Accounts Payable Manager

ABOUT THE JOB

Palette is a fast-growing startup at the center of the creator economy. Our team of 80+ is working towards defining the standard for talent management and marketing in an era of new media dominated by digital-first entertainers.

Our management infrastructure mirrors the depth of attention given to the world’s biggest cultural and entertainment icons, and previously reserved for artists in traditional arenas of entertainment. Today, it services a roster of 200+ creators and influencers with a combined following of 1B+ serving over 45.8B impressions monthly. Our creators have starred in Super Bowl commercials, launched national brands, and have been featured in nearly every major publication.

Our marketing agency executes strategy for some of the most influential brands and organizations in the world, including: The Biden White House, Amazon, simplehuman, and the Gates Foundation. 42% of Americans under the age of 40 are no longer accessible through traditional marketing channels – we enable organizations to speak to those audiences. Our marketing team has been recognized with 5 Shorty Impact Awards, and has advised three US Presidents on the future of the internet.

THE ROLE

As an Accounts Payable Manager, you will own and scale the accounts payable function for a fast-growing creator economy business. This is a highly autonomous role responsible for managing the complete AP lifecycle while building the processes, controls, and documentation needed to support a rapidly growing organization.

You will serve as the primary owner of vendor payments, invoice processing, reconciliations, and AP-related reporting, while partnering closely with Finance, Operations, Talent, and department leaders across the business. Beyond day-to-day execution, you'll help create structure, improve workflows, and implement scalable systems that increase efficiency and strengthen financial controls.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys building order from complexity, takes pride in operational excellence, and wants to have a meaningful impact on how finance infrastructure evolves as the company grows.

RESPONSIBILITIES

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE OPERATIONS

• Own the full-cycle accounts payable process, including invoice intake, coding, approvals, payment processing, vendor maintenance, and reconciliations.

• Ensure invoices are processed accurately and timely in accordance with company policies and approval workflows.

• Manage vendor payments via ACH, wire transfers, checks, and other approved payment methods.

• Monitor AP aging and proactively manage upcoming payment obligations, payment terms, and vendor communications.

• Reconcile vendor statements, investigate discrepancies, and resolve issues with both vendors and internal stakeholders.

• Maintain accurate vendor records, including W-9s, payment details, contracts, tax documentation, and supporting files.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for AP-related inquiries from vendors, employees, and finance leadership.

MONTH-END CLOSE & FINANCIAL SUPPORT

• Support month-end and year-end close activities through AP accruals, reconciliations, aging reviews, and expense reporting.

• Prepare schedules and supporting documentation required for financial reporting and close processes.

• Assist with 1099 preparation and other compliance-related reporting requirements.

• Support audits by preparing AP schedules, reconciliations, and requested documentation.

• Maintain accurate records that improve close readiness and reporting reliability.

PROCESS IMPROVEMENT & SYSTEMS

• Identify opportunities to improve AP workflows through automation, system enhancements, and process optimization.

• Create, maintain, and improve AP documentation, including SOPs, process maps, approval workflows, payment procedures, close checklists, and escalation paths.

• Build scalable processes that reduce manual effort while improving accuracy and visibility.

• Partner with cross-functional teams to improve upstream processes that impact AP efficiency and financial accuracy.

• Help establish best practices and controls as the company continues to grow.

CONTROLS, COMPLIANCE & VENDOR MANAGEMENT

• Maintain strong internal controls surrounding vendor setup, invoice approvals, payment processing, and recordkeeping.

• Ensure compliance with company policies and documentation requirements.

• Monitor approval timelines and follow up with stakeholders to keep payments and close activities on track.

• Identify operational risks and implement practical safeguards to reduce errors and improve accountability.

• Build strong vendor relationships through clear communication, professionalism, and proactive issue resolution.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 5+ years of accounts payable, accounting, or finance operations experience.

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field preferred

• Experience owning full-cycle accounts payable processes, vendor management, and payment execution.

• Strong understanding of accounting fundamentals, expense coding, accruals, reconciliations, and month-end close procedures.

• Experience creating or maintaining SOPs, process documentation, workflows, or operational guides.

• Proficiency with accounting systems and AP platforms such as NetSuite, QuickBooks, Sage Intacct, Bill.com http://Bill.com, Ramp, Brex, Expensify, or similar tools.

• Advanced Excel or Google Sheets skills, including reconciliations, reporting schedules, pivot tables, and data review.

• Exceptional attention to detail and strong organizational skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• High degree of ownership, accountability, and discretion when handling sensitive financial information.

THE FOLLOWING SKILLS ARE NOT REQUIRED, BUT A PLUS

• Experience in a high-growth startup, media, entertainment, creator economy, technology, or professional services business.

• Experience implementing AP automation tools or improving approval workflows.

• Familiarity with purchase order processes, vendor onboarding, and internal control frameworks.

• Experience preparing 1099s and supporting external audits.

• Previous AP Manager, AP Lead, or function-owner experience.

• Experience building finance processes from scratch in environments with limited documentation or structure.

• Experience partnering closely with cross-functional teams including Operations, Legal, Talent, Production, or Executive leadership.