Accounts Payable Associate

About Exponent

Exponent is the only premium engineering and scientific consulting firm with the depth and breadth of expertise to solve our clients’ most profoundly unique, unprecedented, and urgent challenges.

We are committed to engaging multidisciplinary teams of science, engineering, and regulatory experts to empower our clients with solutions that create a safer, healthier, more sustainable world. For over five decades, we've connected the lessons of past failures with tomorrow's solutions to advise clients as they innovate technologically complex products and processes, ensure the safety and health of their users, and address the challenges of sustainability.

Join our team of experts with degrees from top programs at over 500 universities and extensive experience spanning a variety of industries. At Exponent, you’ll contribute to the diverse pool of ideas, talents, backgrounds, and experiences that drives our collaborative teamwork and breakthrough insights. Plus, we help you grow your career through mentoring, sponsorship, and a culture of learning. Thanks for your interest in joining our team!  

Key statistics:

• 1,100+ Team members
• 950+ Consultants
• 640+ Ph.D.s
• 90+ Disciplines
• 30+ Offices globally

Our Opportunity

Exponent is seeking an Accounting Associate to join our Finance/Accounting team at our Phoenix, AZ office. In this position, you’ll collaborate closely with colleagues to process accounts payable transactions and manage expense reports. You’ll serve as the main point of contact within the Finance/Accounting group for a diverse range of vendors and employees from various engineering and corporate departments. Your role will also involve reviewing vendor accounts and payments, preparing Excel templates for data imports, supporting internal and external audit activities, and participating in key financial projects that contribute to the department’s goals.

• Process accounts payable transactions efficiently and accurately.
• Ensure expenses are properly coded and allocated to appropriate cost centers.
• Analyze vendor accounts and payments for accuracy and compliance.
• Create and maintain data import templates using Excel.
• Assist during internal and external audits and other departmental financial initiatives.

We’re looking for sharp, motivated individuals eager to make an impact in a fast-paced environment. You’ll work alongside our team of experts to deliver exceptional service and help fulfill our vision as a leading engineering and science consulting firm.

You will be responsible for

• Process vendor invoices and payments through Accounting System, ensuring accurate coding, supporting documentation, approvals, and internal control compliance.
• Review employee expense reports for appropriate documentation, coding, business purpose, approvals, and policy compliance.
• Support vendor onboarding and maintenance, including W-9s, payment information, ACH/wire verification, and 1099 reporting requirements.
• Support purchasing and procurement activities such resolution of PO/invoice discrepancies.
• Monitor approval workflows, research exceptions, and follow up on outstanding approvals or processing issues.
• Communicate with vendors and internal stakeholders to resolve invoice, payment, reimbursement, and account inquiries.
• Support payment processing, including ACH, wires, checks, and special payment requests, and assess use tax when applicable.
• Maintain accurate AP records and supporting documentation for month-end close, reconciliations, audits, financial reporting, and internal controls.
• Partner with Accounting, Purchasing, project teams, and approvers to support efficient and timely procure-to-pay processes.
• Support system testing, process documentation, training, cross-training, and continuous process improvement.
• Contribute to a collaborative, customer-focused team environment and participate in special projects as assigned.

You will have the following skills and qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or progress toward a degree in a related field; alternatively, substantial professional experience in finance within an office environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to investigate discrepancies, identify trends and exceptions, and independently drive issues to resolution.
• Solid understanding of accounting principles and the ability to apply accounting judgment to expense classification, prepaid expenses, accruals, fixed assets, and period-end activities.
• Strong systems aptitude and demonstrated ability to work effectively with automated financial applications; experience with Ramp or similar accounts payable automation platforms is preferred.
• Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including PivotTables, VLOOKUP, reconciliations, and analysis of large data sets.
• Ability to operate in an exception-based, highly automated accounts payable environment with emphasis on review, analysis, controls, and issue resolution rather than transactional data entry.
• Understanding of accounts payable and purchasing controls, including approval workflows, segregation of duties, vendor master controls, duplicate-payment prevention, and payment authorization.
• Continuous-improvement mindset with the ability to identify opportunities to streamline processes, strengthen controls, and leverage technology, AI, and automation.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with vendors and cross-functional business partners.
• Ability to take ownership of issues, exercise sound judgment, and appropriately escalate higher-risk or unusual transactions.
• Ability to maintain a hybrid work schedule, requiring at least three days per week in the office.
• Presently legally authorized to work in the United States. No immigration sponsorship or processing required.

Life @ Exponent

To learn more about life at Exponent and our impact, please visit the following links:

https://www.exponent.com/careers/life-exponent

https://www.exponent.com/company/our-impact

Attracting, inspiring, developing, and rewarding exceptional people with diverse backgrounds and expertise are central to our corporate culture. Our diverse team allows us to provide better value to our clients and enjoy an enriched work environment.

Our firm is committed to offering a variety of programs and resources to support health and well-being. We believe that providing competitive benefits as well as compensation and recognition programs empowers our staff to do work that makes a difference.

Work Environment

At Exponent, we have found that in-person interactions deepen employee engagement and are crucial for development, for realizing the full potential of our talented and diverse teams, and for​ building a more inclusive workplace where all have a sense of belonging. In our offices, you can expect a supportive culture and a collaborative, dynamic, multi-disciplinary work environment.

Benefits you will enjoy

Access benefits information on our Life@Exponent page:

https://www.exponent.com/careers/life-exponent

Exponent is a proud equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected status.

If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, you may email us at HR-Accommodations@exponent.com.

Job Locations

US-AZ-Phoenix