Sr. Manager, AP Operations

NJ TRANSIT; Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive Family Health Insurance

Flexible Spending Account

Life Insurance

Paid Leave

Tuition Assistance

Pre-Tax Commuter Benefits Plan

401(a) Retirement plan with a 6% employer contribution

401(k) Retirement saving plan with up to a 3% company match

457(b) Deferred Savings Plan

Job summary

NJ TRANSIT is looking for a Senior Manager of Accounts Payable Operations in Newark, NJ. This role oversees the full AP process including vendor management, compliance, and optimization of workflows. The ideal candidate will possess a bachelor's degree in accounting or finance, with 5-7 years of relevant experience, including leadership in AP.

The position offers comprehensive benefits like health insurance, flexible spending accounts, retirement plans with employer contributions, and tuition assistance, fostering a supportive environment for career growth.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of experience in accounts payable or finance.
• At least 3 years in a leadership or managerial role.

Responsibilities

• Manage the AP department's daily operations ensuring efficiency and compliance.
• Establish and enforce AP policies and internal controls.
• Optimize AP workflows to reduce errors and improve payment accuracy.
• Oversee the AP Customer Service team and resolve discrepancies.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of AP professionals.

Skills

Proficiency in ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, Workday, etc.)

End-to-end accounts payable

Microsoft Office products, especially MS Excel

Coaching and training direct reports

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or Business Administration

Job description

Overview

Move forward with us! At NJ TRANSIT, you'll join us in transforming the third-largest transportation agency in North America. We are committed to delivering safe, reliable service that gets customers to their destinations on time–and we're looking to hire talented folks with a commitment to excellence to make it all possible.

Summary The Senior Manager of Accounts Payable Operations oversees the end-to-end AP process, ensuring accurate and timely invoice processing, payment execution, vendor and banking setup, and compliance with company, state, and federal financial policies. This role will play a critical part in optimizing AP workflows, managing vendor relationships, and leading a team to achieve operational excellence. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills, a deep understanding of AP best practices, and a continuous improvement mindset.

Responsibilities

• Manage the AP department's daily operations, ensuring efficiency, accuracy, and compliance in invoice processing, payment execution, vendor management, and reconciliations.
• Establish and enforce AP policies, procedures, and internal controls to maintain compliance with federal and state financial regulations and company policies.
• Monitor AP workflows to optimize processing times, reduce errors, and improve payment accuracy.
• Oversee the AP Customer Service team resolving discrepancies with suppliers and internal groups, responding to supplier inquiries regarding payment status, and following up on overdue payments with relevant stakeholders.
• Identify trends in supplier inquiries and recommend process improvement to enhance efficiencies.
• Ensure adherence to internal financial policies and support internal/external audits by preparing documentation and responding to audit inquiries.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of AP professionals, fostering a high-performance and customer-centric culture.
• Assign workload, monitor performance, and provide training to enhance team effectiveness and compliance with best practices.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and provide feedback to drive professional growth.
• Partner with IT, Procurement, Finance, Payroll, and the AP Systems & Projects Manager to optimize ERP systems, procure-to-pay solutions, and AP automation tools that will drive process improvements, enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and expanding automation within the AP function.
• Prepare and analyze AP reports, including aging reports, accruals, and account reconciliations.
• Assume and ensure timely completion of all other duties as assigned.

This Position Supervises

• Manager, AP Indexing
• Manager, AP Accounting
• Manager, AP Supplier and Banking
• 2 Principal Accountants

Essential Education, Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, and Business Administration.
• Minimum 5-7 years of experience in accounts payable or finance, with at least 3 years in a leadership or managerial role.

Preferred

• Strong understanding of procure-to-pay processes, vendor management, and payment platforms

Knowledge And Skills

• Essential: Proficiency in ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, Workday, etc.)
• Must be proficient in end-to-end accounts payable.
• Must be proficient in all Microsoft Office products, especially MS Excel.
• Must be proficient in coaching and training direct reports, emphasizing accuracy, accountability, and timeliness of performance.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Family Health Insurance – Medical, Prescription, Dental, Vision
• Flexible Spending Account
• Life Insurance
• Paid Leave
• Tuition Assistance
• Pre-Tax Commuter Benefits Plan
• Retirement Plans
  • 401(a) - Retirement plan with a 6% employer contribution
  • 401(k) - Retirement saving plan with up to a 3% company match
  • 457(b) - Deferred Savings Plan

NJ TRANSIT is an Equal Opportunity Employer