Senior Accounts Payable Specialist

Cytokinetics is a specialty cardiovascular biopharmaceutical company, building on its over 25 years of pioneering scientific innovations in muscle biology, and advancing a pipeline of potential new medicines for patients suffering from diseases of cardiac muscle dysfunction.

We are seeking a detail-oriented and highly organized Senior Accounts Payable Specialist to join our accounting team. This role is responsible for the accurate and timely processing of accounts payable transactions, vendor communications, expense reports and related general accounting activities. The ideal candidate is highly adaptable, an independent thinker who thrives in unpredictable situations, who possesses strong analytical skills, critical thinking and a resourceful problem solver to make informed decisions in ambiguous situations.

The candidate must be a team player who possesses a positive attitude, self‑motivated with strong communication skills, reliable and able to work well independently with minimal supervision. This role demands an individual possessing strong work ethics, who can manage multiple priorities, consistently meet deadlines and who enjoys working in a fast‑paced collaborative environment.

• Manage the full accounts payable cycle, including high volume invoice entry, account coding, approvals, payment processing, and vendor reconciliations.
• Review invoices for accuracy, proper documentation, and compliance with company policies and accounting standards prior to processing payment.
• Manage and monitor the AP email inbox, including responding and following up on vendor inquiries, payment requests, and invoice related questions timely.
• Maintain vendors master records, including onboarding new vendors and ensuring appropriate tax documentation (W-9, W-8
  
  BEN, and related forms).
• Research and resolve vendor account, invoice, and payment discrepancies while maintaining accounts payable in good standing.
• Partner with Procurement, Receiving, Legal, Clinical Operations, Research & Development, and Finance to resolve invoice and payment issues.
• Support month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close activities by preparing accruals, reconciliations, and reporting schedules.
• Process domestic and international vendor payments through ACH, wire transfers, and checks.
• Participate in ERP implementations, system upgrades, and process improvement initiatives as needed.
• System maintenance for tax reporting compliance and year-end processing of 1099’s.
• Ensure compliance with internal controls, SOX requirements (if applicable), and company financial policies.
• Assist with external and internal audits by providing requested documentation and supporting schedules.
• Identify opportunities to improve accounts payable processes through automation, workflow enhancements, and best practices.
• Assist on special projects and ad-hoc assignments as needed.
• Adapt to evolving responsibilities and business needs within a growing organization.

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance or some accounting education and background or in a related field preferred. (equivalent combination of education and experience).
• Minimum 7+ years of Accounts Payable or general accounting experience, preferably within the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, life sciences, or healthcare industry.
• Experience processing high-volume invoices in an ERP environment (such as Oracle, SAP, Net Suite, Microsoft Dynamics 365, or Workday).
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, including Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, and data analysis.
• Knowledge of 1099 reporting requirements and audit support processes.
• Experience with electronic invoice processing and workflow automation systems.

• Strong analytical, problem solving, and critical thinking skills with the ability to exercise sound judgement.
• Highly organized team player, detail‑oriented, dependable, self‑motivated and committed to producing accurate, high‑quality work.
• Ability to work independently to complete tasks in an accurate and timely manner while managing multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• High attention to detail with the ability to…