Accounts Payable Accounting Lead

About the Team

OpenAI Finance is responsible for ensuring the organization is set up for success in pursuit of its mission. The Procurement team advises our business partners to make the best investments, ensures we acquire the resources needed for growth, and enables our mission through efficient procurement practices. 

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Accounts Payable (AP) Accounting Lead to join our dynamic Procure-to-Pay team. In this role, you will manage the full AP cycle, oversee day-to-day functions such as invoice processing and vendor relationship management, and ensure timely and accurate payments. You will take ownership of key processes, drive strategic improvements to enhance efficiency and compliance, and serve as a trusted partner to internal and external stakeholders. With a focus on process automation, cross-functional collaboration, and audit readiness, this role offers the opportunity to significantly impact the AP function and support key financial initiatives.

This role is based in San Francisco, CA. We use a hybrid work model of 3 days in the office per week and offer relocation assistance to new employees.

In this role, you will:

• Oversee and optimize the entire AP function, ensuring accurate and efficient invoice processing, payment execution, and adherence to financial regulations and company policies.
• Spearhead the implementation and continuous improvement of ERP and AP automation tools (e.g., Oracle, NetSuite, SAP, Zip, Navan) and processes to increase processing speed, accuracy, and reporting capabilities.
• Build and sustain strong relationships with key vendors, proactively resolving complex billing and payment issues, negotiating terms, and ensuring seamless vendor operations.
• Lead and mentor offshore AP staff, fostering a culture of excellence, continuous improvement, and accountability within the team.
• Manage the AP-related month-end close process, including account reconciliations, accurate accruals, and the preparation of all necessary documentation for audits.
• Ensure compliance with internal controls, financial regulations, and legal standards. Lead the preparation for internal and external audits, ensuring audit readiness and addressing findings as needed.

You might thrive in this role if you have: 

• A Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field. CPA or equivalent certification is strongly preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in accounts payable or general accounting, with at least 2-3 years in a senior or leadership capacity. Proven experience managing large volumes in a high-growth environment.
• Deep experience with ERP systems (Oracle, NetSuite, SAP) and AP automation tools (i.e. OCR: Optical Character Recognition, RPA: Robotic Process Automation, Workflow Automation). 
• The ability to drive system improvements and lead automation initiatives.
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to mentor and develop junior team members for high performance.
• Expertise in financial analysis, reporting, and presenting insights to leadership. Strong attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy and compliance.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work cross-functionally with finance, procurement, and other teams outside of the finance org. 
• Prior experience in a high-growth, fast-paced environment, with a focus on process improvement, audit readiness, and scalability.

About OpenAI

OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. We push the boundaries of the capabilities of AI systems and seek to safely deploy them to the world through our products. AI is an extremely powerful tool that must be created with safety and human needs at its core, and to achieve our mission, we must encompass and value the many different perspectives, voices, and experiences that form the full spectrum of humanity. 

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. 

OpenAI Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement

For US Based Candidates: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, and requests can be made via this link.

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