Accounts Payable Manager

Job Title: Accounts Payable Manager

Job Description

The Accounts Payable Manager oversees all accounts payable functions to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant processing of vendor invoices and payments within a manufacturing or distribution environment. This role provides hands-on leadership to the accounts payable team, including direct oversight of one AP Clerk, while personally executing key transactional activities. The Accounts Payable Manager maintains strong vendor relationships, enforces internal controls, supports cash management, and ensures adherence to accounting standards, company policies, and applicable regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Manage and oversee the full accounts payable process, including invoice processing, payment runs, and vendor reconciliations in a high-volume environment.
• Lead, train, and develop accounts payable staff, including direct supervision of one AP Clerk, to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and compliance with policies and procedures.
• Process vendor invoices in a timely and accurate manner, ensuring proper matching to purchase orders and receipts in accordance with accounting standards and internal guidelines.
• Maintain and enforce internal controls related to accounts payable and disbursements, safeguarding the integrity of financial transactions.
• Review and approve payment batches, wire transfers, and other disbursement activities, ensuring proper authorization and documentation.
• Resolve invoice discrepancies, payment issues, and vendor inquiries promptly and professionally, working to maintain strong vendor relationships.
• Maintain vendor master data, ensuring that all documentation, approvals, and changes are properly recorded and controlled.
• Coordinate closely with Purchasing, Receiving, and Operations teams to resolve invoice matching issues and support smooth end-to-end procure-to-pay processes.
• Support month-end and year-end close activities, including preparation of account reconciliations, accruals, and responses to audit requests related to accounts payable.
• Calculate and maintain prepaid inventory balances and intercompany payable balances, ensuring accurate recording and reconciliation.
• Monitor cash availability and assist the controllership function with cash management activities, including timing of disbursements and payment runs.
• Ensure compliance with applicable tax reporting requirements, including preparation and support of 1099 reporting for vendors.
• Identify, recommend, and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and automation within accounts payable operations.
• Prepare and present accounts payable reports and metrics for management review, providing insights into performance, trends, and areas for improvement.
• Comply with all company policies, procedures, and applicable regulatory requirements in the execution of accounts payable duties.
• Take direction from the Controller or Finance leadership and collaborate with the broader finance team to support organizational goals.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in accounts payable or broader accounting roles, with direct exposure to high-volume invoice processing.
• Prior supervisory or management experience leading accounts payable staff or similar finance team members.
• Demonstrated ability to oversee and mentor one AP Clerk while also executing day-to-day accounts payable work personally.
• Strong expertise in accounts payable processes, including invoice processing, three-way matching with purchase orders and receiving documents, and vendor reconciliation.
• Proficiency with ERP systems such as NetSuite or SAP, including experience working within manufacturing or distribution environments that involve inventory.
• Experience in banking and cash management activities, including monitoring cash availability and supporting payment scheduling and disbursements.
• Solid understanding of internal controls related to accounts payable and disbursements, and ability to maintain and enforce these controls.
• Working knowledge of tax reporting requirements relevant to accounts payable, including 1099 reporting for vendors.
• Strong computer skills with the ability to understand and work with multiple systems, including ERP, warehouse management systems (WMS), laboratory information management systems (LIMS), and databases.
• Ability to handle a combination of manual and automated invoice processing workflows efficiently and accurately.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and reconciliation skills to resolve discrepancies and ensure accurate financial records.
• Effective communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally with vendors and internal stakeholders across Purchasing, Receiving, Operations, and Finance.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment or within the flavor and fragrance industry is preferred.
• Familiarity with NetSuite and Power BI is a plus, particularly for reporting and data analysis.
• Ability to identify and implement process improvements and leverage technology to enhance accounts payable efficiency.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a high-volume setting.
• Demonstrated commitment to ethics, compliance, and integrity in financial operations.
• Interest in ongoing professional development and willingness to learn new systems and tools.

Work Environment

This role operates within a well-established, family-owned organization that has grown over multiple generations to become a leading supplier in the flavor and fragrance industry. The environment is rooted in a creative, value-driven approach to using aromatic raw materials and byproducts, with a strong emphasis on sustainability, ethics, and compliance. Team members work with modern technologies and systems, including ERP platforms such as NetSuite or SAP, as well as WMS, LIMS, databases, and reporting tools like Power BI, in support of high-volume, inventory-focused operations. The company culture emphasizes integrity, accountability, leadership, legacy, diversity, and passion, and invests significantly in training and development to help employees build impactful, long-term careers. Employees collaborate across Finance, Purchasing, Receiving, Operations, and other departments in a professional setting that values reliability, innovation, and being a trusted resource for clients and colleagues. Bonus opportunities of up to 9% underscore the organization’s commitment to rewarding performance and contributing to shared success.

This position is moving extremely fast as this is an urgent need for the client. If interested, please send over your most up to date resume to smauriello @astoncarter.com along with your availability for a 10-minute phone call.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Carteret, NJ.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $80000.00 - $90000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Health, Medical, Dental, Vision

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Carteret,NJ.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 4, 2026.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email astoncarteraccommodation@astoncarter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.