JOB DESCRIPTION:

Reporting to the Accounting Manager, the Accounts Payable Accountant provides support for Business Office functional areas with specific responsibility for performing activities related to the timely and accurate payment of authorized check requests / invoices while providing excellent customer service to our students, faculty, vendors, service providers and staff. This relates to all aspects of the daily operation of the Accounts Payable function including the AP help desk. 

This position must meettight deadlinesandhandle a multitudeof accounts payableactivities. They should strive to continuously improve all aspects of accounts payable and customer service.

SCOPE:

The Accounts Payable Accountant independently processes a wide variety and volume of documents for payment; audits documents with a high degree of accuracy for completeness, validity and adherence to applicable accounting principles.

This position produces monthly AP financial and productivity reports, suggestschanges that result in more effective and efficient processes, procedures and ongoing improvements to performance based on root cause analysis.

.KEY DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Analyze AP section of the Business Office to develop more efficient proceduresand use of resources while maintaininga high level of accuracy
• Use initiative and judgment in analyzing information and determine a course of action
• Review and analyze various AP reports identifying discrepancies, determine corrective action, and resolve/update invoice or records as appropriate.
• Enter various payments directly into Jenzabar, including (but not limited to) invoices, travel documents, subscriptions, memberships, utilities, freight charges, phone and cellular charges, honorariums, and special lecturer payments. In addition to such payments, the AP Accountant will request checks for salary advances, reimbursements, and other requests for payment. 
• Assist students, faculty, vendors, service providers and staff by answering questions, solving problems and providing information that meets their needs. 
• Reconcile AP sub-ledger to the General Ledger monthly; enter all invoices in a timely manner in order to ensure that the month-end close is complete and accurate, provide details related to fixed assets and prepaid expenses to Senior Accountant for posting to the General Ledger, and prepare an accrual summary for the Accounting Manager to ensure that all accruals are properly recorded
• Resolve help desk inquiries in a timely manner
• Perform tasks and responsibilities to achieve a quality outcome by making appropriate decisions that result in deadlines being met.
• Participate in month-end closing process
• Assist with year-end audits
• Process the annual issuance of 1099’s 
• Perform other duties as assigned to support a continuous flow of work within the Business Office and AP in particular.  
   

    WORKEXPERIENCE and SKILLS

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting
• 4-5 years [that includes 3 years in AP] of directly related experience working in an accounting environment
• Experience with an ERP Accounting system. Jenzabar preferred.
• Prior experience extracting / analyzing information and creating AP financial and productivity reports
• Ability to exercise tact, courtesy, alertness and good judgment when responding to internal and external inquiries. 
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Ability to apply problem solving techniques in finding solutions to accounts payable problems. 
• Ability to work independently. 
• Ability to make sound decisions and recommendations regarding accounts payable activities. 
   

TO APPLY: In addition to a résumé, please include a cover letter detailing your interest in the position as well as relevant qualifications, and salary requirements.

Please send resume with “Accounts Payable Accountant in the subject line to resumes@paloaltou.edu