Accounts Payable Specialist – Grants Focus (South San Francisco)

Opportunity through Robert Half

Are you an experienced Accounts Payable professional looking to take your skills to the next level in a role involving grants management? Robert Half is partnering with a growing organization in South San Francisco to find an Accounts Payable Specialist with a strong background in managing AP functions and grant-related accounting. This hybrid opportunity offers the chance to contribute to impactful projects while advancing your accounting career in a collaborative, mission-driven environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Accounts Payable Management: Handle full-cycle accounts payable processing, including invoice verification, coding, data entry, and payments for vendors, contractors, and grant-funded expenditures.
• Grant Accounting Support: Work closely with finance and program teams to ensure accurate allocation of grant-related expenses, compliance with grant agreements, and proper documentation for audits.
• Payment Processing: Manage vendor payment schedules, resolve discrepancies promptly, and ensure adherence to policies and procedures.
• Expense Reports: Review employee expense reports for compliance with policies and ensure accuracy before reimbursement.
• Reconciliations: Participate in monthly reconciliations of AP accounts, ensuring proper coding and identification of grant-related items.
• Audit Preparation: Maintain organized electronic and paper records of accounts payable transactions, supporting grant reporting and compliance with audit requirements.
• Process Improvement: Identify opportunities to streamline AP processes, enhance efficiency, and improve documentation and tracking of grant-related expenses.
• Cross-Department Collaboration: Partner with program managers and grants administrators to resolve AP issues and optimize alignment with funding guidelines.

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field preferred. Equivalent work experience will be considered.
• Experience: 3+ years of accounts payable experience, including handling grant-related transactions. Nonprofit and/or grant experience strongly preferred.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in accounting software (QuickBooks, NetSuite, or similar); experience with grants management tools is a plus. Advanced knowledge of Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, etc.) required. Peoplesoft is a plus.
• Knowledge: Familiarity with federal and state grant compliance requirements is highly desired.
• Attention to Detail: Ability to manage high volumes of transactions with accuracy, ensuring compliance with funding guidelines and internal controls.
• Interpersonal Skills: Excellent communication and problem-solving abilities to work and collaborate effectively across departments.