Accounts Payable Manager

Accounts Payable Manager

Overview of Role

The Accounts Payable Manager is responsible for overseeing and executing all accounts payable functions for Southern Building Group. This role is both hands-on and managerial, carrying responsibility for assigned projects while leading and supporting a team of AP professionals.

The AP Manager ensures vendor invoices, subcontractor pay applications, internal bills, and expense reimbursements are processed accurately, on time, and in full compliance with company standards. This position serves as the primary authority for AP policy enforcement, escalation, prioritization, and exception handling, acting as the accountability bridge between project teams and accounting.

The role protects the integrity of the AP process, absorbs pressure from the field, and ensures AP staff can perform their work accurately without being pulled into enforcement, urgency, or conflict. The AP Manager actively reinforces Southern Building Group’s Mission Statement and Core Values by maintaining consistency, accountability, professionalism, and operational discipline.

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Personality Traits and Behavioral Expectations

• Demonstrates integrity, sound judgment, and professionalism at all times.
• Confident enforcing policies and holding boundaries, even under pressure.
• Comfortable making decisions independently while recognizing when exceptions require discussion.
• Communicates clearly, directly, and respectfully with project teams, vendors, and leadership.
• Remains calm and objective in high-pressure or conflict-driven situations.
• Self-motivated, disciplined, and accountable for outcomes.
• Balances structure with flexibility in a real-world construction environment.

Professional Requirements

• Strong working knowledge of accounts payable processes in a construction environment.
• Ability to interpret, apply, and consistently enforce AP policies and documentation standards.
• High attention to detail with the ability to manage volume, deadlines, and competing priorities.
• Proficient in Excel, Outlook, Adobe, DocuSign, and Microsoft Word.
• Experience with Procore and Sage Intacct Cloud Accounting preferred.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to work under pressure while maintaining accuracy and compliance.

Core Responsibilities

AP Oversight and Enforcement

• Own and enforce AP policies, compliance requirements, and documentation standards.
• Serve as the escalation point for unresolved invoice, pay application, or compliance issues.
• Hold vendors, subcontractors, and project teams accountable to AP requirements prior to payment.
• Establish and communicate AP priorities, deadlines, and expectations clearly and consistently.

Hands-On Processing and Project Responsibility

• Directly manage AP processing for assigned projects, including invoices and pay applications.
• Review and approve AP transactions for accuracy, coding, compliance, and completeness.
• Process checks and maintain accurate AP records in accounting systems.

Team Leadership and Support

• Manage and support 2–3 AP staff members.
• Train new AP employees and ensure staff have the tools, guidance, and clarity needed to succeed.
• Handle escalations and exceptions in support of the AP staff.
• Ensure accuracy is prioritized over speed and reduce rework caused by incomplete or noncompliant submissions.

Compliance and Process Management

• Maintain compliance with W-9s, certificates of insurance, lien waivers, retainage, and pay application requirements.
• Audit AP activity to ensure legal and internal compliance standards are met.
• Identify recurring breakdowns in process and implement corrective improvements.
• Review exceptions, approve or deny deviations from standard process, and document decisions.

Communication and Coordination

• Communicate directly with Project Managers regarding AP requirements, deficiencies, and timelines.
• Coordinate with the Contract Department to set up new subcontractors in accounting and project systems.
• Partner with accounting leadership on funding schedules, owner draws, and cash flow timing as secondary support.
• Provide weekly job cost reporting support to Project Managers.

Experience and Education

• 3–5 years of experience in construction accounts payable and job cost accounting.
• Demonstrated experience managing AP processes and enforcing compliance standards.
• Experience leading a small team and managing conflict professionally.
• Procore and Sage Intacct experience preferred.
• Associate’s Degree or higher, or equivalent professional experience.

Think this role could be the right fit?

Please take a moment to complete our Culture Index Survey:

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