Accounts Payable Manager

The Accounts Payable Manager is responsible for leading the daily operations of the University’s accounts payable department, ensuring the accurate and compliant processing of invoices and disbursements in accordance with University polices. This role focuses on optimizing operational efficiencies by leading the team's transition from manual, paper-based workflows to automated technology solutions. The Manager provides direct supervision, mentorship, and professional development to the AP staff, fostering a culture of engagement and continuous improvement. The Manager oversees a comprehensive scope including invoice processing, the AP helpdesk, systems administration, and unclaimed property compliance.

• Team Leadership: Directly supervise, mentor, and evaluate the performance of the Accounts Payable staff. Foster a high-performance culture by promoting team engagement and providing opportunities for professional development and skill-building. Manage daily workloads to ensure invoices are processed accurately and timely. Lead recruitment and onboarding efforts for the AP team, ensuring staff are trained in evolving technologies and best practices. 
• Systems Administration & Automation Efficiency: Serve as a functional lead for AP systems. Identify bottlenecks in current workflows and lead the transition from manual entry to automated invoice processing. Collaborate with IT and Financial Systems to troubleshoot integration issues and test system enhancements. 
• Operational Management: Oversee the Accounts Payable Helpdesk, ensuring responsive and professional customer service to internal departments and external vendors. Serve as the primary point of escalation for complex payment disputes. Manage "Payment Exceptions," including the research and resolution of returned payments (ACH/Wires) and uncashed/stale-dated checks. Lead the "Due Diligence" process for unclaimed property to ensure compliance with Florida’s escheatment laws, attempting to reunite funds with rightful owners before state reporting.
• Compliance & Quality Assurance: Enforce compliance with university expenditure policies and State of Florida statutes. Conduct regular quality control and post-processing reviews to ensure data integrity, internal control adherence, and prevention of duplicate or improper payments. Own and maintain departmental Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), ensuring documentation reflects current regulatory requirements and Accounts Payable best practices. 
• Training & Campus Support: Develop and deliver training programs for both the internal AP team and campus wide users to support accurate, compliant, and efficient transaction processing. Maintain AP related policies, procedures, web resources, user guides and other guidance or tools to support department needs. Promote process improvements through training, communication, and adoption of updated tools and workflows. Produce and analyze monthly performance metrics (KPIs) related to productivity, service levels, and system utilization. 
• Performs other duties as assigned. 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree -OR- equivalent combination of education and related experience
• 5+ years of related experience

Degree Equivalency Clause: Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree.
• Senate Bill 1310- The Florida Senate (https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1310) is conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S.
• SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements
• A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an alternative to the number of years of direct experience required, not to exceed:
• (a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree;
• (b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree;
• (c) Six years of direct experience for a master’s degree;
• (d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or
• (e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree
• Related work experience may not substitute for any required licensure, certification, or registration required for the position of employment as established by the public employer and indicated in the advertised description of the position of employment.
• Minimum Qualifications that require a high school diploma are exempt from SB 1310.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 5+ years’ experience supervising a high volume accounts payable team.
• Demonstrated experience with automated invoice processing tools.
• Direct experience leading a team through an ERP implementation or a major technology upgrade (e.g., transitioning to Workday, Oracle, or SAP).