Palette Media
Accounts Payable Manager
2w ago
USASeniorRemoteaccounts payablefinancial reportingprocess improvement
Manage and scale the accounts payable function for a fast-growing creator economy business.
Responsibilities
- 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.
- 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.
Requirements
- 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 , 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.
Nice to have
- 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.
Other
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.