Accounts Payable Accountant

Job Summary:
ASP is seeking a skilled and motivated Accounts Payable (AP) Accountant to join our North Americas Finance team. This role is ideal for someone with experience in accounts payable, SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley) compliance, internal/external audits, and lean principles. As an AP Accountant, you will play a critical role in maintaining accurate financial records, ensuring compliance with SOX requirements, supporting the audit process, and driving efficiencies through lean methodologies. This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the financial integrity and operational excellence of a dynamic public company.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Accounts Payable:
   • Oversee the accurate and timely processing of vendor invoices, ensuring proper coding and authorization in compliance with company policies.
   • Perform 3-way matching (purchase order, receipt, and invoice) to ensure the accuracy of payments.
   • Support review and approval of employee expense reports, ensuring compliance with company policies and tax regulations.
   • Support recurring tasks around the Corporate Credit Card  and Pcard program
   • Ensure proper accruals and accounting entries are recorded for unpaid invoices at month-end.
2. SOX Compliance:
   • Assist with the documentation, testing, and evaluation of internal controls within the accounts payable process as part of the Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance efforts.
   • Ensure all AP processes comply with internal control standards, providing support during annual SOX testing and addressing any identified control weaknesses.
   • Collaborate with internal audit and external auditors to provide relevant documentation and resolve audit findings related to AP processes.
3. Audit Support:
   • Support external auditors by preparing schedules and reports for the periodic audits.
   • Provide auditors with necessary documentation and explanations to substantiate AP balances, payments, and vendor-related records.
   • Coordinate with external auditors during year-end audit and assist with resolving any issues related to accounts payable transactions.
4. Vendor Management:
   • Maintain and update the vendor master database, ensuring accuracy of contact information, payment terms, and tax information (e.g., W-9/W-8).
   • Review vendor statements, resolve discrepancies, and ensure that payments are made within agreed-upon terms.
   • Respond to vendor inquiries regarding payment status or discrepancies, working towards prompt resolution.
5. Lean Process Improvement:
   • Actively participate in process improvement initiatives, identifying opportunities to streamline AP workflows and reduce manual effort.
   • Apply lean principles to enhance efficiency in the accounts payable process, such as automating invoice processing or improving communication with vendors.
   • Work closely with cross-functional teams to promote a culture of continuous improvement within the finance department.
6. Financial Reporting & Analysis:
   • Assist with the preparation of AP-related financial reports, including accounts payable aging, cash flow forecasts, and month-end accruals.
   • Analyze AP aging reports and identify overdue payments or discrepancies, working with relevant stakeholders to resolve.
   • Provide support in cash management by forecasting cash needs and assisting with vendor payment scheduling.
7. Compliance & Risk Management:
   • Ensure compliance with tax regulations, including sales tax, withholding tax, and 1099 reporting.
   • Monitor and enforce adherence to company policies, including payment authorization procedures and spending limits.
   • Assist with regulatory compliance, ensuring the company remains in good standing with local, state, and federal tax authorities.
8. Month-End & Year-End Close Support:
   • Assist in preparing and reviewing AP-related journal entries during the month-end and year-end close process.
   • Help reconcile AP accounts, ensuring accurate balances are reported in financial statements.
   • Review and resolve any discrepancies or reconciling items between sub-ledgers and the general ledger.
9. Cross-Departmental Collaboration:
   • Work closely with procurement, treasury, and finance teams to ensure alignment and accuracy in AP processing and reporting.
   • Provide guidance on payment terms, contract terms, and other financial issues that may affect accounts payable.
   • Perform other Finance/AP related duties as needed.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or related field preferred.
• 1-3 years of experience in accounts payable or accounting, ideally within a public company.
• Strong understanding of Procure-to=Pay cycle, SOX compliance, audits, and internal controls.
• Experience using accounting software (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite) and Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP).
• Knowledge of tax regulations, including sales tax and 1099 reporting requirements.
• Familiarity with lean principles and continuous improvement practices.
• Excellent attention to detail, analytical skills, and ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate across departments and interact with vendors professionally.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines while maintaining accuracy.

Other Qualifications:

• Experience working with automated AP systems or electronic invoicing solutions.
• Background in working within manufacturing, technology, or retail industries.
• Knowledge of business process mapping and process reengineering techniques.

#LI-CS23

Fortive Corporation Overview

Fortive’s essential technology makes the world stronger, safer, and smarter. We accelerate transformation across a broad range of applications including environmental, health and safety compliance, industrial condition monitoring, next-generation product design, and healthcare safety solutions.

We are a global industrial technology innovator with a startup spirit. Our forward-looking companies lead the way in software-powered workflow solutions, data-driven intelligence, AI-powered automation, and other disruptive technologies. We’re a force for progress, working alongside our customers and partners to solve challenges on a global scale, from workplace safety in the most demanding conditions to groundbreaking sustainability solutions.

We are a diverse team 18,000 strong, united by a dynamic, inclusive culture and energized by limitless learning and growth. We use the proven Fortive Business System (FBS) to accelerate our positive impact. 

At Fortive, we believe in you. We believe in your potential—your ability to learn, grow, and make a difference. 

At Fortive, we believe in us. We believe in the power of people working together to solve problems no one could solve alone. 

At Fortive, we believe in growth. We’re honest about what’s working and what isn’t, and we never stop improving and innovating.

Fortive: For you, for us, for growth.