Manager, Accounts Payable

Position Details

Location: Dearborn, MI

Department: Accounting

Reports to: Director, Treasury and Risk

Job Classification: Hybrid

FLSA: Exempt

Job Band: Manager

Summary

The primary purpose of the Accounts Payable (AP) Manager oversees the operations and development of the accounts payable team. The manager will lead innovation and transformation throughout the AP function in collaboration with IT to deploy advanced technology initiatives including AI. Using industry benchmarks, the manager will create KPI’s and strive for continual improvement and operational efficiencies as well as ensuring appropriate controls and checks and balances are in place to support accurate and timely payments. This role also oversees the travel and expense reporting team, including developing relevant policy in accordance with tax laws and management philosophy and establishing related process to ensure adherence to policy and tax reporting requirements.

We are All Leaders at Carhartt

In our words and by our actions, we strive to emulate the hardworking example set forth by our founder, Hamilton Carhartt. We Lead Business by creating value, delivering on results, and making changes along the way. We Lead Self by being inclusive, recognizing that our differences make us stronger as we strive to build a better world, together, for all hardworking people. We Lead Others by communicating and clearly defining the path as we walk bravely into the future. Working at Carhartt, we are all given a seat at the table and the honor of continuing the legacy.

Responsibilities

• Coach, mentor and develop the Accounts Payable and Travel Program team ensuring the team is equipped with the necessary skills and tools to perform their tasks effectively and efficiently.
• Proactively drives AP efficiencies through process enhancements and opportunities for advanced technology tools including AI, optical character recognition (OCR), robotic process automation (RPA), machine learning (ML), and blockchain
• Develops management reporting and establishes measures of success for the team, including benchmarks and KPI’s to highlight areas of strength and areas of improvement.
• Creates action plans and works with AP team members to achieve areas of improvement identified including tracking record of delivering successful outcomes and measurable results, such as increasing invoice processing speed, reducing invoice errors, improving cash flow management, and enhancing vendor satisfaction.
• Crafts a payment strategy to ensure benefits to Carhartt and suppliers are maximized, including partnering with procurement to develop p-card program usage and with banking partners to offer innovative payment solutions that drive DPO in alignment with DSO.
• Develop quarter end cash flow forecast of required payments to support treasury forecasting.
• Collaborate with direct and indirect procurement teams, operational support teams and other relevant business partners to improve business process and address vendor management concerns and to support accurate inventory and expense reporting.
• Establish appropriate internal controls over vendor master maintenance and payment processes; ensure compliance with accounts payable tax reporting. Ensures achievement of compliance and accuracy standards within policy and process guidelines.
• Manages month-end close and annual audit process including reconciliation of all AP and travel related general ledger accounts and responding to auditor requests to ensure deadlines are met, accurate and timely data are provided and analysis of issues identified occurs timely.
• Ensures the travel and expense policy and process is in alignment with management philosophy, compliance requirements, industry best practices, market conditions and business needs.
• Manage travel and expense reporting policy exceptions and escalate issues to management and HR when appropriate.
  
  

Education

• Bachelor's Degree Required in Accounting/Finance or Related Field
• Equivalent work experience may be considered in lieu of degree
  
  

Required Skills And Experience

• 8 years of accounts payable experience including the following:
• 2-4 years of leadership experience with a track record of developing and attracting talent.
• Large ERP Experience, SAP preferred
• Experience with automation technologies within Accounting/Accounts Payable, AI, optical character recognition (OCR), robotic process automation (RPA), machine learning (ML), and blockchain preferred
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the proven ability to communicate with all levels including management and external parties
• Outstanding organizational skills with demonstrated ability to prioritize workload
• Excellent Excel skills (ability to organize large data sets for analysis)
• Superior modeling and analytical skills with strong attention to detail is required.
• Good working knowledge of other Microsoft Office applications (Word, Outlook, etc.)
• Ability to handle changing circumstances and reprioritize when necessary
  
  

Working Conditions

• Office Environment
• Tobacco Free
• Ability to sit and/or stand for extended periods of time
• Willing to work some weekends if necessary
• Travel (10%)
• Hybrid location: Associate will work on-site regularly as needed for work activities.