Accounts Payable Analyst

The Accounts Payable Analyst is a key member of the corporate accounting team responsible for ensuring the accuracy, efficiency, and integrity of the company’s accounts payable and related financial processes. This role goes beyond invoice processing and brings a strong analytical lens to AP activities—supporting account reconciliations, assisting with journal entries, and contributing to month-end close procedures. The ideal candidate has a solid foundational understanding of core accounting principles, excellent attention to detail, and the initiative to identify improvements within the AP workflow. This individual will collaborate closely with vendors and internal teams while demonstrating a strong desire to grow and advance within the department. Duties/Responsibilities: Invoice Processing & Accounts Payable Operations · Accurately process high volumes of invoices, ensuring proper coding, authorization, and adherence to company policies. · Monitor the invoice flow to ensure timely payments and proactively resolve issues that may delay processing. · Independently maintain a shared inbox, reviewing contents and responding efficiently. Account Reconciliation · Perform routine reconciliations of accounts payable subledgers, vendor statements, and related general ledger accounts. · Investigate and resolve reconciling items, discrepancies, or irregularities with a focus on accuracy and completeness. Journal Entries & Month-End Close Support · Prepare and post journal entries related to accounts payable activities, accruals, and month-end adjustments. · Assist with month-end review processes, providing supporting documentation, variance explanations, and analysis as needed. Vendor & Cross-Functional Collaboration · Partner with vendors to resolve billing issues, discrepancies, or inquiries promptly and professionally. · Work closely with procurement and logistics teams to enhance alignment and streamline the AP workflow. Internal Controls & Process Improvement · Support the development, documentation, and maintenance of internal controls related to accounts payable. · Identify opportunities to improve AP processes, increase efficiency, and strengthen compliance. · Participate in initiatives to enhance automation and standardization within the accounting department. Audit & Reporting Support · Prepare and organize AP-related documentation for internal and external audits. · Assist in generating periodic AP reports and analysis to support management decision-making. · Maintain auditable vendor records, ensuring each vendor account is linked to a valid W9 with contact information available. · Assist in form 1099 generation and distribution at year end. Professional Growth & Departmental Contribution · Apply a solid understanding of foundational accounting principles to daily tasks and broader finance initiatives. · Demonstrate curiosity and initiative in learning new systems, practices, and analytical techniques to grow within the department. · Contribute to a collaborative team culture by sharing insights and supporting peers when needed. Required Skills/Abilities: Bachelor’s degree in accounting preferred, with a strong understanding of foundational accounting principles. · 1+ years of accounts payable experience , including high-volume invoice processing and exposure to general ledger activity. · Solid analytical skills with the ability to interpret financial data, identify discrepancies, and support month-end close activities. · Experience with accounting systems such as NetSuite or comparable ERP platforms; strong Excel proficiency (lookups, pivot tables, data validation, etc.). · Ability to validate system-generated outputs and support technology-driven improvements, including AI-enabled automation tools. · Strong communication and collaboration skills for working with vendors and cross-functional internal teams. · High attention to detail and strong organizational skills , with the ability to manage competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment. · Proactive and growth-oriented mindset , with a desire to learn new systems, processes, and analytical techniques. Personal/Professional Attributes: · Integrity: Demonstrates sound judgment and upholds the highest ethical standards when handling financial transactions and sensitive information. · Analytical Mindset: Approaches tasks with curiosity and rigor, using data and accounting principles to identify trends, discrepancies, and opportunities for improvement. · Adaptability: Embraces evolving processes, technologies, and standards—especially within an environment adopting automation and AI-driven tools. · Problem-Solving Skills: Proactively identifies issues within the AP workflow and applies structured, solution-oriented thinking to resolve them efficiently. · Continuous Learning: Shows initiative in expanding technical knowledge, accounting expertise, and familiarity with emerging tools and best practices. · Confidentiality: Handles sensitive financial and organizational information with discretion, professionalism, and strict respect for privacy requirements. FLSA Status: Exempt Empire Auto Parts is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran stat