Accounts Payable Specialist Olympia, WA

Accounts Payable Specialist

We are looking for an experienced Accounts Payable Specialist to support a busy finance team in Lacey, Washington. This Contract position will manage end-to-end payable activities in a fast-paced environment, with a strong focus on accuracy, compliance, and timely payment processing. The role also serves as a knowledgeable point of contact for resolving complex vendor and invoice issues while helping strengthen day-to-day AP operations.

Responsibilities:

• Process a high volume of invoices from receipt through final posting, ensuring correct coding and complete documentation.
• Examine invoices for accuracy, approvals, and policy adherence before releasing them for payment.
• Administer vendor records, including setup updates and resolution of billing discrepancies or payment concerns.
• Reconcile accounts payable records to supporting ledgers and assist with balancing activity against the general ledger.
• Prepare and execute weekly payment cycles, including checks, ACH transactions, and wire transfers.
• Research and resolve escalated issues related to invoices, vendor statements, and payment exceptions.
• Support month-end close by preparing accruals, compiling payable reports, and confirming completeness of AP activity.
• Assist with year-end compliance tasks such as 1099 reporting and provide documentation for audit requests.
• Collaborate with finance, procurement, and operational teams to improve workflows and reinforce internal controls.
• Offer day-to-day guidance to less experienced AP staff and share best practices for efficient processing.