JOB DESCRIPTION

The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) enriches the environment and protects public health for all New Yorkers by providing 1.1 billion gallons of high-quality drinking water, managing wastewater and stormwater, and reducing air, noise, and hazardous materials pollution. DEP is the largest combined municipal water and wastewater utility in the country, with nearly 6,000 employees. DEP’s water supply system is comprised of 19 reservoirs and 3 controlled lakes throughout the system’s 2,000 square mile watershed that extends 125 miles north and west of the city.
The Agency Chief Contracting Office ACCO is responsible for managing all agency procurement and payment activity in accordance with all applicable city and state laws and regulations including General Municipal Law, City Charter, local laws such as LL1 for MWBE, Procurement Policy Board Rules and NYC Comptroller Directives. ACCO works cooperatively with DEP’s bureaus in support of their operational and programmatic needs including procurement of capital construction and related professional services (design, engineering, and construction management services), maintenance and repair contracts, and a wide array of supply and standard service contracts. In addition, ACCO staff manages agency compliance with vendor performance evaluations, MWBE participation goals, opportunities and requirements, prevailing wage, labor law compliance and vendor management. ACCO processes hundreds of both large and small contracts and thousands of payment transactions procuring about $2 billion in contracts annually. The ACCO consists of ten (10) organizational groups: Competitive Sealed Bids, Procurement Administration, Technology Development & Innovation, Contract Administration, Contract Compliance and Opportunities, Purchasing Management, Payments & Accounting, Negotiations and Contract Review, Large Contract Payments, and the Process Optimization & Change Management group.
Currently the ACCO Payments Group is split into two teams; Large Contract Payments and Small Contract Payments and Accounting. The Large Contract Payment team is responsible for processing of all capital and large (>$250,000.00) expense funded payments for all large capital contracts for construction, design, construction management and various other professional services. This team generates nearly 3,800 payments per fiscal year, with a value of over $1Billion dollars. The Small Contract Payment team is responsible for processing all micro, small, non-competitive and requirement contract capital and expense payments. In addition, they are responsible for other payment and accounting functions including payment of real estate taxes.
The ACCO is seeking an experienced and energetic candidate to serve as the Senior Director of Accounts Payable. The selected candidate, reporting directly to the ACCO, will be responsible for overseeing both the Large and Small Payment teams. The selected candidate must also be an advocate for process improvement, transparency, teamwork, and maintaining high quality work product within the unit. The selected candidate will be self-motivated, demonstrate the ability to lead a team, and will be instrumental in the growth of the department. This position will interact with various levels of management, must deliver exceptional customer service and build successful relationships interacting cross-functionally, managing projects, and other duties as assigned.

Job Tasks/Duties:

• The core responsibilities of the Director of Accounts Payable include ensuring timely and accurate processing of invoices for payments pursuant to the terms of capital and expense contracts, creating, implementing and improving policies and procedures, collaborating with other teams to optimize financial processes. Being a driver of change in the implementation of new procedures including the movement of all payments into the City’s PASSPort System. These responsibilities will also include reporting and compliance activities related to accounts payable.
• Oversee and direct staff activity to ensure accuracy of payment details in adherence to Comptroller Directives, City policies, and contract terms and conditions. Foster a culture of continual staff development and training.
• Monitor the timeliness of invoice payments against prompt payment rules and in adherence to Comptroller Directives, City policies, and contract terms and conditions.
• Perform monthly and year-end accounting closing procedures in accordance with NYC Directives; and assign to, direct staff in the completion of these tasks.
• Provide excellent customer service; communicate, coordinate, and resolve payment issues with vendors and other stakeholders; and assign to, direct staff in the completion of these tasks.
• Utilize data analytics tools to assess the performance of accounts payable workflows and to identify trends, patterns, and areas for improvement in the processing of payments; Identify ways to streamline and continuously improve processes and internal controls.
• Utilize data and dashboards to communicate performance metrics to team.

PREFERRED SKILLS

• Strong managerial background in financial management with extensive experience and thorough knowledge of accounting, auditing principles. Experience using data to drive unit performance. - Experience and knowledge of developing internal control and accounting systems. - Knowledge of NYC Procurement Policy Board rules, City Charter, and Comptroller Directives - Ability to develop and maintains strong relationships with departmental personnel, senior management, oversight agencies and other customers/clients.

• The core responsibilities of the Director of Accounts Payable include ensuring timely and accurate processing of invoices for payments pursuant to the terms of capital and expense contracts, creating, implementing and improving policies and procedures, collaborating with other teams to optimize financial processes. Being a driver of change in the implementation of new procedures including the movement of all payments into the City’s PASSPort System. These responsibilities will also include reporting and compliance activities related to accounts payable.
• Oversee and direct staff activity to ensure accuracy of payment details in adherence to Comptroller Directives, City policies, and contract terms and conditions. Foster a culture of continual staff development and training.
• Monitor the timeliness of invoice payments against prompt payment rules and in adherence to Comptroller Directives, City policies, and contract terms and conditions.
• Perform monthly and year-end accounting closing procedures in accordance with NYC Directives; and assign to, direct staff in the completion of these tasks.
• Provide excellent customer service; communicate, coordinate, and resolve payment issues with vendors and other stakeholders; and assign to, direct staff in the completion of these tasks.
• Utilize data analytics tools to assess the performance of accounts payable workflows and to identify trends, patterns, and areas for improvement in the processing of payments; Identify ways to streamline and continuously improve processes and internal controls.
• Utilize data and dashboards to communicate performance metrics to team