Director Accounting Operations

All Aviation Jobs; SeaTac (WA); On-site; USD 173,000 - 267,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free stand-by travel privileges

Travel credits annually

Well-being programs including medical,

401k match

Annual bonus

Generous paid time off

Job summary

Alaska Airlines seeks a Director of Accounting Operations to set strategy and oversee AP and fuel accounting for Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. Lead modernization projects in payables, align with Finance Systems and Supply Chain, and scale teams for growth.

The role requires 8+ years AP experience, 5+ years in leadership, and a Bachelor's in business/finance/accounting. Strong PM, change management, and communication skills are essential.

Qualifications

• 8 years of Accounts Payable experience in a complex environment.
• 5 years leadership experience with at least 2 years leading people.
• Experience in project management delivering process transformation and systems implementation in AP/Procure to Pay.
• Change management across project lifecycle and ability to embed solutions into BAU processes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead accounts payable function and ensure high-quality service delivery.
• Oversee fuel accounting and transaction processing and resolve billing discrepancies.
• Own procure-to-pay automation and digitization efforts across P2P processes.
• Monitor analytics and key metrics to assess finance function health.
• Act as escalation point for vendors and internal stakeholders on payment issues.
• Promote collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement in Accounting Operations.
• Mentor team members and create development opportunities.

Skills

Accounts Payable

Leadership

Project Management

Change Management

Communication

Organization

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in business/finance/accounting or related discipline

Tools

ERP Systems

P2P Tools

Finance Systems

Job description

Company: Alaska Airlines The Team:
Guided by our purpose, core values, and leadership principles, we are creating an airline people love. Our corporate teams set the strategies and operational plans to ensure the success of our company. Whether we use our expertise in accounting, human resources, finance, planning, legal, marketing, or any of our operational divisions, our shared passion for travel and our guests is what motivates us to achieve excellence each day. If you share our passion for creating an airline people love, we want to hear from you.

Role Summary

The Director, Accounting Operations, establishes the long-term strategy and the financial performance for accounting operations and oversees the accounts payable and fuel accounting functions at Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. This role establishes strategic goals and direction and is charged with delivering modernization projects for the organization’s payables function, and partners with peers in Finance Systems and Supply Chain to deliver a cohesive vision for modernization of the procure-to-pay process. As a people leader, the Director is charged with ensuring the team and processes are scalable as needed to support growth plans.

Key Duties

• Leads the accounts’ payable function and is responsible for the overall quality of service delivery from accounts payable to the organization.
• Leads fuel accounting function which handles transaction processing of fuel-related activities, ensuring timely payments and resolution of billing discrepancies.
• Owns and partners on procure-to-pay automation, digitization, and process transformation, as well as utilizing broad knowledge of supplier management, accounts payable, payment processing, to oversee key policies and compliance within this process.
• Utilizes monitoring, analytics, and key metrics to measure the health of the functions under purview.
• Acts as an escalation point of contact for both external (suppliers) and internal (Treasury, Supply Chain, Operations) stakeholders to address vendor and payment issues in a timely manner.
• Champions a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement within Accounting Operations. Models and encourages open, honest, and direct communications.
• Leverages work downward to optimally utilize subject matter experts and to create development opportunities for team members at all levels.
• Manages and reviews the accurate and timely performance of month end processes, including review of key reconciliations, for the Accounts Payable organization.
• Supports other departments across Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines as well as external auditors, ensuring conflicts and questions are resolved as they arise.

Job-Specific Experience, Education & Skills

Required

• 8 years of Accounts Payable experience within a complex business environment.
• 5 years leadership experience, with at least 2 years directly leading people.
• Bachelor’s degree with a focus in business administration, finance, accounting, or a related discipline, or an additional two years of relevant training/experience in lieu of this degree.
• Experience in project management, successfully delivering process transformation and systems implementation in an Accounts Payable and Procure to Pay environment.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver on significant change efforts and influence across multiple divisions.
• Change management experience across the project lifecycle, including the ability to deal with issues when they arise and embed solutions into business-as-usual processes.
• Consistently productive, positive presence along with strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organization, interpersonal, and leadership skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and thrive in a rapidly changing, collaborative environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum age of 18.
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S.

Preferred

• Experience with accounting and finance process transformation and system implementations.
• Experience with modern procure-to-pay tools and technology solutions.
• Proficiency with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems.
• Experience leading union represented workers.

Job-Specific Leadership Expectations

• Embody our values to own safety, do the right thing, be caring and kind, and deliver performance.
• Strong communication (e.g., verbal, written, presentation) and interpersonal skills, with the ability to create collaborative relationships that drive outcomes in the best interest of the company, with others in the organization, and with key external business partners.
• Proven ability to leverage business acumen and analytic capability to position the organization as a critical business partner.
• Ability to engage with and establish credibility with business partners at the most senior/executive level.

Salary Range

$172,550 - $267,450 / year Total Target Compensation Range (incl. bonus & equity): $224,314 - $347,684 Salary Details:

The pay range and total target compensation package listed above is the expected pay offered for this position at the start of employment. Your pay will be based on multiple factors, including and not limited to location, your relevant experience/level, experience level, and skillset while balancing internal equity relative to other Alaska/Hawaiian/Horizon employees. Alaska/Hawaiian/Horizon is committed to fair, unbiased compensation along with competitive benefits in all locations in which we operate.

Note: We don't typically hire at the top of the range.

Total Rewards

Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air pay and benefits can vary by company, location, number of regularly scheduled hours worked, length of employment, and employment status.

• Free stand-by travel privileges on Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines & Horizon Air with high priority status
• Select number of confirmed travel credits provided annually
• Comprehensive well-being programs including medical, dental and vision benefits
• Generous 401k match program
• Annual bonus plans
• Generous holiday and paid time off

For more information about Alaska/Hawaiian/Horizon TotalRewards please visit our career site and view benefits.

Regulatory Information

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement

It is the policy of Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment and to ensure equal opportunity in all terms, conditions, and benefits of employment or potential employment.

We also prohibit discrimination and harassment against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected categories.

We have established an EEO Compliance Program under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (“Section 503”) and the Vietnam Era Veteran’s Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (“VEVRAA”). All applicants and employees are treated without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. In addition, we have established an audit and reporting system to allow for effective measurement of its equal employment opportunity activities.

To Implement This Policy, We Will

• Recruit, hire, train and promote qualified persons in all job titles, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information and any other legally protected categories;
• Ensure that employment decisions are based only on valid job requirements; and
• Ensure that all personnel actions and employment activities such as compensation, benefits, promotions, layoffs, return from layoff, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Horizon Air sponsored programs, and tuition assistance will be administered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected categories.

Government Contractor & Department of Transportation (DOT) Regulations

Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines & Horizon Air are regulated by the Department of Transportation (DOT – regulations, 49 CFR part 40) and all applicants are advised that post-offer and/or pre-employment drug testing will be conducted to determine the presence of marijuana, cocaine, opioids, phencyclidine (PCP) and amphetamines or a metabolite of these drugs prior to any offer or employment or transfer into a safety-sensitive position. Failure to submit to testing or positive indications of drug use will render the applicant ineligible for employment with Alaska Airlines/Hawaiian Airlines/Horizon Air and any employment offer will be withdrawn.

FLSA Status: Exempt Employment Type: Full-Time Regular/Temporary: Regular Requisition Type: Management Location: Seattle - Gold Coast Center (GCC) Featured Job: 0 L: