Manager, Freight Payables

JOB SUMMARY

Reporting to the Director, Finance Optimization, the Manager, Payables plans, organizes, and executes the corporate accounts, operation payable and duty audit function. This role is responsible for the design, implementation, and operation of efficient payables processes (i.e., intake, matching, authorization, and payment), recruitment and development of talent, managing relationships and service levels with payables technology partners and ensuring accurate accounting for transactions. The role is also responsible for updating and adhering to company policies, internal controls, and industry best practices.

KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manages the corporate accounts, operations payables and duty audit function which includes overseeing timely and accurate intake, matching, and vouchering of vendor invoices, monitoring of work in progress accounts and account reconciliations, and payment authorization and execution.  
• Evaluates and addresses talent, processes, and technology requirements of the payables function to improve efficiencies, manage cash flow and support business process owners and operations teams.
• Provides analytical support for Corporate Finance, Procurement, business process owners, and operations teams to drive timely decision making, procurement and resolution of vendor / client matters.
• Partners with the Sr. Manager, Treasury to ensure payment procedures and technologies adhere to company policies, internal controls, and industry best practices.
• Administers sales and use, value-add and retail sales tax accounting, reporting and remittance.
• Supports accounting and payables requirements for capital projects, facilities expenditures, and procurement/purchasing functions.
• Develops and monitors vendor statistics, process and productivity metrics and analyzes payables trends.
• Deploys associates and solutions to resolve urgent vendor payment matters, and support vendor / agent payment and remittance requirements.
• Partners with Treasury and IT groups to implement leading payment technologies and methods to reduce costs, improve cash flow and support vendor remittances requirements.
• Oversees the corporate expense and credit card programs; works directly with banking, technology, and internal stakeholders to optimize card rebates and provide a high level of quality for cardholders / users.
• Ensures the payables function complies with company policies, internal controls, and industry best practices.
• Supports quarterly review and year-end auditor requirements and internal audit testing requirements.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by management.
• Adhere to established policies and procedures.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

• Thorough knowledge of accounting principles and standards. 

• In-depth working knowledge and experience of full cycle accounts payable. 

• People management skills including leading, interpersonal, customer service skills, performance management, mentoring, coaching, and developing teams. 

• Effective communication (oral & written) skills. Ability to communicate with all levels of employees and management. 

• Ability to navigate financial and operations applications; research variances and identify root causes of discrepancies 

• Excellent organizational, problem solving, analytical and time-management skills. 

• Proven ability to meet tight timelines in an environment with competing priorities. 

• Be proactive and energetic in the work situation, seeking to get things done and able to multi-task 

• Advanced proficiency in the use of Microsoft Suite (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excess, Access and PowerPoint).  Experience with advanced data / analytical software would be an asset. 

• Strong Accounting (IFRS or U.S. GAAP) knowledge 

WORK EXPERIENCE – MINIMUM REQUIRED

EDUCATION

CERTIFICATIONS DESCRIPTION

• One or more accounting designations, such as CPA or CFA required. 

COMPETENCIES