Accounts Payable Analyst

The Accounts Payable Analyst serves as a key member of the Accounts Payable Department.  The position is instrumental in adding significant value to the overreaching goals of the department - paying vendors timely and accurately, improving processes, solving problems, and ensuring financial controls are met.  In addition to owning complex vendor accounts for Retail, this position will have a partner relationship with an offshore resource – training, resolving escalations, and improving the 3-Way Match process by collaborating with vendors, buyers, and locations. 

As an Accounts Payable Analyst, you must represent our company well by being responsible, punctual, and motivated to learn and go beyond the call of duty.  This position will report directly to the Accounts Payable Manager and will also have frequent contact with the Accounts Payable Director of Accounting.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible for complex vendors, EDI and Xsuite, ensuring timely and accurate payments
• Vendor Statement reconciliation – set up appropriate cadence with vendors to receive and review statements. Use data extracted from SAP and Excel functions to efficiently and effectively reconcile with invoice status; Use vlookups and Pivot Tables, etc, Research statement credits and take where appropriate to recover $$$ for the company
• Resolve complex Accounts Payable problems, including process and systems issues, to determine root cause and implement proactive measures to prevent errors
• Ability and desire to learn all other areas of AP and business; Serve as backup for Vendor Maintenance, Rent Payables, Payments, 1099’s, Dining, Fintech, Open Payables, and Expense Payables as applicable
• Utilize SAP and Excel to produce value added reporting for AP and Accounting related to Metrics and KPI’s
• Participate in group discussions to identify trends and areas for improvement, assist in the creation of documentation for new and existing processes to create efficiency and improve the overall success of the department
• Assist in training new team members (internal and offshore) and serve as an internal resource for best practices
• Lead and drive (directly or indirectly) to achieve results. Develop countermeasures to prevent vendor holds and improve invoice match rate
• Initiate contact with vendors to communicate P2P (procure to pay) invoicing standards and collaborate to remove procedural obstacles
• Work as liaison with EDI department and vendors to identify and resolve invoice rejections, not only at point of entry but also for go forward.
• Participate in audits with Tax or outside as needed, provide appropriate documentation
• Research escheatment and unclaimed property as it relates to uncashed checks
• Periodic audit of offshore partners to ensure SOP’s are being followed and SLA’s are being met
• Serve as a first resource for invoice match issues and ensure these issues are researched and processed timely to avoid interruption of inventory shipments
• Effectively work with various internal and external parties to resolve discrepancies between invoices, Purchase Orders and Goods Receipts; Request POD/receiving documents for unreceived/short-received Purchase Orders; Work with Merchants for pricing exceptions
• Responsible for identifying root causes of Accounts Payable challenges and address/train the vendor, subsidiary, and/or internal departments to ensure that the challenge(s) are prevented in the future
• Communicate and provide superior customer service to internal and external customers
• Other additional responsibilities as assigned by Management in the normal course of business

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, CERTIFICATIONS:

• Preferred: Accounts Payable Processing
• Preferred; BA/BS in Business with an emphasis in accounting or finance

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Desire to identify and implement process improvements.
• Must be computer literate with strong knowledge of MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint applications.
• Must have strong communication and organizational skills.
• Able to handle highly sensitive and confidential information.
• Work with a consistent sense of urgency but also with a balanced plan of attack.
• Able to adapt to changing priorities and unexpected situations.
• Accurate with exceptional attention to detail.
• Good planning and organizational skills to balance and prioritize work
• Must be a team player and successfully juggle and complete multiple priorities.
• Proven track record of providing superior Customer Service