Vendor Management and Accounting Manager

Summary

The Vendor Management & General Ledger Manager is responsible for ensuring the integrity, governance, and financial accuracy of vendor‑related activity within the general ledger for a global organization processing approximately $70M in annual vendor spend. This role is highly focused on vendor master data governance, accounting accuracy, internal controls, and financial reporting in Net Suite, leveraging technology and automation to support scale and transparency.

The ideal candidate is an accounting‑strong, systems‑savvy leader with deep understanding of how vendor activity flows through the general ledger and impacts financial statements. This role partners closely with AP, Accounting, Tax, Treasury, Legal, Procurement, and Systems teams to ensure vendor‑related transactions are correctly structured, classified, recorded, and reported in accordance with GAAP and company policy.

Core Responsibilities

Vendor Governance & Master Data Ownership

• Own vendor onboarding standards, master data governance, and ongoing maintenance across all entities and geographies
• Establish and enforce controls around vendor setup, changes, approvals, and documentation to mitigate risk and ensure data integrity
• Serve as the primary accounting owner for vendor data, including validation of legal entities, payment attributes, tax classifications, and contractual alignment
• Act as escalation point for complex vendor issues, discrepancies, and contractual or accounting questions
• Partner with Legal, Procurement, and Tax to ensure vendor structures align with agreements, regulatory requirements, and accounting treatment

General Ledger Accuracy & Accounting Oversight

• Ensure vendor‑related activity is accurately reflected in the general ledger, including expenses, accruals, prepaid expenses, and clearing or suspense accounts
• Review and approve journal entries related to vendor activity, including accruals, reclassifications, and corrections
• Own reconciliation and resolution of vendor‑related GL accounts and sub‑ledgers
• Ensure consistent application of accounting policies and proper expense classification across departments
• Partner with the GL team to support accurate and timely month‑end, quarter‑end, and year‑end close

Controls, Compliance & Risk Management

• Design, document, and maintain policies and procedures supporting strong internal controls over vendor data and GL postings
• Ensure appropriate segregation of duties across vendor governance, accounting entries, and reviews
• Monitor and remediate control gaps, recurring issues, and audit findings related to vendor activity
• Prepare schedules and support documentation for: 
  • Financial statement audits
  • Internal reviews
  • Tax and regulatory reporting (e.g., vendor‑related disclosures, 1099/withholding support)
• Ensure all vendor‑related financial activity complies with GAAP, company policy, and applicable regulations

Technology Enablement & Process Optimization

• Serve as subject‑matter expert for vendor and GL architecture within the ERP system (NetSuite strongly preferred)
• Partner with Finance Systems and IT to: 
  • Improve vendor master data controls
  • Strengthen GL validation and mapping rules
  • Enhance reconciliation and reporting capabilities
• Leverage automation and reporting tools to reduce manual intervention and elevate review, governance, and analysis
• Use data and metrics to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for process improvement

Cross‑Functional Partnership & Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop team members responsible for vendor governance and GL accuracy
• Train stakeholders on vendor policy requirements, accounting impact, and control expectations
• Partner cross‑functionally with Accounting, Tax, Procurement, Legal, Treasury, and Operations
• accounting leadership team with special projects, system initiatives, and process improvements
• Handle sensitive financial and vendor information with discretion and strict confidentiality

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, or related field
• 7 years of progressive accounting experience, including management responsibility
• Strong NetSuite experience, particularly vendor records, GL structure, and reconciliations
• Demonstrated experience managing vendor data governance and GL accuracy in a global environment
• Deep understanding of GAAP, accrual accounting, and internal controls
• Proven ability to evaluate, document, and improve accounting processes in an audit‑ready environment
• Strong analytical, documentation, and stakeholder communication skills

Preferred

• Multi‑entity and multi‑currency accounting experience
• Prior exposure to SOX or highly controlled audit environments
• Familiarity with vendor tax reporting requirements (1099, VAT/GST support)
• CPA or CMA certification