Senior Accounts Payable Analyst - Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.

Overview

NRDC is a non-profit environmental advocacy organization. We use law, science, and the support of 3.1 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. NRDC was founded in 1970 and our people helped write some of America's bedrock environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act and many of the implementing regulations. Today, our team of more than 700 lawyers, scientists, economists, policy advocates, communications experts, and others work across the United States and the globe from our offices in Beijing; Chicago; New Delhi; New York; San Francisco; Santa Monica; and Washington, D.C.

NRDC is seeking a Senior Accounts Payable Analyst to work with the Accounting & Finance team in any of our U.S. based offices.

Position Summary

We are seeking a detail-oriented and experienced Senior Accounts Payable Analyst to join our team. In this role, you’ll take a lead in executing our accounts payable processes, ensuring the accurate and timely processing of invoices, payments, and reconciliations.  The ideal candidate is a problem-solver with a strong understanding of AP functions, excellent organizational skills, and a drive for continuous improvement. The first year of this role will be solely dedicated to the implementation of Coupa, a cloud-based Business Spend Management (BSM) system for NRDC’s Accounts Payable, and Travel and Expense processes. Required is advanced knowledge of BSM systems, centralized invoice processing, and the ability to flag system integration issues that would compromise the timeliness of vendor payments.

The position you are applying for is part of the bargaining unit represented by The Washington Baltimore News Guild (WBNG / The Newsguild-CWA Local 32035).  

Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the following essential functions:

• Oversight of Invoice Processing & Payment Management (40%)
  • Lead the efficient management of high-volume vendor invoices within Coupa, ensuring alignment with NRDC policies, accounting standards, and organizational goals.
  • Implement a risk-based framework to identify and address high-priority transactions or potential exceptions proactively.
  • Partner with the AP Manager and Treasury Director to optimize payment cycles, including oversight of weekly payment runs, wire transfers, and reimbursements, ensuring timeliness and accuracy.
• Vendor Relationship Management & Issue Resolution (20%)
  • Establish and maintain strong vendor partnerships, acting as a key point of escalation for complex payment inquiries and disputes.
  • Leverage advanced capabilities of cloud-based BSM tools to manage end-to-end invoice lifecycles, generate actionable insights through exception reporting, and implement solutions for systemic issues.
• Financial Reconciliation & Reporting (10%)
  • Perform monthly reconciliations of accounts payable accounts, ensuring accurate financial reporting. Assist the accounting team in month-end and year-end closing for the audit and Form 990 work.
  • Drive the preparation and accuracy of compliance filings, including vendor 1099s, and collaborate closely with the accounting team during month-end and year-end close processes.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Operational Partnership (20%)
  • Act as a strategic partner to internal departments, resolving complex payment issues and aligning processes with organizational objectives.
  • Lead training initiatives and process documentation efforts to strengthen team capabilities and ensure consistency in operations.
  • Foster a client-service-oriented culture within Finance and Accounting, enhancing collaboration with internal stakeholders across the organization.
• Process Improvement (10%)
  • Identify and lead high-impact process improvement opportunities, partnering with stakeholders to develop and implement best-practice solutions.
  • Provide strategic input and support for system implementations and other organizational initiatives, ensuring seamless integration with existing processes.
  • Collaborate with the AP Manager to execute special projects and advance department-wide goals, driving continuous improvement and operational excellence.
  • The above list of duties is not comprehensive but generally demonstrates the types of assignments expected of this role. Other duties may be assigned depending on the needs of the department.

The above list of duties is not comprehensive but generally demonstrates the types of assignments expected of this role. Other duties may be assigned depending on the needs of the department.

Qualifications

Minimum Education & Experience: 

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance,  business administration, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 4-7 years of experience working with cloud-based BSM systems, with a strong preference for candidates who have been core team members of previous BSM implementations.
• Previous experience with Coupa is strongly preferred.

Skills, Abilities, Competencies

• Strong analytical skills and ability to manipulate and navigate large amounts of data
• Strong writing skills with ability to create clear and detailed process documentation
• Strong communication and teamwork skills, with attention to detail and the ability to prioritize in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Able to work in collaboration with internal Finance and Accounting team, as well as with other departments in the organization
• Unwavering professional and ethical standards with a strong sense of responsibility and ownership
• Ability to travel to NRDC U.S. based offices, approximately 10-15% annually
• Commitment to NRDC’s mission, values, and DEI principles

NRDC is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our work and in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming diverse voices and perspectives is essential to solving the planet's most pressing environmental problems, and we encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement. 

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.  

We offer competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a supportive working environment. Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and is commensurate with skills and experience. Internal equity will be reviewed and considered to determine a final offer. For this position, the salary range is $90,000 to $105,000.  

NRDC operates under a hybrid work model. Employees are required to come to the office 8 days per month. 

As a science-based organization, NRDC aims to do our part to help contain the COVID-19 public health crisis. For the sake of health, safety, and equity, we ask that people be vaccinated unless they have an approved medical or religious accommodation or other exemption in accordance with state and local law. We consider a person to be vaccinated two weeks after receiving one full course of a CDC-approved vaccine. In accordance with state or local law, new hires will be asked to attest to vaccination, those wishing to do so may request medical or religious accommodations or other exemptions via NRDC Employee Relations. NRDC treats all vaccine-related data confidentially, in keeping with local, state, and federal laws. 

To apply, visit www.nrdc.org/careers and upload your résumé and cover letter. Please mention where you saw this posting and upload any additional materials that showcase your abilities. Due to the high volume of applications, we will contact only those candidates we would like to interview. Please no phone calls, emails, or in-person résumé drop-offs. 

If you experience technical problems while applying or if you are a person with a disability and need assistance applying online, please reach out to iCIMS Customer Care at 1-800-889-4422. 

For more about NRDC, visit www.nrdc.org.