Payables Accounting Manager

College of the Holy Cross; Worcester (MA); On-site; USD 88,000 - 93,000; Full time

Job summary

College of the Holy Cross is seeking a Payables Accounting Manager to lead the accounts payable team, ensure timely processing of all payments, and manage month-end close. You will improve internal controls and collaborate with auditors to support financial reporting.

Ideal candidates have a BS in accounting or business, 3–5 years in accounting (preference for higher education), and strong Excel and Workday skills. This full-time role is based on campus in Worcester, MA with standard benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or Accounting.
• 3–5 years' progressive responsibility in accounting, preferably in higher education.
• Comprehensive knowledge of payables regulations for higher education (IRS, federal, state).
• Demonstrated supervisory experience with a focus on quality customer service.
• Experience with ERP (Workday preferred) including electronic invoice and expense management.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and MS Office.

Responsibilities

• Lead accounts payable team and mentor staff to meet deadlines.
• Oversee weekly payables processing and various payment forms.
• Manage expense reporting in Workday and employee reimbursements.
• Coordinate monthly, quarterly and annual close for payables and liabilities.
• Collaborate with departments to process bulk payments and audits.
• Prepare work papers for audits and tax returns; liaise with auditors.
• Monitor internal controls and improve accounting policies and procedures.
• Research accounting rules and IRS changes; implement required updates.
• Identify opportunities to apply AI/automation in AP processes.
• Participate in special projects and system upgrades.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Advanced Excel

Workday ERP

Process improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or Accounting

Tools

Workday

Job description

Payables Accounting Manager

College of the Holy Cross

Full Time

JREQ-000850

At Holy Cross, we are focused on creating a world-class workforce by attracting and retaining employees dedicated to fostering a culture of professionalism, pride, mutual trust, and respect- one that values appreciation and recognition, empowering each of us to flourish both individually and collectively. We seek candidates who are inspired by our mission and values, and who are eager to make a meaningful difference on our campus. Learn more about Life at HolyCross here.

Responsible for providing professional accounting and tax services with a focus on strengthening policies, procedures and internal controls and improving customer service to the college community and external parties. This role works closely with the Assistant Controller providing assistance in the performance of various functions in the financial processing for the college including the supervision of staff with a high volume workload to meet monthly, quarterly and annual deadlines. Assistance is also required with preparation of financial statements, reports, tax returns and other data in compliance with applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, and higher education industry practices.

Major Areas of Responsibility

• Manage, supervise and cross-train staff in the areas of accounts payable. Manage workload to complete work accurately and within established deadlines. Establish goals and objectives, mentor staff, and provide timely feedback to enhance professional development.
• Manage all aspects of the weekly payables process including payments made in various electronic forms and by check.
• Manage all aspects of the expense reporting processes within Workday, including employee reimbursements processed in various electronic forms.
• Manage the monthly, quarterly and annual close process related to payables and liability accounts, ensuring that all transactions are reported timely and accurately and general ledger activity is reconciled accurately and timely.
• Coordinate and process one-off bulk payments for large groups(e.g., stipends, refunds, or event-related disbursements), managing relationships with departments across campus to ensure accurate and timely payment processing.
• Prepare work papers and gather documentation required for audit engagements and tax returns. Coordinate with internal staff and external auditors to meet all deadlines.
• Monitor internal controls and implement improvements to strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of internal controls. Assist with developing and documenting accounting policies and procedures.
• Perform accounting research, document conclusions, and assist in the implementation of new accounting rules and IRS regulations.
• Maintain the integrity of the vendor database working collaboratively with the procurement department.
• Identify and evaluate opportunities to leverage AI and automation tools to improve the efficiency and accuracy of accounts payable processes, such as invoice processing, data validation, and reporting.
• Actively participate in special projects as assigned. Projects may include but are not limited to testing system implementations, upgrades, or enhancements, conducting financial analysis and developing ad hoc reports and process improvement initiatives.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or Accounting and a minimum of 3 - 5 years' of progressive responsibility in accounting positions, preferably in a higher education environment.
• Comprehensive knowledge of accounting standards and regulations related to payables applicable to a higher education institution, including IRS, federal, and state.
• Demonstrated supervisory experience with a focus on quality customer service and team leadership and mentoring skills.
• Experience working with ERP (Workday preferred) including electronic invoice and expense management software.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel, with experience using other Microsoft applications.

Disclaimer: The description above represents the most significant duties of this position but does not exclude other occasional work assignments not mentioned, the inclusion of which would be inconformity with the factor degrees assigned.

The salary range for this position is $88,000 - $93,000 commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Weekly Hours: 40

Additional Information

To review our generous benefits options, please review our detailed information here or checkout our Benefits at a Glance.

The College also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities during the hiring process in compliance with law. Please contact Human Resources for questions or to request an accommodation via email at [e-mail], or by calling 508-793-3391.

The College is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and complies with all Federal and Massachusetts laws concerning Equal Opportunity in the workplace.