlines.

Strong attention to detail and clear communication with vendors and non-finance colleagues.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in a nonprofit, school or publicly funded organization.

Familiarity with nonprofit accounting, month-end close and audit preparation.

Familiarity with Ramp, Sage Intacct, or comparable accounts payable and accounting systems.

The following details describe how this role is structured and what to expect day-to-day.

Work Setting

Hybrid

Back-end support

Driver’s License

Not required

Physical Demands

Ability to navigate office and school campuses, use technology, and occasionally lift or carry materials [up to 20 lbs].

Mental Demands

Ability to manage competing priorities, concentrate for sustained periods, analyze complex information, and make decisions under normal work pressures.

Office/RSO environment subject to regular interruptions and distractions

KIPP Northern California is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Compensation

KIPP Northern California is dedicated to you and your family's well-being! We offer a competitive salary as well as a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits include

• medical
• dental
• vision coverage
• paid time off
• retirement plan with employer contribution
• commuter benefits

We benchmark annually against comparably-sized non-profit organizations in the regions where we operate, to offer competitive salaries. The hourly rate for this position is between $34.13 and $40.38. Most candidates will be compensated at $35.58

KIPP Northern California Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, ethnicity, color, national origin or ancestry, cultural background, religious creed, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital/registered domestic partner status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, primary language, citizenship or immigration status, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.