Senior Accounts Payable Specialist

Senior Accounts Payable Specialist

The Company:
Cognex is the global leader in the dynamic and rapidly growing field of machine vision, generating annual revenue of $1 billion. We are a financially strong international organization with a culture that combines the energy and creativity of a startup with the stability of an established company.

The Role:
The Senior Accounts Payable Specialist supports endtoend AP processing for multiple global entities across the United States and Europe. This role manages the full lifecycle of PO and nonPO invoices, ensures adherence to regional tax and regulatory requirements, and drives accuracy, timeliness, and compliance across a complex ProcuretoPay (P2P) landscape. The position acts as a subjectmatter expert, supporting process standardization, crossregional alignment, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Essential Functions:
Global Invoice Processing (PO & No PO)

• Manage daily AP operations for U.S. and European entities, ensuring accurate and timely processing of PO and non PO invoices.
• Perform detailed 3 way match validations (PO, goods receipt, invoice) and coordinate with Procurement, Receiving, and business teams to resolve discrepancies.
• Process non PO invoices (e.g., utilities, rent, legal, professional services) ensuring appropriate approvals, cost center assignment, and documentation.
• Validate VAT treatments, tax codes, and country specific invoice requirements for EU entities (e.g., reverse charge rules, digital invoice formats, statutory fields).
• Ensure compliance with U.S. state and federal requirements, including 1099s.
• Maintain accurate global vendor master data, including EU bank details (IBAN, SWIFT/BIC) and U.S. ACH/wire validations.

Global Payment Execution

• Manage and execute scheduled payment runs for U.S. and European entities, ensuring proper payment methods based on region (ACH, SEPA, manual wires)
• Verify payment approvals, bank instructions, and foreign currency transactions when needed.
• Monitor and resolve payment failures, returned payments, and reissue requests across varying regional banking systems.

Vendor Management, Issue Resolution & Stakeholder Support

• Serve as the escalation point for complex invoices, vendor, tax, and payment issues across regions.
• Partner with Procurement, FP&A, Controllers, and business stakeholders in both the U.S. and Europe to drive clarity on purchasing compliance and invoice processing requirements.
• Collaborate with vendors across time zones to resolve discrepancies, credits, missing documentation, or invoice disputes.
• Ensure accurate vendor setup and maintenance, including W9/W8 management and banking verification.
• Collaborate with vendors to resolve discrepancies, credit memos, and disputes.

Month End Close and Reporting Responsibilities

• Perform month end AP close activities across U.S. and European entities, including preparing and posting accruals for uninvoiced goods/services, late vendor invoices, and recurring expenses; reviewing and reconciling GR/IR accounts to ensure accurate 3 way match, timely clearing of open items, proper period cut off, and validating VAT/tax code treatments for EU invoices to ensure compliance.
• Complete monthly AP reconciliations by performing supplier statement reconciliations, resolving variances with the AP subledger, reconciling AP related balance sheet accounts (trade AP, non trade AP, accruals, GR/IR, and clearing accounts), and reviewing AP aging to ensure timely follow up on overdue items, unmatched invoices, debit balances, and other exceptions.
• Support audit and compliance requirements by providing reconciliations, documentation, and samples for internal, external, SOX, and statutory audits; maintain adherence to U.S. GAAP, SOX controls, and European statutory standards, and proactively identify and resolve recurring issues impacting close such as unmatched POs, delayed goods receipts, or late approvals.

Process Improvement & Systems

• Identify and lead improvements in AP workflows, automation, and self-service capabilities.
• Act as a super user or SME for AP technology (e.g., ERP systems, OCR/AI tools, einvoicing, Levelpath or similar P2P tools).
• Support testing and implementation of new systems, enhancements, and process redesigns.

CrossFunctional Partnership

• Work closely with Procurement, FP&A, Treasury, and operations teams to ensure a seamless P2P workflow.
• Support training for internal teams and field users on AP policies and best practices.
• Mentor junior AP staff and contribute to team knowledge development.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Core Competencies

• Global Mindset: Understands regional differences and can operate effectively across markets.
• Operational Excellence: Ensures accuracy, timeliness, controls, and high quality service delivery.
• Problem Solving: Resolves complex invoices, tax, system, and payment challenges independently.
• Customer Focus: Provides strong vendor and stakeholder support across multiple time zones.
• Collaboration: Works effectively with cross functional and cross regional teams.
• Technical Aptitude: Quickly adapts to systems, automation tools, and global P2P technologies.

Qualifications:
Required

• B.Com/ B.S. degree in Finance-related field
• 6+ years of progressive Accounts Payable experience, preferably in a shared services or global delivery model.
• Strong understanding of P2P processes, 3way match, purchasing policies, and invoice controls.
• Experience with enterprise ERP (e.g., SAP, SAP Concur, Levelpath, Workday, Service Now).
• High attention to detail, analytical mindset, and strong problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work in tight corporate deadlines and fast paced environment.
• Ability to work independently and communicate with all levels of the organization and customers.