Senior AP Operations Lead

Milbank LLP is seeking a Senior AP Operations Lead to serve as the functional lead for AP review, payments, controls, and exception resolution. This hands-on role combines senior review authority with daily AP execution - including personally processing payments and entering wires as needed.

• Acting team lead during the AP Manager's absence - managing workflow prioritization, escalations, and operational continuity
• Final review and approval of complex invoices in Emburse, including exception handling and coding validation
• Review and approve wire and ACH payments including interoffice funding and vendor payments
• Hands-on payment entry as a third trained operator for daily wires/ACH, partner distributions, and international transfers
• Primary owner for returned wire/ACH research - root cause identification, vendor master corrections, and payment re-initiation
• Monthly credit card reconciliation on the AP side in coordination with the GL team
• Direct processing support for payment runs, Emburse Expense approvals, and invoice loads
• Assist in designing standardized invoice workflows and maintaining controls over automated invoice submissions
• Ad-hoc GL reclassifications and 1099 process support during peak season
• Build operational resilience through cross-training and process standardization

The anticipated base salary range offered for this role will be between $90,000 to $115,000 and represents the Firm's good faith and reasonable estimate of the base compensation range. Actual base compensation will be dependent upon several factors, including but not limited to the candidate's relevant experience, performance, qualifications, degrees, and location, as well as the needs of the firm.

• • Bachelor of Accounting preferred
  • 5+ years of AP experience in professional services, legal, or financial services, with 3-5 years in a senior or lead capacity
  • Proficiency with ERP/accounting systems (voucher entry, vendor management, payment processing); Emburse and 3E knowledge a plus
  • Proficiency with banking platforms for wire/ACH initiation, approval, and returned payment investigation
  • Strong invoice review, exception handling, and AP controls experience - beyond data entry
  • Critical thinking and independent decision-making skills
  • Experience with international wire transfers, SWIFT messaging, and correspondent banking
  • Understanding of segregation of duties and internal controls in payment environments
  • Ability to design review frameworks and standardized workflows
  • Strong communication skills - vendor relations, internal escalation, and cross-functional coordination
  • Ability to lead operationally without formal direct-report authority
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Excel
  • Law firm or professional services environment with matter-based accounting (preferred)
  • Credit card reconciliation or monthly close-cycle experience (preferred)
  • Vendor master data management and banking instruction validation (preferred)
  • 1099 reporting experience (preferred)