Associate Director, Accounts Payable

biomarin; San Rafael (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

biomarin seeks an Associate Director, U.S. Accounts Payable to lead US AP operations and drive global process improvements across STP initiatives.

The role ensures scalable controls, strong service delivery, and seamless collaboration with Global AP, Procurement, Treasury, Accounting, and IT teams. This leader will advance AP standardization, automation, and AI-enabled opportunities while supporting SOX compliance, change management, and training to uplift the AP function during transformation

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive Accounts Payable experience with leadership responsibility.
• Strong knowledge of AP operations, internal controls, SOX, and the financial reporting impacts of AP transactions.
• Experience with ERP/AP technology platforms, including SAP and Ariba.
• Proven ability to lead teams, develop employees, and drive operational excellence in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong analytical, project management, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to leverage metrics and reporting to improve performance and service delivery.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and build effective business partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Lead U.S. Accounts Payable operations, including managing the team in charge of invoice processing, supplier inquiries, payment execution, issue resolution, month-end close support, audit support, and business partnership activities.
• Manage and develop AP team members, ensuring effective workload distribution, customer service, accountability, and operational continuity.
• Oversee outsourced AP processing activities and serve as the senior escalation point for suppliers, business partners, and payment-related issues.
• Review and approve payment runs and oversee AP metrics, reporting, aging, and operational performance to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Support AP-related close activities, SOX compliance, audit requests and other regulatory requirements.
• Lead global AP process improvement initiatives focused on standardization, controls, scalability, automation, and service delivery.
• Serve as a key liaison across Global AP, Procurement, Supplier Management, Treasury, Accounting and Digital Technology and AI teams for AP-related projects, system enhancements, automation and transformation initiatives.
• Lead AP integration activities and provide subject-matter expertise for ERP enhancements, workflow optimization, reporting improvements, and other digital transformation efforts.
• Identify and advance AI-enabled opportunities within AP, including intelligent invoice processing, exception management, workflow automation, analytics, and controls monitoring to improve efficiency, accuracy, and scalability.
• Support change management, process documentation, training, and adoption of AP process and system changes.

Skills

Leadership

AP Operations

Analytical skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field

Tools

SAP

Ariba

Job description

SUMMARY

The Associate Director, U.S. Accounts Payable (AP) will provide leadership for U.S. AP operations and help drive global AP process improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency, scalability, controls, and service delivery. The role will be responsible for the overall performance of the U.S. AP function, including operational execution, team development, stakeholder support, compliance, automation and continuous improvement.

In addition, this role will serve as the key AP representative for global Source-to-Pay (STP) transformation, process standardization, system enhancements, and integration activities, including acting as a liaison between Global AP teams, Procurement, Supplier Management, Treasury, Accounting, and Digital Technology & AI teams. The role will partner closely with cross‑functional stakeholders to drive process improvements, strengthen end‑to‑end AP processes, and support business continuity, control compliance, and operational readiness through periods of transformation.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead U.S. Accounts Payable operations, including managing the team in charge of invoice processing, supplier inquiries, payment execution, issue resolution, month‑end close support, audit support, and business partnership activities.
• Manage and develop AP team members, ensuring effective workload distribution, customer service, accountability, and operational continuity.
• Oversee outsourced AP processing activities and serve as the senior escalation point for suppliers, business partners, and payment‑related issues.
• Review and approve payment runs and oversee AP metrics, reporting, aging, and operational performance to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Support AP‑related close activities, SOX compliance, audit requests and other regulatory requirements.
• Lead global AP process improvement initiatives focused on standardization, controls, scalability, automation, and service delivery.
• Serve as a key liaison across Global AP, Procurement, Supplier Management, Treasury, Accounting and Digital Technology and AI teams for AP‑related projects, system enhancements, automation and transformation initiatives.
• Lead AP integration activities and provide subject‑matter expertise for ERP enhancements, workflow optimization, reporting improvements, and other digital transformation efforts.
• Identify and advance AI‑enabled opportunities within AP, including intelligent invoice processing, exception management, workflow automation, analytics, and controls monitoring to improve efficiency, accuracy, and scalability.
• Support change management, process documentation, training, and adoption of AP process and system changes.

EXPERIENCE DESIRED

• 10+ years of progressive Accounts Payable experience, including leadership responsibility for AP operations, controls, and service delivery.
• Strong knowledge of Accounts Payable operations, internal controls, SOX compliance, and the financial reporting impacts of AP‑related transactions.
• Experience working with ERP and AP technology platforms, including SAP and Ariba.
• Proven ability to lead teams, develop employees, and drive operational excellence in a fast‑paced environment.
• Strong analytical, project management, and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to leverage metrics and reporting to improve performance and service delivery.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to influence cross‑functional stakeholders and build effective business partnerships.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field

NOTE

Note: This description is not intended to be all‑inclusive, or a limitation of the duties of the position. It is intended to describe the general nature of the job that may include other duties as assumed or assigned.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER / VETERANS / DISABLED

An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

IRELAND SAFETY RESPONSIBILITY

Support the organization’s commitment to environmental protection, injury prevention, and continual improvement of EHS management systems. Actively contribute to a safe and environmentally responsible workplace by identifying hazards, reporting incidents and participating in EHS initiatives and training.