AI Automation Engineer, Finance & Accounting

The AI Automation Engineer – Finance & Accounting applies AI to finance operations at Cengage to reduce cost, increase accuracy, and eliminate manual work from AP, AR, reconciliation, and financial reporting workflows.

You will partner directly with the Controller, FP&A, and Procurement teams to identify and deliver high‑value automation opportunities.

This role demands a rare combination: the technical chops to build production AI automation, the financial fluency to understand GL accounts and reconciliation logic, and the rigor to build audit‑ready, controls‑compliant systems.

• Automate accounts payable and accounts receivable processing including invoice capture, matching, and approval
• Build reconciliation automations across GL, bank, credit card, and intercompany accounts
• Develop expense report processing, policy compliance checking, and anomaly detection systems
• Create procurement automations for PO generation, vendor onboarding, and spend categorization
• Implement AI‑powered financial close acceleration and journal entry automation

• Ensure all finance automations meet SOX, internal controls, and audit documentation requirements
• Partner with Internal Audit and Controllership on design reviews and control attestation
• Build comprehensive logging, lineage, and traceability into every automation
• Implement segregation‑of‑duties and approval workflows correctly in every design
• Maintain audit‑ready documentation and evidence of all deployed workflows

• Track manual hours eliminated, cost savings realized, and processing time reductions
• Quantify error rate reduction and the controls impact of automation
• Partner with FP&A on ROI reporting and business case development
• Identify financial process inefficiencies through data analysis and stakeholder interviews
• Deliver weekly updates on automation performance, savings, and roadmap

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Accounting, Finance, or related field
• 4+ years of experience in finance automation, RPA, or software development for finance functions
• Strong proficiency in Python and SQL with experience building production automation
• Hands‑on experience with LLMs and document AI (OCR, invoice extraction, intelligent document processing)
• Working knowledge of accounting principles, GL structures, and financial close processes
• Experience with at least one major ERP platform (Net Suite, SAP, Oracle, Workday Financials)
• Understanding of SOX controls, audit evidence requirements, and financial compliance
• Excellent communication skills to work with Controllers, FP&A, and Internal Audit

• Experience with AP automation platforms (Coupa, Tipalti, , Stampli)
• Familiarity with RPA platforms (UiPath, Automation Anywhere, Blue Prism)
• Background in public company finance environments with SOX compliance
• Experience with document AI services (AWS Textract, Azure Document Intelligence)
• CPA, CMA, or other finance certifications (or willingness to pursue)
• Background in EdTech, SaaS, or subscription business finance operations

• Python, SQL, JavaScript/Type Script
• OpenAI API, Anthropic API, AWS Textract, Azure Document Intelligence
• Net Suite, SAP, Oracle, Workday Financials
• Coupa, Tipalti, , Concur, Black Line
• UiPath, Automation Anywhere, Power Automate
• Snowflake, Postgre
  
  SQL, Databricks

• Financial Fluency – speaks the language of Controllers, FP&A, and auditors
• Controls Attitude – builds automations that strengthen rather than weaken controls
• Precision & Rigor – delivers audit‑ready, documented, traceable systems
• ROI Focus – quantifies savings and efficiency in CFO‑ready language
• Process Design – decomposes complex finance processes into automatable steps
• Compliance Awareness – understands SOX, audit, and regulatory requirements

• Opportunity to shape AI at scale across a global learning company
• Direct impact on business outcomes, product, and workforce productivity
• Access to cutting‑edge AI tools, platforms, and technologies
• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits
• Professional development and learning opportunities

Cengage is committed to working with broad talent pools to attract and hire strong and most qualified individuals. Our job applicants are considered regardless of any classification protected by applicable federal, state, provincial or local laws. Cengage is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities including during our job application process.