Accounts Payable Manager

Lindblad Expeditions is a true pioneer in Expedition Travel. From taking the first citizen explorers to Antarctica in 1966, opening the Galapagos and Easter Island to tourism in 1967, leading the first tourist expedition through the Northwest Passage in 1984, and launching our innovative partnership with National Geographic in 2004, we're now taking almost 30,000 guests a year to some of the world’s most remote and pristine locations on our fleet of 20 ships, and are committed to ensuring our guests experience the “Exhilaration of Discovery”.

JOB SUMMARY

Lindblad Expeditions is seeking an experienced and results-oriented Accounts Payable (AP) Manager to lead our account’s payable function and a team of five AP professionals. This role is responsible for the end-to-end AP process, including vendor master data, invoice processing, payment operations, controls, service levels, and the ongoing transformation of AP systems and workflows.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on people leader who thrives in a dynamic, transformation-focused environment, builds strong and accountable teams, and brings a process excellence mindset. This individual will be expected to challenge existing ways of working, leverage technology and automation, and drive measurable improvements in efficiency, accuracy, controls, and internal customer service.

This position will work closely with internal departments, vendors, Accounting, Treasury, and Finance leadership to ensure timely and accurate AP operations while advancing a scalable, standardized, and well-controlled operating model.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of five AP professionals, establishing clear roles, performance expectations, service levels, and accountability.
• Own end-to-end accounts payable operations, including invoice intake, processing, approvals, vendor master maintenance, payment readiness, and issue resolution.
• Drive AP process and system transformation initiatives, including workflow redesign, automation, standardization, and adoption of new tools and technologies.
• Establish and monitor AP performance metrics and service levels, including invoice processing timeliness, backlog, exception rates, and close performance.
• Own vendor master governance, including new vendor setup and vendor changes, and ensure appropriate documentation, approvals, segregation of duties, and data integrity.
• Continuously assess AP workflows and identify opportunities to eliminate manual work, improve controls, reduce cycle times, and enhance the user and vendor experience.
• Oversee invoice processing and data capture workflows, ensuring accurate coding, appropriate approvals, complete supporting documentation, and timely resolution of exceptions.
• Manage AP close activities and ensure invoices, accrual-related information, and AP reporting are completed accurately within established close timelines.
• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve AP policies, standard operating procedures, training materials, and process documentation.
• Lead special projects and cross-functional initiatives related to AP, finance operations, systems implementation, and process excellence as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• 8+ years of progressive accounts payable or finance operations experience, including 2+ years of people management experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading AP teams and managing high-volume, multi-entity accounts payable operations.
• Proven track record of driving process improvement, system transformation, automation, or operational excellence initiatives.
• Strong understanding of AP controls, vendor master governance, invoice workflows, payment processes, and month-end close requirements.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and strong experience working within ERP, procure-to-pay, workflow, or AP automation systems.
• Strong leadership, organizational, problem-solving, and project management skills with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Must be available to work onsite at least 3 days per week in our New York City-area office.