Senior Accounts Payable Specialist

About The Role

The Senior Accounts Payable Specialist is responsible for overseeing day-to-day Accounts Payable functions and serving as the primary operational lead for the AP Team. This role provides direct guidance, training, workload management, and compliance with company policies. The Senior AP Specialist serves as the primary liaison between the AP Staff and the AP Manager, escalating significant issues and providing regular reporting on team performance, aging, and operational metrics. 

The Senior Accounts Payable Specialist, reporting to the Accounts Payable Manager, supports the Accounting team through the execution of accounts payable activities, vendor account management, and cross-functional support within the AP function.  You should be analytical and precise, but able to operate in ambiguity and adapt quickly in a fast-paced, evolving environment. 

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct daily AP team huddles. 

• Maintain a regular assigned invoice-processing workload. 

• Personally process invoices from receipt through coding, approval routing, publication, and synchronization. 

• Monitor accounts payable activity throughout the day, including inbox volume, draft bills, approval queues, due dates, exceptions, duplicate invoice risk, and items requiring follow-up.  

• Oversee high-volume invoice processing, vendor setup and changes, statement reconciliations, credit memos, refunds, and vendor inquiries. 

• Prepare and complete weekly check and payment runs, including reviewing approved invoices and due dates, selecting payment methods, confirming cash requirements, printing checks, preparing positive pay files when applicable, and confirming payments are properly recorded and released. 

• Review and approve new vendor accounts. 

• Present payment package for approval. 

• Monitor all AP inboxes and ensure timely response. 

• Serve as first escalation point for AP team members, vendor inquiries and issue resolution. 

• Assist with timely and accurate month-end close activities related to accounts payable, including accruals and account reconciliations. 

• Escalate critical suppliers as appropriate. 

• Maintain strong internal controls and ensure compliance with company policies and accounting standards. 

• Support audits by preparing documentation and responding to audit requests. 

• Identify opportunities to improve AP processes, efficiency and automation. 

• Provide training, guidance and support to AP team members. 

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve discrepancies and improve workflows. 

• Review work for accuracy and completeness, identify recurring errors or bottlenecks, and implement process improvements and additional controls as needed. 

• Support month-end close by confirming AP cutoff, identifying uninvoiced liabilities, preparing or reviewing accrual support, reviewing the AP aging, and reconciling relevant accounts and reports. 

• Assist with vendor reporting, 1099 readiness, audit requests, and other AP-related financial reporting and reconciliations. 

What You Bring to the Table

Qualifications

• 5 -7 years of accounts payable experience with at least 3 years’ experience as a lead 

• Strong understanding of AP processes, three-way matching and internal controls, including high-volume and multi-entity processing 

• Prior experience in CPG, food & beverage, or manufacturing environments strongly preferred 

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or related field 

• CPA preferred

Mindset 

• Builder mentality with a passion for improving processes and creating structure in growth environments  

• High ownership and accountability with strong attention to detail  

• Curious, data-driven thinker who challenges assumptions and seeks better ways of working  

• Collaborative partner who can translate financial concepts into business insights  

• Proficiency in Excel (pivot tables, lookups, basic analysis). 

• Exposure to month-end close and audit support. 

• Ability to multitask, prioritize and organize effectively. 

• Ability to maintain confidentiality of company and client information. 

 Skillset

• Proficiency with accounting software such as SAP 

• Understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) 

• Familiarity with standard accounts payable procedures and workflows 

• High attention to detail for accurate data entry and invoice matching 

• Strong time-management skills to meet payment deadlines 

• Knowledge of purchasing, invoicing and vendor payment terms 

• Competence with spreadsheet tools for tracking and reconciling transactions 

Toolset 

• ERP systems experience (e.g., NetSuite, SAP, Oracle, or similar)  

• Advanced Excel and data analysis capabilities  

• Experience working with large datasets and multiple data sources  

• Exposure to SOX controls and financial systems design is a plus 

Location and Travel

The position will be based out of our office in Walnut Creek, CA. We strongly believe in the power of culture and community and have a hybrid work structure with 4 days in the office on a weekly basis to encourage collaboration and personal connections that will allow us to better serve our customers and consumer and to have more fun.  Fridays are flex days with employees having the opportunity to choose to be either in the office or to work from home based on what makes most sense for them.

Pay Transparency

The expected starting salary range for this role is $115,000- $125,000 per year. The salary range posted for this role reflects the good-faith base pay range Kinder’s reasonably expects to offer at the time of posting and may vary based on the location of the role. Individual compensation within the posted range will be determined based on factors such as relevant education, experience, qualifications, skills, and business needs.