Accounts Payable Accountant

Overview and Responsibilities

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is seeking candidates who are eager to contribute to its Lasallian Catholic mission of awakening, nurturing, and empowering learners to ethical lives of service and leadership. We invite individuals to help transform lives through education, inspired by the Catholic Intellectual Tradition’s quest to understand the human experience through faith and reason and its embrace of all who are dedicated to learning from one another through authentic conversations in search of the truth. We are especially interested in and give preference to candidates who demonstrate a vision to create and nurture initiatives that will advance our mission within the scope of their duties and who will foster a culture of dialogue that, with respect for all people, supports the search for meaning and purpose in pursuit of excellence.

 

Job Summary

 

The Accounts Payable Accountant is responsible for the integrity and accuracy of the company’s disbursement cycle. This role requires a blend of high-volume data management, proactive communication, and a "security first" mindset regarding outgoing funds. You will be the primary point of contact for both internal departments and external vendors.

 

Salary Range:  $42,000 to $50,000

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• Invoice Entry: High-accuracy entry of vendor invoices into the third-party procurement system, ensuring correct GL coding, and department allocation.
• Invoice and Expense Report Review: Audit and validate GL coding submitted by faculty and staff within the third-party procurement system to ensure alignment with the University chart of accounts and funding restrictions.
• Student Refunds: Execute weekly imports of student refund data into the ERP system and facilitate the distribution of all student payments.
• AP Email Monitoring: Act as the "face" of the department by managing the centralized AP email box. This includes triaging invoices, resolving payment status inquiries, and maintaining professional correspondence with vendors, faculty and staff.
• Positive Pay Management: Generate and upload Positive Pay files to the bank portal daily to prevent check fraud and ensure all disbursements are pre-authorized.
• Payment Processing: Perform weekly payment runs (ACH, Wire, and Check) and reconcile any failed transmissions.
• 1099 Processing: Manage the end-to-end 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC process, including collecting W-9s, maintaining accurate vendor tax records, and executing year-end filings with the IRS.
• Audit Support: Maintain organized digital and physical records to support internal and external financial audits.

Qualifications

Experience and Education Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or Business-related field, equivalent combination of education and experience or 5+ years of relevant experience. 

Essential Knowledge & Skills

• General Ledger knowledge for accurate coding of expenses to the correct department and accounts.
• Solid Understanding of IRS Form 1099 Regulations.
• Experience with accounting and expense management software. Knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics and Chrome River is a plus.
• Proficiency in Excel / Microsoft Office suite and Google work platforms.
• Ability to handle a high-volume email inbox with speed, clarity and professionalism.
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, and with confidentiality and discretion as required.
• Exceptional organization and time management skills.
• Detail oriented and able to work independently and under pressure.
• Ability to prioritize, meet deadlines and manage multiple projects.
• Technically savvy and comfortable learning new systems.
• Observes safety guidelines and follows safety procedures established by the university.

Physical Demands

• Sedentary work. Sedentary work involves lifting no more than 10 pounds at a time and occasionally lifting or carrying articles like docket files, ledgers, and small tools. Although a sedentary job is defined as one which involves sitting, a certain amount of walking and standing is often necessary in carrying out job duties. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required occasionally and other sedentary criteria are met.

 

Physical Hazards – Health and Safety Concerns

• General office environments
• Ergonomics

Application Requirements

 

Apply online at https://www.smumn.edu/about/offices-services/human-resources/employment-opportunities/ and include a cover letter, resume, and contact information fo