Accounts Payable Manager

Position Overview

The Accounts Payable Manager leads the accounts payable function for Montana State University, ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant payment processing while providing excellent service to campus departments and external vendors. This position oversees vendor registration through the University’s procure-to-pay system, establishes standard team timelines and service expectations, communicates key processes and deadlines to campus partners, and identifies opportunities for process improvement.

The Accounts Payable Manager also assists with year‑end 1099 tax reporting for the Bozeman and affiliate campuses.

• Effectively manage a team of employees – including hiring, training and workflow development, and day‑to‑day supervision. Coach, support, and develop employees with varying levels of experience.
• Direct daily accounts payable operations, including vendor setup, W‑9 review, ACH setup and review, special check requests, outgoing wires, resolution of vendor payment issues, timely payment processing, and fellowship payment tracking and processing.
• Administer, interpret, and communicate accounts payable policies, procedures, timelines, and expectations to staff, campus departments, vendors, and other stakeholders.
• Review accounts payable processes and advise on appropriate internal controls, segregation of duties, and fraud prevention measures.
• Identify and resolve operational issues to support efficient and effective accounts payable operations. Coordinate with campus departments, shared services, central offices, and other partners as needed. Recommend, document, and facilitate process improvements.
• Supervise the review of purchasing card transactions and advise staff and campus departments on appropriate approvals, documentation, and compliance requirements.
• Direct the processing of travel payments and ensure travel per diem, mileage rates, and related reimbursements are administered in accordance with applicable policy. Communicate and implement travel rate changes in a timely manner.
• Coordinate with the Controller to support IRS Form 1099 preparation and processing, including evaluating new IRS regulations, interpreting reporting requirements, providing guidance to staff and affiliated campuses, ensuring adequate documentation is maintained, and overseeing the issuance, printing, and filing of 1099 forms.
• Work with internal and external auditors to provide requested information, documentation, and explanations related to accounts payable activity, controls, and reporting.
• Communicate and collaborate professionally with the State of Montana, financial institutions, vendors, campus departments, affiliated campuses, and other internal and external partners.

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business or related field and progressively responsible accounts payable experiences or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience in lieu of a degree.
• Demonstrated experience with accounts payable practices, supplier relations, and internal controls.
• Demonstrated experience reviewing processes and/or procedures for continuing compliance with changing regulations and to prevent errors or strengthen internal controls.
• Experience managing and supervising a team, including performance management.
• Knowledge and proficiency with Microsoft Excel to sort, analyze, format and summarize financial information.

• Experience working with various constituencies to make informed decisions and ensuring those decisions are communicated appropriately.
• Experience with a modular accounting or accounts payable system.
• Experience preparing IRS 1099 reporting or other regulatory filings.
• Demonstrated skills in organizational evaluation with an eye for increasing effectiveness and efficiencies and operational improvements.
• Successful experience using independent decision making to solve problems.

• Knowledge of invoicing systems.
• An effective communication style and proven leadership experience in a multi‑faced team…