Senior Accounts Payable Specialist (Chicago, US, IL 60606)

At Bel, we are not just a company—we are a company on a Mission, built on 160 years of bold innovation, family values, and a commitment to social purpose. With beloved brands like Babybel®, GoGo squeeZ®, The Laughing Cow®, and Boursin®, our snacking solutions bring more than joy; they want to serve as a force for good. Our U.S. Mission? To help close the critical 80% nutrition gap by making it easier for Americans to eat more fruits, veggies, and dairy as part of their daily lives.

The company has headquarters in Chicago and New York City and operates 4 manufacturing plants in Little Chute, WI; Brookings, SD; Traverse City, MI; and Nampa, ID.  #IWorkForAllForGood

The Senior Accounts Payable Specialist oversees and optimizes daily accounts payable operations while ensuring compliance with accounting standards and attention to detail. This experienced professional serves as a key liaison across departments and business units, including Bel Group (Global), Treasury, corporate accounting, IT, procurement, manufacturing plants, and external financial institutions. The role actively supports month-end and year-end close processes, ensures accurate AP accounting, and contributes to special projects and departmental initiatives as needed. Working in a fast-paced environment, this position demands precision, strong time management, and adaptability. Key responsibilities include processing invoices, managing payment proposals, responding to vendor inquiries, and maintaining accurate records. This is a remote, exempt position based in the Midwest or Northeast US.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Receive, validate & process vendor invoices, ensuring accuracy and proper allocation.
• Resolve invoice and payment discrepancies with internal stakeholders and vendors; escalate complex issues as necessary.
• Review and approve payment runs (Check, ACH, wire), ensuring timely processing.
• Reconcile vendor statements regularly; resolve discrepancies and maintain positive vendor relationships.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies, accounting standards, and regulatory requirements; monitor for changes impacting AP.
• Generate, analyze, and present accounts payable reports and dashboards; provide insights and recommendations for process improvement.
• Support internal and external audit by providing required documentation and responding to inquiries.
• Maintain accurate, organized records of all accounts payable transactions and documentation.
• Oversee AP systems; identify and implement process automation and system enhancements.
• Mentor and train team members; maintain cross-training materials to ensure coverage and team efficiency.
• Continuously evaluate and improve AP processes, controls, and procedures.
• Serve as subject matter expert for AP processes and systems, ensuring consistent and compliant execution.
• Execute daily, weekly, and monthly AP operations, including invoice processing, payment calendar support, GR/IR, close tasks, and AP aging reports.
• Assist with 1099 filing, bank signatory updates, BELKey, and other audit requests as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Accounts Payable Manager

Qualifications and Competencies

• Degree in accounting or business-related field preferred OR equivalent relevant years of proven on the job experience.
• 5+ years of accounts payable experience
• Hands-on SAP experience (invoice and payment processing, AP reporting, VIM) required; able to collaborate with IT on system enhancements. SAP ECC &/or SAP S/4 HANA
• 10-key proficiency (mastery of the numeric keypad for data entry) required
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivots, lookups, data validation) for reconciliations, aging analysis, and reporting.
• Strong knowledge of AP controls and compliance (approval workflows, segregation of duties, documentation retention, audit support).
• Expertise in accounting software and ERP systems.
• Proven ability to investigate and resolve invoice/payment exceptions and clearly communicate with vendors and internal stakeholders.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and motivate peers and contribute to process improvement through documented procedures and training.
• Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and effective issue resolution capability.
• Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor peers and drive process improvement through training and documentation.

Performance Expectations: Business agility, adaptability, efficiency, accuracy, timeliness, competence, resourceful, and thoroughness of work performed; ability to quickly learn new concepts and processes; drive to take initiative and to improve processes; organized and good record keeping skills; ability to gain the trust and respect of others; maintain the integrity of confidential business and product information; ability to communicate effectively and develop good working relationships with all levels of the company; ability to work with and through others to accomplish goals & objectives of the Company.

Working Conditions:  Work is primarily performed in a remote environment, generally during regular business hours, with a minimum expectation of 40 hours per week.  Occasionally, variation in work hours may be required due to special projects, deadlines, or other business needs.  The physical demands of the position are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of the role, and reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.

Relationships:  The Senior Accounts Payable Specialist maintains close working relationships with the accounting and purchasing teams across all North American locations, including Canada and Mexico, and works closely with Bel Group Treasury Group.

Acknowledgement:  This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed by employee assigned to this position.  It does not state or imply that these are the only duties and responsibilities assigned to the job.  The employee may be required to perform other job-related duties as requested by the Bel management team. All requirements are subject to change over time and to possible modifications to reasonably accommodate individuals with a disability.

Total Rewards

• Base Salary: $75,000-$85,000
• Bonus Opportunity: 7%
• PTO and Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits from Day 1
• 401k Match

Bel Brands is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability status or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Bel Brands also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. It is also Bel Brand’s policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions.

If you think that this job is for you, please click now on the button "Apply".