What are the responsibilities and job description for the ACCOUNTS PAYABLE MANAGER position at Sound Seal Inc?
Accounts Payable Manager
Location: Agawam, MA, Dublin, OH or North Aurora, IL preferred
Reporting To: Shared Services Manager
About Catalyst Acoustics Group
Catalyst Acoustics Group (CAG) is a leading designer and manufacturer of engineered acoustical solutions serving industrial, architectural, medical, commercial, and infrastructure end markets. CAG operates a portfolio of best-in-class brands supported by a shared-services model focused on operational excellence, scalability, and continuous improvement.
Role Overview
The Accounts Payable Manager is responsible for leading the end-to-end procure-to-pay function across a multi-entity, private equity-backed platform. This role ensures the accuracy, timeliness, and integrity of invoice processing, vendor management, payment execution, and AP reporting.
This leader operates as a player/coach, balancing hands-on execution with team leadership while driving process consistency, strong internal controls, cash management, and scalability across the organization.
The ideal candidate is a driver, highly organized, and brings a strong sense of urgency, ownership, and process discipline in a fast-paced, decentralized manufacturing environment.
Key Responsibilities
1. Procure-to-Pay Operations
- Oversee and actively support end-to-end AP processes, including invoice receipt, coding, three-way match, approval routing, payment execution, and posting across multiple entities.
- Ensure timely, accurate, and complete processing of invoices in accordance with company policies and approval authority.
- Ensure accurate coding and classification of all AP vouchers to the appropriate general ledger accounts, cost centers, projects, and tax categories.
- Drive consistency in AP practices across business units and acquired entities.
2. AP Operations & Execution
- Lead day-to-day AP activities, including exception resolution, payment processing, vendor reconciliations, and issue resolution.
- Maintain vendor master integrity and enforce strong internal controls, segregation of duties, and fraud prevention practices.
- Review payment runs for accuracy and compliance before release.
3. Vendor & Cash Management
- Manage vendor relationships, resolve escalated issues, and support timely payments while optimizing payment terms and discounts.
- Partner with Treasury to provide cash disbursement forecasts and payment schedules.
4. Team Leadership (Player/Coach)
- Lead, develop, and coach AP team members across locations.
- Act as a hands-on leader, stepping in to support workload and resolve issues directly.
- Set clear expectations and reinforce accountability, accuracy, and responsiveness.
- Identify talent gaps and support hiring, training, and development.
5. Process Improvement & Standardization
- Identify and drive process improvements across AP workflows.
- Standardize processes across business units, systems, and acquired entities.
- Partner with Finance and IT to optimize ERP functionality, automation, and reporting tools.
- Reduce manual work and improve scalability and efficiency.
6. Month-End Close & Reporting
- Ensure timely completion of AP close activities, reconciliations, accrual support, and audit requests.
- Provide leadership with key metrics including payment timeliness, invoice cycle time, exception rates, and AP aging.
7. Cross-Functional Partnership
- Collaborate closely with Purchasing, Operations, Customer Service, Treasury, and Finance.
- Support integration of acquired businesses into standardized AP processes.
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
- 7 years of progressive Accounts Payable experience, including leadership.
- Experience in manufacturing, distribution, or multi-entity environments preferred.
- Strong understanding of procure-to-pay processes, three-way match, AP controls, vendor management, and month-end close.
- Experience with ERP systems and process standardization initiatives.
- Proven ability to operate in a high-growth, PE-backed, or decentralized environment.
Salary : $95,000 - $105,000