Accounts Payable Lead Accountant

The Accounts Payable Lead Accountant is responsible for leading the daily accounts payable operations for Westminster University of Utah. This position oversees invoice processing, payment disbursements, vendor maintenance, employee reimbursements, purchase-order matching, accruals, reconciliations, and related accounting activities. The role supports accurate financial reporting, strong internal controls, timely payments, and responsive service to campus departments and external vendors.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Lead daily accounts payable operations, including invoice review, payment processing, employee reimbursements, vendor maintenance, and AP processing queues.
Review transactions for accuracy, completeness, documentation, approval, and proper fund, department, account, and general ledger coding.
Support and guide accounts payable staff, including assigning work, reviewing output, answering questions, and helping resolve processing issues.
Serve as the primary escalation point for vendor inquiries, payment status questions, campus department support, and invoice or purchasing issues.
Partner with Procurement, Finance colleagues, and campus departments to resolve purchase-order matching exceptions and ensure compliance with University payment processes.
Prepare AP-related journal entries, accruals, prepaid expense schedules, account reconciliations, and supporting documentation for month-end and year-end close.
Reconcile the accounts payable subledger to the general ledger and research or resolve outstanding balances, aging items, and discrepancies.
Lead weekly check, ACH, and wire payment runs in accordance with University policies, cash management needs, and vendor payment terms.
Maintain vendor records and support compliance with W-9, 1099, tax reporting, and internal documentation requirements.
Support audit preparation by maintaining complete records, responding to audit requests, and ensuring transactions are properly supported.
Help strengthen internal controls to prevent duplicate payments, unauthorized disbursements, fraud risk, and processing errors.
Assist campus departments with expense questions, budget-to-actual review, fund restrictions, and appropriate use of University resources.
Identify opportunities to streamline AP workflows, improve electronic invoice intake, strengthen reimbursement and corporate card processes, and reduce manual work.
Prepare reports, schedules, and analyses related to payable activity, vendor payments, accruals, and University expense activity.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field required.
Minimum of four years of full-cycle accounts payable, accounting operations, or related finance experience required.
At least one to two years of experience in a senior, lead, or supervisory role preferred.
Strong understanding of accounts payable processes, accruals, account reconciliations, internal controls, and general ledger coding.
Knowledge of W-9, 1099, vendor maintenance, payment processing, and supporting documentation requirements.
Strong customer-service orientation and ability to communicate clearly and professionally with campus departments, vendors, and Finance colleagues.
Excellent attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to manage multiple deadlines in a high-volume environment.
Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and financial systems required.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in higher education, nonprofit, or fund-accounting environments.
Experience with Ellucian Colleague or similar ERP systems.
Experience supporting fiscal year-end close, audit preparation, prepaid expenses, accruals, and financial reporting schedules.
Familiarity with purchase-order workflows, procurement processes, corporate card administration, and employee reimbursement programs.
Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables, XLOOKUP, account reconciliations, and financial analysis.

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