Accounts Payable Specialist

Wake Forest University; United States; On-site; USD 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Wake Forest University is seeking an Accounts Payable Specialist to support Payment Services and Campus Financial Services. You will process invoices and expense-related transactions, ensure accuracy, and help educate stakeholders on P2P processes.

The role emphasizes customer service, compliance, and continuous process improvement. The position requires handling my high-volume AP tasks, reconciling statements, and collaborating with campus partners.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, or related field and two years of relevant professional experience or equivalent.
• Experience in a high-volume Accounts Payable or financial operations environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of customer service principles and relationship management.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple assignments while meeting deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Process and analyze financial transactions, including invoices and expense reports, to ensure compliance with policies and regulations.
• Review supporting documentation for accuracy and completeness; identify discrepancies and escalate as needed.
• Perform PCard reconciliations and assist with monthly financial reports.
• Handle customer inquiries and educate stakeholders on P2P policies and procedures.
• Build relationships with university departments, suppliers, and external partners to improve service quality and processes.
• Identify opportunities to reduce errors and improve internal controls.

Skills

Customer service

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

ERP systems

Excel

Problem solving

Education

Associate's degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Workday Financial Management

ERP systems

Job description

Job Description Summary

The Accounts Payable Specialist serves as a shared resource between Payment Services and Campus Financial Services (CFS), providing high-quality transactional processing, compliance support, customer service, and financial operations support. The position is responsible for processing and validating Accounts Payable and other assigned transactions in accordance with federal and state tax regulations, University policies and procedures, established Procurement and Payment Services (P2P) procedures, and applicable internal control requirements. The position applies sound judgment and critical thinking to resolve transactional issues, investigate discrepancies, identify exceptions, and provide timely and accurate guidance to internal and external stakeholders. This position supports CFS by processing assigned invoices and expense-related transactions, monitoring financial activity, responding to customer inquiries, and educating CFS colleagues on P2P processes. As a shared resource, the position also performs assigned Payment Service transactional activities based on business needs, workload, transaction volumes, and established priorities. These responsibilities may include invoice and expense report processing, match exception processing, and other duties that support department operations. The position identifies opportunities to improve processes, reduce rework, strengthen internal controls, and increase operational efficiency. The position also assists the Assistant Director or Director of P2P Operations with special projects, process improvements, and operational initiatives designed to enhance service delivery and strengthen the procure-to-pay environment.

Job Description Essential Functions

Process and analyze financial transactions, such as invoices, expense reports, student disbursements, customer invoices, etc., to ensure compliance with applicable federal and state tax regulations, University policies and procedures, P2P policies and procedures, and established internal control requirements. Review supporting documentation, electronic transactions, worktags, tax treatment, purchase order information, and other required information for accuracy and completeness; identify discrepancies, exceptions, or transactions requiring additional review or escalation. Research, interpret, and apply tax regulations to transactional data to determine potential taxable income implications, and apply established procedures when processing transactions. Process assigned Campus Financial Services invoices and support related financial activities, including monitoring open invoices, tracking outstanding liabilities, performing monthly Purchasing Card (PCard) reconciliations, and assisting with monthly financial reports. Perform assigned P2P transactional activities based on workload, business needs, and established priorities. Activities may include invoice processing, expense report processing, transaction research, transaction management, customer inquiries, reconciliations, and other routine transactional responsibilities. Build and maintain effective relationships with Campus Financial Services customers, University departments, suppliers, and external partners by providing exceptional customer service, responding to inquiries, and educating stakeholders on Procurement and Payment Services policies and procedures. Identify opportunities to reduce errors, improve processes, recommend solutions to reduce rework, improve transaction quality, strengthen internal controls, and enhance operational efficiency. Follow established segregation of duties and internal control requirements, including appropriately escalating transactions or activities that require independent review, approval, or additional oversight. Assist with the development and maintenance of travel, business expense, Accounts Payable, and other applicable procedures; participate in departmental initiatives and special projects as assigned. Serve as the designated P2P contact for assigned supplier and customer relationships supporting Campus Financial Service operations. Attend required meetings, trainings, and perform other P2P and CFS duties as assigned.

Required Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Associate's degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, or a related field and two years of relevant professional experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.


• Experience working in a high-volume Accounts Payable or financial operations environment.


• Demonstrated knowledge of customer service principles and relationship management.


• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.


• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.


• Ability to prioritize multiple assignments while meeting established deadlines.


• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.


• Ability to exercise sound judgment and critical thinking when resolving complex issues.


• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team‑oriented environment.


• Proficiency with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.


• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other business software.


• Proficiency using a 10‑key calculator or numeric keypad.

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Professional certification through the Institute of Finance & Management (IOFM) or another nationally recognized Accounts Payable or financial management organization.


• Experience working in higher education or another highly regulated financial environment.


• Experience with Workday Financial Management.


• Knowledge of procurement, travel, expense reimbursement, and Accounts Payable processes.

Accountabilities

This position is responsible for independently managing assigned responsibilities, exercising sound judgment in decision‑making, maintaining the confidentiality of financial information, and ensuring work is completed accurately, timely, and in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and University policies. As a shared resource, the position is accountable for effectively supporting both P2P and CFS. Work assignments and priorities will be established based on business needs, transaction volumes, service requirements, and the shared‑service operating model.

Additional Job Description Time Type Requirement Full time

Note to Applicant: This position profile identifies the key responsibilities and expectations for performance. It cannot encompass all specific job tasks that an employee may be required to perform. Employees are required to follow any other job‑related instructions and perform job‑related duties as may be reasonably assigned by his/her supervisor. In order to provide a safe and productive learning and living community, Wake Forest University conducts background investigations and drug screens for all final staff candidates being considered for employment.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified candidates to apply without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability and military or veteran status.

Accommodations for Applicants

If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact [e-mail] or [phone].

About WFU

Wake Forest University, formed in 1834, has experienced decades of growth and innovation. WFU is a distinctive university that combines a liberal arts core with graduate and professional schools and innovative research programs. The University embraces the teacher‑scholar ideal, which prizes the personal interaction between students and faculty. It is a place where exceptional teaching, fundamental research and discovery, and the engagement of faculty and students in the classroom and the laboratory are paramount. Wake Forest University is a community that seeks the enlightenment and freedom which come through diligent study and learning. Its higher goal, however, is to give life to the University motto "Pro Humanitate," as members translate a passion for knowledge into compassionate service. The community shares a tradition that embraces freedom and integrity and acknowledges the worth of the individual. The heritage, established by the school's founders and nurtured by succeeding generations, promotes a democratic spirit arising from open‑mindedness and discourse. Wake Forest fosters compassion and caring for others. Its collective strength and character are derived from the values and distinctive experiences of each individual; therefore, it affirms the richness of human intellect and culture and its contribution to knowledge, faith, reason, and dialogue. Furthermore, it strives toward a society in which good will, respect, and equality prevail. To that end, Wake Forest University rejects hatred and bigotry in any form and promotes justice, honor, and mutual trust. The University is comprised of: the undergraduate college, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Divinity, School of Law, and School of Medicine (located on the Bowman Gray campus with Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center) and today enrolls about 4,846 undergraduates and 2,823 students in graduate programs at its principal location, the Reynolda campus. Students at Wake Forest University enjoy a great deal of access to and interaction with world‑class faculty both in and out of the classroom setting with a student‑faculty ratio of 11:1. Wake Forest employs approximately 2,772 full and part‑time faculty and staff. Wake Forest is a collegiate university offering a vibrant, intellectual community with a rich cultural life, an impressive array of facilities, and a strong athletics program competing in the fifteen‑team Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Since its founding, the university has adopted the motto “pro humanitate,” which is exemplified by a deep institutional commitment to public service and engagement with the world. Wake Forest has a strong commitment to holistic, eight‑dimensional well‑being for students, faculty and staff as evidenced in the Thrive initiative. Winston‑Salem, North Carolina Wake Forest is located in Winston‑Salem, North Carolina, a beautiful, mid‑sized city centrally located in the Piedmont‑Triad region of North Carolina. Winston‑Salem is a family‑friendly city with high quality schools, numerous outdoor recreational activities and events, and is known for its vibrant and thriving arts scene. Winston‑Salem residents enjoy close proximity to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains (1.5 hours) and Atlantic beaches (4 hours), a moderate climate with four distinct seasons, a very reasonable cost of living, and an eclectic variety of restaurants, wine bars, and breweries for dining with friends and family. Winston‑Salem offers many of the amenities of a large city but with the sense of community and quality of life of a smaller town.