Senior AP Accountant

CTwater; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 79,000 - 127,000; Full time

Job summary

H2O America is seeking a Senior AP Accountant to lead advanced accounts payable operations, ensuring regulatory compliance and operational excellence. This role oversees the AP lifecycle, including invoice processing, payments, vendor management, and journal entries, while mentoring junior staff and coordinating with Accounting leadership and ITS.

The position may require occasional domestic travel and is based in San Jose, CA with links to other US locations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 10+ years of relevant professional experience.
• Certifications as required by the team or management.
• Expertise in GAAP, AP, and bookkeeping best practices.
• Proficiency in general ledger, journal entries, and account reconciliations.
• SOX compliance and regulatory reporting knowledge.
• Experience with AP software such as Bottomline or TAP.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and leadership skills.
• Excellent communication and organizational abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the AP process including invoice processing and disbursements.
• Manage vendor statements reconciliation and discrepancies.
• Prepare payment runs (check, ACH, P-Card) ensuring accuracy.
• Oversee 1099 tax form filings and tax documentation.
• Lead month-end and year-end closes and provide robust reporting.
• Coordinate audits and SOX procedures.
• Mentor junior staff and coordinate cross-functional stakeholders.
• Occasional domestic travel as required.

Skills

GAAP

Accounts payable

General ledger

Journal entries

SOX compliance

Vendor management

Excel

ERP systems

Audit coordination

Financial analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Bottomline TAP

JD Edwards EnterpriseOne

Oracle ERP

QuickBooks

Job description

H2O America is actively seeking talented, driven and effective applicants for the position of Senior AP Accountant to join our dynamic team. We offer a challenging and rewarding work environment along with a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package.

H2O America is the parent organization of the following subsidiary companies: San Jose Water, Connecticut Water, Maine Water, and Texas Water. We sustain life by delivering high-quality water and exceptional service while investing in the health and vitality of the communities we serve.

The Accounts Payable (AP) team is part of the Accounting & Finance function and plays a critical role in maintaining compliance and operational excellence for H2O America. This team is responsible for ensuring vendors, suppliers, and service providers are paid accurately and on time. They serve as a business partner to the organization to support and train on the self-service features such as the AP invoice payment software and company credit card program. This team regularly troubleshoots issues and works with various stakeholders, including Accounting leadership and ITS, to improve the AP function.

Position Overview

This role is responsible for leading advanced accounts payable operations for H2O America to ensure financial integrity and regulatory compliance. This role oversees the accounts payable (AP) lifecycle, including invoice processing, payment disbursements, analysis, vendor management, and analysis/compliance, while developing complex journal entries and reconciliations. They lead month-end/year-end close activities, prepare robust financial reporting, and coordinate audits to strengthen controls and reduce risk. This role serves as a technical expert on AP software and mentors junior staff while building relationships with internal and external stakeholders to carry out coordinated fiscal operations. Success in this role requires technical expertise, strong leadership skills, and analytical skills to deliver compliance and operational excellence.

Occasional domestic travel may be required for this role.

Accounts Payable Responsibilities

• Leads the accounts payable process (incl. invoice processing, payment disbursement, vendor communications).
• Leads the reconciliation of vendor statements and resolves complex discrepancies.
• Oversees maintenance of vendor files (incl. vendor statements, aging reports).
• Prepares and executes payment runs (incl. check, ACH, P-Card disbursements) while ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Oversees and validates P-Card expense reconciliations.
• Ensures timely reporting and resolves complex discrepancies.
• Oversees personnel onboarding financial workflows by ensuring timely and accurate P-Card issuance and account setup for new hires.
• Manages the filing of 1099 tax forms and ensures that required tax documentation is collected and submitted in regulatory compliance.
• Builds and maintains relationships with vendors, internal teams, and external stakeholders.

Additional Responsibilities

• Leads complex reconciliations on AP ledger to the general ledger; acts as an escalation point, researches, and resolves high-level discrepancies.
• Ensures accurate financial records by posting complex journal entries, including AP accruals and adjustments.
• Executes AP month-end/year-end closes including trial balances, adjusting entries, and basic schedules.
• Leads month-end/year-end closes including overseeing trial balances, adjusting entries, and preparing schedules.
• Prepares and analyzes complex financial reports, statements, and summaries to support strategic decisions and submission to regulatory bodies (e.g., cash flow, aging reports, payment forecasts).
• Educates stakeholders on findings as needed.Leads and performs complex audit and SOX procedures (e.g., developing audit plans, coordinating auditor activities, preparing and delivering responses to complex inquiries).
• Ensures compliance with relevant policies, procedures, and regulatory standards.
• Provides guidance and recommends improvements to strengthen controls.
• Serves as a technical lead and mentor for junior staff.
• Required to complete occasional evening and weekend work to meet deadlines or address emergencies as needed.
• Performs other duties or special projects as required or assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 10+ years of relevant professional experience.
• Holds relevant certifications required for the team’s need or directed by management.
• Holds a valid Driver’s License.
• Expertise in GAAP, accounts payable, and bookkeeping best practices.
• Expertise in general ledger, journal entries, and account reconciliations.
• Subject matter expert in one or more aspects of accounts payable accounting.
• Expertise in accounts payable software (e.g., Bottomline, TAP).
• Experience coordinating audit processes and preparing relevant documentation.
• Expertise in general ledger, journal entries, and account reconciliations.
• Proficiency in financial data analysis and providing actionable insights into complex anomalies.
• Strong knowledge of sales and use tax, as well as unclaimed property filings.
• Deep understanding of SOX compliance and regulatory reporting requirements.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (e.g., Excel).
• Proficiency in ERP/accounting systems (e.g., JD Edwards EnterpriseOne, Bottomline Technologies, Insight, QuickBooks, Oracle).
• Strong stakeholder engagement and leadership skills.
• Excellent research and analytical skills.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.

Location

San Jose, CA, United States
New Braunfels, TX, United States
Saco, ME, United States
Cromwell, CT, United States

Salary

CT/ME:$64,796 -$103,673
CA:$79,174 -$126,721
TX:$59,884 -$95,815

EEO Statement

Our company provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.