Program Manager AP/AR Lead

WHO WE ARE

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services.

We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Our Regional Administration Division has a vacancy for Program Manager, AP/AR Lead in the Finance Department.

The Finance Department provides agency-wide financial, administrative, and operational services supporting the Metropolitan Council as a whole and its individual divisions. These services include accounting, financial reporting, payroll, the Council’s operating and capital budget, risk management, and treasury functions.

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region:

The Program Manager, AR/AP Lead serves as the AP/AR Manager's primary operational support resource by providing technical expertise, coordinating assigned operational activities, assisting with Accounts Payable approval groups, supporting process improvements, and guiding staff on day-to-day operational matters. This position helps ensure the efficient, accurate, and compliant administration of Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable functions while promoting consistency, continuous improvement, and exceptional customer service across the organization.

What you would do in this job

• Supports the daily operations of the Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable teams by coordinating assigned operational activities, assisting with designated AP approving groups, and helping ensure timely, accurate, and efficient financial processing.
• Provides technical guidance and day-to-day operational support to AP/AR staff to promote consistency, accuracy, and adherence to established policies and procedures, including onboarding, cross-training, and knowledge transfer.
• Supports continuous improvement efforts by identifying operational challenges, recommending process enhancements, and participating in system-related initiatives, testing, and implementations.
• Supports compliance with financial policies, internal controls, audit requirements, and applicable regulations by reviewing transactions, maintaining documentation, and assisting with reporting.
• Collaborates with Purchasing, Information Technology, project managers, business units, vendors, and customers to resolve operational issues and support effective service delivery.
• Supports the AP/AR Manager with departmental initiatives, assigned projects, training efforts, and departmental priorities that strengthen Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable operations.

What education and experience are required for this job (minimum qualifications)

Any of the following combinations of experience in accounts payable, accounts receivable, or general accounting operations, and completed education (degree field of study in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a closely related field):

• A high school diploma/GED with eight (8) years of experience.
• An associate degree with six (6) years of experience.
• A bachelor's degree or higher with four (4) years of experience.

What additional skills and experience would be helpful in this job (desired qualifications):

• Knowledge of public sector accounting practices, governmental financial policies, and procurement regulations.
• Experience developing dashboards, KPIs, and operational performance metrics to support management reporting and decision-making.
• Experience participating in ERP implementations, system upgrades, workflow automation, or user acceptance testing (UAT).
• Knowledge of project coordination, change management, and cross-functional implementation practices to support departmental initiatives.
• Experience working with diverse populations of internal and external customers

What knowledge, skills, and abilities you should have within the first six months on the job:

• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and requirements necessary for Certification of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting.
• Knowledge of financial systems (PeopleSoft preferred) of a size and complexity comparable to the Council's.
• Knowledge of state laws regarding governmental accounting, AP and AR, including collections, billing, debits, and credits.
• Advanced proficiency with ERP financial systems, including invoice processing, reporting, workflow management, and troubleshooting operational issues.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills using Microsoft Excel and reporting tools to analyze AP/AR metrics, identify trends, reconcile data, and support operational decision-making.
• Ability to develop, document, and improve standard operating procedures, workflow documentation, training materials, and process maps.
• Technical ability to coordinate system workflows, user access, approval groups, testing, and cross-functional process improvements while partnering with Finance, IT, Purchasing, and other business areas.
• Ability to coordinate and prioritize multiple AP and AR operational activities while balancing competing deadlines and ensuring timely completion of critical work.
• Ability to lead, coach, and provide day-to-day guidance to staff by answering operational questions, reinforcing procedures, and promoting consistency across the team.
• Ability to identify operational inefficiencies, recommend process improvements, and help implement solutions that improve accuracy, efficiency, and internal controls.
• Ability to organize and coordinate cross-functional initiatives, communicate effectively with internal departments, and build collaborative working relationships.
• Ability to plan, organize, and facilitate training, cross-training, and knowledge transfer activities.

What you can expect from us:

• We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
• We encourage our employees to develop their skills through on-site training and tuition reimbursement.
• We offer competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a strong work-life balance.
• Career advancement opportunities.

Additional information

Union/Grade: AFSCME / Grade H

FLSA: Exempt (Administrative)

Safety Sensitive: No

Work Environment: Work is performed in a standard office setting, with eligibility for telework consistent with departmental telework guidelines.

What steps the recruitment process involves:

1. We review your minimum qualifications.

2. We rate your education and experience.

3. We conduct a structured panel interview.

4. We conduct a selection interview.

If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a background check that verifies education and employment and may cover your driving record and any criminal record. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a background check that verifies education and employment if it was not previously verified. If the job you're applying for is safety-sensitive, is a supervisory or management job, is in the Finance, Information Services, Audit, or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files/databases, cash, vouchers, or transit fare cards, you must pass a criminal background check. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.

The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply.

If you have a disability that requires an accommodation during the selection process, please email [email protected].

We believe our employees are a key to our agency's success! In order to attract and retain high quality employees, the Council provides a highly competitive benefits package both in choice and coverage levels. Some highlights about our benefits are listed below:

• Guaranteed monthly retirement income through Minnesota State Retirement System pension fund
• Opportunity to save additional funds for retirement on a tax-deferred basis through a voluntary deferred compensation (457) plan
• Two or more medical plans from which to choose, with employer contribution towards premiums over 80%
• Dental insurance, life insurance and vision insurance

The following benefits are provided to all employees as part of working for the Council. You will have access to free:

• Well@Work clinic
• bus/rail pass valued at over $1200 per year
• parking at many job locations
• fitness centers at many job locations
• Employee Assistance Program
• extensive health and wellness programs and resources