Interim Senior Accounts Payable Leader

Vaco; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Vaco Recruiter Services seeks an Interim Senior Manager of Accounts Payable to lead and support a high-volume AP function during a transitional period. The role requires hands-on leadership, ensuring smooth daily operations, staff guidance, and adherence to established processes.

The ideal candidate brings 10+ years in AP or related finance operations, experience managing AP staff, and a track record of maintaining service levels in fast-paced environments.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in Accounts Payable, Payment Operations, or Finance Operations.
• Experience managing and developing AP staff.
• Strong background overseeing high-volume AP operations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee full AP cycle: vendor onboarding, invoice coding, approvals, payments.
• Ensure timely, accurate processing of invoices and payments.
• Monitor AP workflows and escalate bottlenecks as needed.
• Support month-end close activities related to AP.
• Assist with exception handling and complex AP transactions.

Skills

AP leadership

High-volume AP

Staff development

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

Coupa

NetSuite

Job description

Position Overview

Our client is seeking an experienced Interim Senior Manager, Accounts Payable to provide hands-on leadership and operational support for a high-volume AP function. This individual will oversee day-to-day accounts payable operations, support an established team, and ensure processes continue to run smoothly during a transitional period.

This role is ideal for a seasoned AP leader who excels in execution, team support, and operational oversight. The successful candidate will be comfortable stepping into an existing environment, working within established processes and systems, and providing guidance to the team without driving large-scale organizational or process changes.

Key Responsibilities

Accounts Payable Operations

• Oversee the full accounts payable cycle, including vendor onboarding, invoice coding, approval routing, and payment processing.
• Ensure timely and accurate processing of invoices and payments.
• Monitor AP workflows and escalate issues or bottlenecks as needed.
• Support month-end close activities related to accounts payable.
• Assist with exception handling and complex AP transactions.

Corporate Card Program Administration

• Manage day-to-day administration of the corporate card program.
• Support card issuance, limit management, user maintenance, and employee offboarding.
• Monitor compliance with company policies and spending controls.
• Address cardholder inquiries and resolve issues in a timely manner.

Team Leadership & Support

• Provide daily direction and support to the AP team.
• Serve as a hands-on resource during periods of high volume, complexity, or staffing challenges.
• Help remove obstacles and ensure workflows continue to move efficiently.
• Partner with team members to maintain service levels and operational consistency.
• Coach and support employees while working within existing priorities and policies.

Risk Management & Controls

• Maintain adherence to established AP controls and approval procedures.
• Ensure proper segregation of duties and compliance with internal policies.
• Identify and escalate payment risks, fraud indicators, or control concerns.
• Support audit requests and documentation needs as required.

Qualifications

Required Experience

• 10+ years of experience in Accounts Payable, Payment Operations, or Finance Operations.
• Previous experience managing and developing AP staff.
• Strong background overseeing high-volume AP operations.
• Experience supporting cross-functional stakeholders and vendor relationships.

Preferred Experience

• Multi-entity accounts payable experience.
• Experience in fast-paced, growth-oriented environments.

Systems & Technical Skills

• Experience with Coupa is required.
• Experience with NetSuite strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of AP automation workflows and transaction processing.
• Comfortable operating within existing systems, controls, and established processes.
• Ability to identify operational issues and escalate concerns without redesigning workflows or implementing new systems.

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