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The Director of Accounts Payable provides strategic and operational leadership for the institution’s accounts payable function, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant processing of invoices, payments, travel/expense reimbursements, and related disbursements. This role leads staff, optimizes processes, strengthens internal controls, and partners across campus to support institutional goals.

Responsibilities

Accounts Payable Operations

• Oversee day-to-day AP operations, including invoice processing, payment runs, vendor maintenance, 1099 reporting support, and exception resolution.
• Oversee travel and P-card functions.
• Ensure accurate application of payment terms, discounts, tax considerations, and approvals in accordance with institutional policies and regulations.
• Manage team workload balance and prioritize critical payments while maintaining strong internal controls.
• Other responsibilities as determined by the VP for Finance & Controller.

Leadership & Strategy

• Lead, coach, and develop the AP team; establish clear performance expectations, cross-training, and succession planning.
• Set departmental goals, key performance indicators (KPIs), and service standards; monitor performance and drive success
• Serve as a trusted partner to Procurement, Treasury, Budget, Grants, and campus departments to ensure aligned, efficient procure-to-pay practices.

Systems & Process Improvement

• Utilize the ERP to manage AP processes, reporting, configuration support, and system troubleshooting.
• Partner with IS&T, business analysts, and functional stakeholders on ERP upgrades, testing, controls validation, new feature adoption, and user training.
• Identify and lead process improvement initiatives with measurable results.

Compliance, Controls, and Audit Support

• Maintain strong internal controls and ensure compliance with institutional policies, state/federal regulations, and audit standards.
• Support internal/external audits by providing documentation, responding to requests, and implementing corrective action plans.
• Collaborate with Risk/Compliance and Grants offices to ensure appropriate treatment of restricted funds, grant-related expenditures, and documentation requirements.

Financial Reporting & Collaboration

• Provide AP-related reporting and analytics, including aging, accrual support, KPIs, and spend insights for leadership.
• Support month-end and year-end close processes, including accruals, reconciliations, and cut-off procedures.
• Develop and maintain AP policies, procedures, job aids, and training materials; drive campus adoption and compliance.
• Collaborate with Purchasing to ensure seamless procure-to-pay processes.
• Collaborate with the Supplier Team and Tax Compliance Analyst to ensure appropriate vendor set up and taxation.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
• 7+ years of progressive accounts payable experience, including significant supervisory/management responsibility.
• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and Financial Accounting Standards Board guidelines
• Full life cycle Accounts Payable experience.
• Knowledge of 1099 reporting, sales/use tax considerations, and travel/expense reimbursement processes.
• Demonstrated expertise with PeopleSoft Financials or similar ERP system (e.g., Workday, Oracle, SAP, Banner).
• Strong Excel and MS Office software skills
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and customer service skills; ability to influence across diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrates an ability to complete complex assignments with the established timelines and with a high degree of accuracy.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills to balance and prioritize work.
• Ability to exercise discretion and diplomacy and maintain a high level of confidentiality in handling sensitive matters.
• Ability to represent Financial Services in a professional and positive manner in all meetings.
• Demonstrated success supervising and developing staff, including performance management, coaching, and building a customer-service-oriented team.

Chapman University is a nationally ranked institution offering traditional undergraduate and graduate programs in the heart of Orange County, one of Southern California’s most diverse and vibrant regions. The university achieved R2 status in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, a distinction held by just 10 percent of all U.S. universities.

Chapman University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, age, marital status or sexual orientation in the administration of its education policies or any other policies or programs administered by the university.