Sr. Manager, AP Operations

Overview

Move forward with us! At NJ TRANSIT, you'll join us in transforming the third-largest transportation agency in North America. We are committed to delivering safe, reliable service that gets customers to their destinations on time–and we're looking to hire talented folks with a commitment to excellence to make it all possible.

Summary The Senior Manager of Accounts Payable Operations oversees the end-to-end AP process, ensuring accurate and timely invoice processing, payment execution, vendor and banking setup, and compliance with company, state, and federal financial policies. This role will play a critical part in optimizing AP workflows, managing vendor relationships, and leading a team to achieve operational excellence. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills, a deep understanding of AP best practices, and a continuous improvement mindset.

• Manage the AP department's daily operations, ensuring efficiency, accuracy, and compliance in invoice processing, payment execution, vendor management, and reconciliations.
• Establish and enforce AP policies, procedures, and internal controls to maintain compliance with federal and state financial regulations and company policies.
• Monitor AP workflows to optimize processing times, reduce errors, and improve payment accuracy.
• Oversee the AP Customer Service team resolving discrepancies with suppliers and internal groups, responding to supplier inquiries regarding payment status, and following up on overdue payments with relevant stakeholders.
• Identify trends in supplier inquiries and recommend process improvement to enhance efficiencies.
• Ensure adherence to internal financial policies and support internal/external audits by preparing documentation and responding to audit inquiries.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of AP professionals, fostering a high-performance and customer-centric culture.
• Assign workload, monitor performance, and provide training to enhance team effectiveness and compliance with best practices.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and provide feedback to drive professional growth.
• Partner with IT, Procurement, Finance, Payroll, and the AP Systems & Projects Manager to optimize ERP systems, procure-to-pay solutions, and AP automation tools that will drive process improvements, enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and expanding automation within the AP function.
• Prepare and analyze AP reports, including aging reports, accruals, and account reconciliations.
• Assume and ensure timely completion of all other duties as assigned.

• Manager, AP Indexing
• Manager, AP Accounting
• Manager, AP Supplier and Banking
• 2 Principal Accountants

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, and Business Administration.
• Minimum 5-7 years of experience in accounts payable or finance, with at least 3 years in a leadership or managerial role.

• Strong understanding of procure-to-pay processes, vendor management, and payment platforms

• Essential:
  Proficiency in ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, Workday, etc.)
• Must be proficient in end-to-end accounts payable.
• Must be proficient in all Microsoft Office products, especially MS Excel.
• Must be proficient in coaching and training direct reports, emphasizing accuracy, accountability, and timeliness of performance.

• Comprehensive Family Health Insurance – Medical, Prescription, Dental, Vision
• Flexible Spending Account
• Life Insurance
• Paid Leave
• Tuition Assistance
• Pre-Tax Commuter Benefits Plan
• Retirement Plans
  • 401(a) - Retirement plan with a 6% employer contribution
  • 401(k) - Retirement saving plan with up to a 3% company match
  • 457(b) - Deferred Savings Plan

NJ TRANSIT is an Equal Opportunity Employer