Accounts Payable Lead

Goldberg Segalla LLP, a national law firm with more than 23 offices in 11 states, has an immediate opportunity for an Accounts Payable Lead in its Buffalo office. The Accounts Payable Lead serves as a key analytic and strategic contributor within the Accounts Payable function, with a primary focus on data-driven analysis, continuous process improvement, and risk mitigation. This role is responsible for evaluating end-to-end AP activity to ensure financial accuracy, compliance, and operational effectiveness, while proactively identifying trends, control gaps, and opportunities to enhance efficiency and scalability.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Perform advanced audits of AP Specialist entries to ensure accuracy, proper coding, policy compliance, and internal control adherence.
• Lead in depth research and backend analysis to resolve complex payment discrepancies, coding issues, export failures, and system exceptions.
• Perform reallocations, corrections, and reversals as needed, ensuring accuracy of financial records and complete documentation of changes.
• Review and approve client and firm related payment deviations, ensuring appropriate documentation, approvals, and alignment with firm guidelines.
• Evaluate invoices for aged, closed, or final billed matters to ensure compliance with departmental policies before payment processing.
• Conduct comprehensive reviews of check requests and wire payments, verifying accuracy, authorization, thresholds, and supporting documentation to reduce financial and operational risk.
• Create and manage weekly client and office payment schedules in coordination with AP leadership and Finance, ensuring compliance with firm payment policies.
• Investigate failed or rejected exports, execute corrective actions, and ensure accurate resubmission to maintain data integrity.
• Support firm appeal reviews by coordinating documentation, analysis, and follow up actions.
• Assist with month end close by supporting reconciliation activities, identifying discrepancies, and partnering with AP Specialists to resolve outstanding items.
• Prepare and analyze monthly AP reporting and metrics, including work number summaries and trend analyses, to provide leadership with visibility into workload, risks, and operational performance.
• Analyze workflow trends, recurring errors, and operational gaps; recommend process improvements to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and compliance.
• Provide subject matter support during peak volume periods, staff absences, or special initiatives.
• Participate in AP related projects and strategic initiatives as assigned by the AP Supervisor.

LEAD DUTIES:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for team members regarding daily tasks, priorities, and processes.
• Escalate coaching, performance concerns, and feedback to management.
• Assign, balance, and monitor workloads to ensure deadlines and quality standards are met.
• Troubleshoot issues or bottlenecks and escalate concerns appropriately.
• Communicate changes, expectations, and updates clearly and consistently.
• Ensure team adherence to firm policies, procedures, and compliance standards.
• Identify opportunities for efficiency, training, or process improvements.
• Support onboarding and training of new team members.

REQUIRED SKILLS / ABILITIES & EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of (3) years of experience in Accounts Payable and/or Accounting experience preferred.
• Strong understanding of end-to-end Accounts Payable operations, internal controls, and compliance requirements.
• Proven ability to conduct detailed financial analysis, identify discrepancies, and resolve complex issues accurately and efficiently.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze operational workflows and financial data to identify trends, control gaps, recurring issues, and opportunities for process improvement and efficiency gains.
• High level of attention to detail with a demonstrated commitment to data integrity and risk mitigation.
• Ability to translate analytical findings into clear, actionable insights, communicating effectively with AP leadership, Finance, and cross functional stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt to evolving business needs.
• Strong customer service mindset and the ability to collaborate effectively across departments.
• Strong proficiency with accounting systems and financial applications, with the ability to quickly learn new tools, adapt to system changes, and support data accuracy across integrated platforms.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook) , with comfort using trackers, reports, and shared documentation.
• May be requested to work beyond normal work hours and weekends for special projects.
• Knowledge of Aderant applications and legal industry experience is strongly preferred.

Benefits:
The hourly range for this position is $21- $32.00. Actual pay may be adjusted based on experience and other job-related factors permitted by law. This position also offers bonuses, and a full benefits package. Our benefits package includes, but is not limited to, health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, a 401(k) plan, flexible spending, and more.

Goldberg Segalla isn’t merely a business—we’re a community. We value the diversity of our team and strive to create a collaborative and enjoyable culture for everyone, where leadership is rewarded, and efficiency, mutual respect, and working together for the common good are traits we all embody.

Goldberg Segalla is a national civil litigation firm with offices spanning major metro markets across the U.S., providing strategic coverage wherever our clients do business. As a firm of experienced litigators and trial attorneys, Goldberg Segalla's capabilities span business and commercial disputes, employment and labor, insurance coverage, product liability, and more. Today, our more than 500 attorneys are trusted counselors to public and private clients in key sectors and industries including construction and energy, transportation, manufacturing, retail and hospitality, and insurance.