Lead Accounting Operations

Position Overview 

The Lead, Accounting Operations is a key member of a growing team responsible for overseeing accounts payable operations, AP-related accounting activities, corporate initiatives, and a team of Specialists and Analysts. The role provides process ownership across invoice-to-pay and related close activities while leading process improvement, automation, finance transformation, and key system implementations or enhancements.  

Primary Responsibilities  

The below represents the primary duties of the position, others may be assigned as needed. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

• Oversee daily accounts payable operations, including invoice processing, payment execution, supplier inquiries, exception management, supplier onboarding, operational performance metrics, and payment cycle management in partnership with Treasury.  
• Own and oversee AP-related accounting activities, including prepaid expense accounting, accruals, month-end close, preparation and posting of journal entries, balance sheet and aging reconciliations, variance analysis, and timely resolution of reconciling items.  
• Ensure the team applies appropriate accounting judgment and maintains accurate, complete support for invoice, payment, close, and reconciliation activities in accordance with GAAP, company policy, contractual requirements, and established service levels.  
• Execute and monitor internal controls supporting SOX compliance, coordinate internal and external audit requests and walkthroughs, identify control gaps, and implement sustainable corrective actions.  
• Develop and maintain operational dashboards, KPIs, and analytics related to invoice processing, payment timeliness, supplier onboarding, aging, exceptions, close performance, and productivity. Analyze trends and provide actionable recommendations to leadership.  
• Lead process improvement and operational efficiency initiatives by simplifying workflows, standardizing processes, strengthening controls and reporting, and identifying opportunities to scale operations through technology.  
• Lead automation and process optimization efforts, including adoption of AI and other technology capabilities that improve accuracy, efficiency, analytics, controls, and the employee or supplier experience.  
• Lead solution delivery and system implementations or enhancements, including current-state assessment, requirements definition, process design, testing, issue resolution, change adoption, and validation of accurate results.  
• Drive P2P process and system transformation initiatives and partner with stakeholders to translate business and accounting needs into scalable solutions.  
• Work cross-functionally across Accounting, Finance, Procurement, Treasury, Tax, Technology, and business teams to execute corporate and finance transformation initiatives.  
• Serve as an escalation point and subject matter expert for complex supplier, accounting, payment, reconciliation, control, and system exceptions.  
• Other duties and special projects as assigned by management.  
• Education and Experience 
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required.  
• 4+ years of experience in accounting operations, accounts payable, or related accounting functions; Big 4 and/or corporate experience preferred.  
• Hands-on experience with month-end close, accruals, prepaid expenses, journal entries, balance sheet reconciliations, exception management, and internal controls.  
• Prior experience leading teams, projects, process improvement initiatives, and system implementations or enhancements.  
• Experience with P2P process transformation, automation, operational reporting, and technology-enabled finance transformation preferred.  
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook; experience with ERP, P2P, workflow, analytics, automation, or AI-enabled tools preferred.  

Skills & Abilities  

• Strong accounting knowledge with the ability to oversee close activities, reconciliations, control execution, and complex exception resolution.  
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to convert data and operational trends into actionable recommendations.  
• Ability to lead, coach, and develop team members while managing multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.  
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders and build effective cross-departmental partnerships.  
• Ability to establish process ownership, drive accountability, and lead sustainable change across people, process, controls, and technology.  
• Continuous improvement mindset with demonstrated interest in automation, AI adoption, scalable operating models, and finance transformation.  
• Detail oriented, organized, compliance focused, and able to balance operational execution with strategic initiatives.  
• Paylocity is an equal-opportunity employer. Paylocity is committed to the full inclusion of all individuals. We recruit, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law. At Paylocity, we believe diversity makes us better.    

We embrace and encourage our employees’ differences in age, culture, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion or spiritual belief, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique. We actively cultivate these differences through our employee resource groups (ERGs), employee experiences, perspectives, talents, and approaches to drive innovation in the software and services we provide our customers.   

We comply with federal and state disability laws and make reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. To request reasonable accommodation in the job application or interview process, please contact LeaveBenefits@paylocity.com. This email address is exclusively designated for such requests, aligning with federal and state disability laws. Please do not send resumes to this email address, as they will be removed.