Accounts Payable Specialist Placentia, CA Posted March 16, 2026

Coast Southwest, Inc.; Placentia (CA); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Coast Southwest, Inc. is seeking an Accounts Payable professional to manage trade payables, expense reports, and vendor inquiries across the company. You will ensure accurate coding, timely processing, and compliance with internal controls.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree in Finance or Accounting and 3–5 years of AP experience, with strong data entry and Excel skills; familiarity with Chempax by Datacor is a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance or Accounting is required.
• 3–5 years of accounts payable experience.
• Solid understanding of general accounting practices and procedures.
• ERP experience (Chempax by Datacor) preferred.
• Proficient Microsoft Office skills (Excel, Word).

Responsibilities

• Process trade and general payables with emphasis on timely invoicing and payment.
• Route invoices for PO matching when needed.
• Review and audit employee expense reports and reimbursements for accuracy and authorization.
• Code and voucher invoices after approvals.
• Communicate with vendors to resolve invoice discrepancies and past due payments.
• Maintain vendor files and reconcile payable documents in the system.
• Support month-end close and maintain confidentiality of information.

Skills

Data entry

Attention to detail

Verbal and written communication

Multitasking

Organizational skills

Problem solving

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance or Accounting

Tools

Chempax by Datacor

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Job description

The Accounts Payable position is responsible for processing trade payables, overhead invoices, expense reports, and credit card statements for the entire company. The Accounts Payable works with all internal departments and trade partners to ensure appropriate payments are made, and responds to internal and external accounts payable inquiries.

Essential Job duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage trade and related payables, with a strong focus on scheduling and processing invoices.
• Process incoming invoices (if needed, re-route to appropriate department for purchase order matching).
• Review, audit, and process employee expense reports, employee travel reports, and reimbursements for accuracy, documentation, proper authorization, and compliance with policies.
• Audit a variety of documents for mathematical accuracy, proper coding and authorization, documentation, completeness, timeliness, and compliance with regulations, policies, and guidelines.
• Code and voucher invoices once proper backup and approvals are obtained.
• Work directly with purchasing, accounting, and management teams to obtain necessary approvals and resolve variances in payable documentations.
• Maintains a variety of accounting/financial records and documents within the accounts payable section; reconciles information and creates adjusting payable entries for posting to the financial system.
• Interact with vendors regarding past due invoices, credit claims, incorrect invoices, or other payable issues.
• Maintain vendor/supplier files by performing regular audits to ensure accuracy.
• Maintain accounts payable files, including weekly filing of paid invoices.
• Ability to communicate with vendors, alleviate escalated issues, challenges, or concerns.
• Perform accurately within deadlines under limited supervision.
• Prioritize and handle multiple projects at once, particularly during the month and year-end.
• General clerical duties as related to job responsibilities (data entry, collating, photocopying, scanning, filing, etc.).
• Other duties and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in Finance or Accounting.
• Minimum of 3 to 5 years of accounts payable experience.
• Solid understanding of general accounting practices, procedures, and principles.
• Distribution or manufacturing experience is a plus.
• Ability to work in a deadline-oriented environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Exceptional data entry skills with a high degree of accuracy.
• Must be organized with the ability to multitask and prioritize responsibilities.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with cross-functional departments.
• Problem-solving skills and ability to handle billing inquiries or disputes professionally.
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Must demonstrate professional communication and strong teamwork skills.
• Experience with high-volume invoice processing and payment cycles.
• Prior experience reconciling vendor statements. • Knowledge of ERP systems (Chempax by Datacor) preferred, but not required.
• Proficient Microsoft Office skills (i.e., Excel, Word, etc.) as well as the ability to learn new software programs.

The demands of this job include:

• The physical and mental capacity to effectively perform all essential job duties and responsibilities.
• Must be able to concentrate on details, work under deadline pressures, apply sound logic and judgement, and prioritize tasks and responsibilities.
• Must be able to focus and multi-task in a busy environment and maintain composure in potentially stressful situations.
• Maintain effective and professional relationships with executives, staff, customers, vendors, and governmental agencies.
• Access to and maintenance of confidential and sensitive information.
• Must undergo and meet company standards for background checks, drug testing, and behavioral assessments.
• Employee is regularly required to sit, stand, and walk.
• Ability to verbally communicate both in person and via telephone.
• Ability to utilize various office equipment, including computer, telephone, and copy machine.
• Occasional lifting and/or moving of up to 10 pounds.