Position: Senior Manager, Accounts Payable – Full Time/Exempt

Department: Accounting & Finance

Reports to: Controller

Location: Arizona Cardinals (Tempe, AZ)

Format: In-person 

Cardinals Organizational Summary:   

The Arizona Cardinals Football Club is a professional football team within the National Football League (NFL). We compete in the National Football Conference (NFC) West division and call State Farm Stadium, in Glendale, Arizona, our home.

As one of the oldest pro football franchises in the U.S., the Club has established itself as a sport and cultural hallmark within Arizona, as well as a trailblazer for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) initiatives and firsts around the League.  Our vision is to build a leading sports organization that competes for championships, drives business results, creates loyal fans, develops proud employees, and inspires hope in our community. We are relentless in our pursuit of greatness on and off the field, while positively impacting our people, our fans, and our community.

If you want to join an organization that values putting the team first, doing what is right, growing with positivity, valuing every voice, while driving performance, we would love for you to join our team. Learn more about the Arizona Cardinals and see what’s happening here. 

Job Summary:

The Accounts Payable Senior Manager leads the AP function with a focus on accuracy, efficiency, and continuous improvement. This role oversees team performance, strengthens internal controls, drives system and process enhancements, and ensures timely, compliant disbursements. As a key partner across departments, stadium operations, and the League, the Senior Manager supports strategic finance initiatives while fostering a culture of accountability and operational excellence. Experience in accounting and finance is preferred. We seek a proactive problem-solver, possessing a strong work ethic and an ability to sit for long periods. A good attitude and a commitment to teamwork are a must.

Primary Job Duties:

The Accounts Payable Senior Manager will have the daily responsibilities including, without limitation, to the following:

• Set direction for the Accounts Payable function to align with Finance team goals and support continuous improvement across processes, systems, and team performance.
• Drive strategic initiatives within AP, including improving reconciliation accuracy, enhancing use of systems (e.g., Esker, Concur, and Dynamics GP), and reducing manual or inefficient tasks.
• Identify and implement technology solutions and automation to streamline workflows and increase transparency in the AP process.
• Oversee the accuracy and timeliness of monthly close activities related to AP, including accruals, reconciliations, and vendor aging reviews.
• Contribute to cross-functional finance projects, including system upgrades, data validation initiatives, and process redesigns that impact AP or expense flow.
• Create, implement, and enforce company-wide credit card and employee expense policies to ensure consistent compliance, proper documentation, and alignment with spending guidelines.
• Own AP documentation and training standards, ensuring processes are well-documented, scalable, and easy to onboard.
• Serve as the escalation point for complex vendor issues, payment discrepancies, or policy exceptions, working cross-functionally to resolve root causes.
• Maintain and enforce internal controls within AP, ensuring proper segregation of duties, approval workflows, and compliance with company policies.
• Support audit and compliance efforts (e.g. 1099's) by ensuring the AP function is well-organized, documented, and responsive to inquiries.
• Lead and coach the AP Manager and team, ensuring clear roles, career development, and accountability for high-quality, timely processing.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications/Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in accounting or commensurate experience is strongly preferred
• Experience: Minimum 7 years of relevant experience, including at least 3 years in a leadership or management capacity, ideally overseeing teams and implementing process improvements
• Proven leadership in accounts payable operations, process improvement, and team development
• Solid understanding of accounting principles and the financial impact of AP transactions, including expense recognition, accruals, and proper journal entry recording to ensure accurate financial reporting
• Experience with ERP systems (e.g., MS Dynamics, SAP, Oracle) and AP automation tools (e.g., Esker, Tipalti, Coupa)
• Ability to manage high-volume workloads, shifting priorities, and tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Skilled in strategic planning, issue resolution, and driving operational efficiency
• Strong communication, organization, and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Experience managing corporate credit card programs and enforcing AP/T&E policies
• Strong experience leading financial system implementations and upgrades, with a focus on optimizing AP and expense processes through technology
• High attention to detail with a commitment to accuracy, compliance, and continuous improvement
• Must complete all pre-employment forms and successfully pass a background check

Cardinals Benefits/Perks Summary:

The Arizona Cardinals Football Club has developed a comprehensive benefits package that provides economic and inclusive benefits to full-time employees. The Cardinals benefits offer care, protection, and support for employees and their loved ones. The Cardinals organization encourages an environment that is conducive to living a healthy, productive, and flexible lifestyle.

Benefits and Perks include, but are not limited to:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance options; effective the first day of hire
• 401 (k) retirement option with employer match contribution
• Paid Time Off Accruals (including sick time accruals)
• Paid Time Off for most Federal holidays
• Time off for Maternity, Paternity, Military, and Bereavement
• MDLIVE: 24/7 medical support
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) & Health Care Saving Account options
• Discounts on Cardinals gear & paraphernalia
• Tuition reimbursement & Professional Growth opportunities
• Daily free lunch
• Complimentary season tickets
• Subsidized gym memberships 

The Arizona Cardinals Football Club is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.

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Equal Opportunity Employer
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