ACCOUNTS PAYABLE MANAGER

Division of Financial Operations

Accounting Administration
1789 W Jefferson St, Phoenix, AZ 85007

Salary: $68,200.08 

Grade: 21

Closing Date: July 10, 2026

Would you like to be part of an amazing team that helps Arizonans thrive? At the Department of Economic Security (DES) we strengthen individuals, families and communities for a better quality of life. DES is looking for individuals who are committed to service, community, and teamwork. To learn more about DES please visit des.az.gov; or click on the link here to view ‘Our DES’ video. Come Join the DES Team!

The Department of Economic Security, Division of Financial Operations (DFO) is seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual to join our team as an Accounts Payable Manager. With direction from the Accounting Administrator, the Accounts Payable Manager provides planning, direction, management, and oversight of the activities and operations of the Accounts Payable Team.

This position manages multiple, disparate financial processes and transactions involving general funds, grants, contracts, requisitions, and purchase orders; performs comprehensive analysis along with continuous process improvement, ensuring business delivery models continue to align with customer needs. The Accounts Payable Manager identifies business, financial and accounting issues that could have potential negative impacts on the Department; assists in cost analysis; analyzes financial data to ensure efficient use of resources; partners with customers to develop and implement resolutions to current and future problems; provides comprehensive financial expertise to DES management and to external partners; and tracks and monitors expenditures for compliance with all Federal, State, and Department rules, regulations, policies, and restrictions. The Accounts Payable Manager understands and participates in the development of formal and informal departmental goals, standards, policies, and procedures and is sensitive to the interrelationship of both people and functions within the Department. The Accounts Payable Manager exercises administrative judgment and assumes responsibility for decisions, consequences, and results having an impact on people, costs, and quality of service within the assigned areas.

This position may offer the ability to work a hybrid remote schedule, with three days per week in-office, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.

The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, and commissions, many State employees participate in the State's Remote Work Program and are able to work partially or fully remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Plans and directs day-to-day financial operations and accounting activities of the Accounts Payable Team, reviewing and approving a variety of complex financial statements and reports for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) or other specific accounting requirements.
• Maintains an internal control structure through review of reconciliations, financial data, procedures, and controls. Supervises other related accounting functions as necessary for the work unit.
• Assigns a wide variety of accounting tasks, such as maintaining ledgers, recording entries, participation in the budget process, and interacting with vendors. Oversees the receipt of payments. May participate in the development of payment schedules.
• Develops and analyzes complex financial reports for forecasting, trending, and results analysis. Interprets data to determine past financial performance and/or to project a financial probability. Develops management, narrative, and statistical reports, and oversees the maintenance of financial monitoring systems.
• Monitors, identifies, and communicates over-expenditures to Administrators. May resolve funding shortfalls through coordination with stakeholders.
• Confers with appropriate internal and external administrative offices to ensure that required procedures are followed. Provides instruction and answers questions relating to financial procedures and serves as liaison between the Administrator and Unit areas.
• Composes correspondence dealing with subject matter that requires considerable discretion and involves judgment or negotiation.
• Keeps abreast of laws and regulations that apply to a staff function or field of professional expertise to maintain up-to-date compliance.
• Recommends and implements goals, objectives, best practices, policies and procedures, and changes to applicable accounting functions.

Knowledge of:

• Governmental accounting and fiscal principles
• The budget and state legislative process
• Principles and practices of business administration with special reference to organization, fiscal management, and budgetary control
• Statistical analysis and theory
• Report writing techniques
• Office management
• Conceptual understanding of the Department's federally approved cost allocation plan
• Understanding of the requirements, characteristics, and cultural environment required for teams to operate effectively

Skilled in:

• Oral and written communications of complex concepts
• Proficiency in statutory and rules interpretation, issues identification, and resolution
• Initiating and reviewing expenditure corrections, journal vouchers, and cash receipts within the state and agency's automated systems
• Computer utilization
• Comprehension, analysis, interpretation, and reconciliation of complex financial data, including forecasts and projections
• Development of work plans
• Organization and prioritization of multiple complex projects

Ability to:

• Interact with a diverse audience on a professional level
• Be an innovative and strategic thinker
• Perform complex analytic work
• Schedule and prioritize multiple assignments
• Develop annual budget requests for assigned area consistent with the Department's mission, vision, and values
• Organize and present information in structured and non-structured settings
• Facilitate and lead meetings with executive level staff
• Write reports
• Set workflow priorities of assigned area
• Use computer programs and software
• Write and speak with clarity

The ideal candidate for this position will have:

• A Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or Business Administration or Master's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration or related field
• At least three years of experience managing complex issues in areas such as budget preparation, analysis and control, funding, financial reporting, or related specializations

This position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, the following requirements apply:

• Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver’s license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver’s license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R2-10-207.11).

Successfully pass background and reference checks; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The Arizona Department of Economic Security offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) and long-term disability plans
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid annual and sick leave
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Stipend Opportunities
• Infant at Work Program
• Rideshare and Public Transit Subsidy
• Career Advancement & Employee Development Opportunities

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

State employees are required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), the State sponsored retirement contribution plan and the Long-Term Disability (LTD) program after a 27-week waiting period. The ASRS defined benefit plan provides for life-long income upon retirement. You will also have the option to participate in a voluntary deferred compensation program to take advantage of tax-deferred retirement investments.
On, or shortly after, your first day of work you will be provided with additional information about the available insurance plans, enrollment instructions, submission deadlines and effective dates.

For questions about this career opportunity, please contact Shawn Morrison at (623) 271-2117 or email shmorrison@azdes.gov.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation, such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format, by contacting. Shawn Morrison at (623) 271-2117 or email shmorrison@azdes.gov.

Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.