The Senior Manager, Accounting Operations leads the day-to-day and strategic operations of Payroll, Accounts Payable, and Vendor Administration, ensuring accuracy, compliance, strong internal controls, and a high level of service to team members and business partners. This role manages a team of approximately 21 professionals and administrative staff and is accountable for leveraging AI and automation to modernize processes, reduce risk, and improve efficiency. The position reports to the Controller and partners closely with Finance, HR/Total Rewards, Legal/Compliance, and business leaders.
An in-person interview may be required during the hiring process
State specific pay scales for this role are as follows:
$118,664 to $230,619 (CA, NJ, NY, WA, HI, AK, MD, CT, RI, MA)
$107,876 to $209,653 (NV, OR, AZ, CO, WY, TX, ND, MN, MO, IL, WI, FL, GA, MI, OH, VA, PA, DE, VT, NH, ME)
$97,089 to $188,688 (UT, ID, MT, NM, SD, NE, KS, OK, IA, AR, LA, MS, AL, TN, KY, IN, SC, NC, WV)
The expected base salary for this position will vary depending on a number of factors, including relevant experience, skills and location.
Essential Job Functions:
• People Leadership
o Lead, motivate, and develop a team of 21 across Payroll, Accounts Payable, and Vendor Administration, including a Payroll Manager, AP Supervisor, Vendor Administration Supervisor, and associated staff.
o Build a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and customer service.
• Payroll Operations
o Oversee end-to-end Payroll operations for approximately 4,500 team members across 41 states (with potential expansion as the work-from-anywhere program matures).
o Ensure accurate and timely processing for exempt and non-exempt employees, including a large population of California team members, maintaining compliance with all federal, state, and local wage and hour regulations.
o Oversee calculation and payment of complex bonus and incentive payments, including coordination with Total Rewards, HR, and Finance.
o Manage a Payroll team that includes 1 manager and 6 administrative staff, ensuring clear procedures, cross-training, and strong internal controls.
• Accounts Payable Operations
o Lead an Accounts Payable function that processes approximately 1,200 invoices per month and supports $60 million in monthly commission payments.
o Ensure accurate, timely payment processing, proper coding, and adherence to corporate policies, approval matrices, and control requirements.
o Oversee vendor terms, discount opportunities, and payment optimization to support working capital and cash flow objectives.
o Manage an AP team including 1 supervisor and 7 staff, setting service-level expectations and ensuring appropriate segregation of duties.
• Vendor Administration
o Oversee the Vendor Administration function responsible for onboarding and maintaining company-wide vendors, with a focus on integration into Guidewire Claims processing and Accounts Payable systems.
o Ensure consistent vendor setup, documentation, tax forms (e.g., W-9), and due diligence in alignment with Procurement, Legal, Tax, and Compliance requirements.
o Lead a Vendor Administration team that includes 1 supervisor and 7 staff, ensuring standardized processes and data quality across systems.
• AI, Automation, and Process Improvement
o Develop and execute a roadmap to implement AI and other automation tools across Payroll, Accounts Payable, and Vendor Administration to:
Reduce manual touchpoints and cycle times.
Improve transactional accuracy and exception handling.
Enhance analytics, dashboarding, and reporting for leadership.
o Continuously assess processes, policies, and systems to identify and implement improvements, standardization, and simplification.
o Partner with MTS, and Finance transformation teams on system enhancements, integrations, and upgrades.
• Compliance, Controls, and Risk Management
o Ensure all activities comply with SOX, internal control frameworks, and relevant regulatory requirements.
o Maintain accurate documentation of processes, controls, and key reconciliations; remediate control gaps proactively.
o Oversee timely and accurate tax reporting and filings related to Payroll, vendor payments, and commissions in partnership with Tax and external providers.
o Support internal and external audits, respond to audit inquiries, and implement agreed-upon recommendations.
• Stakeholder Partnership and Service
o Serve as the primary operational point of contact for Controller, Finance leadership, HR/Total Rewards, business leaders, and vendors on Payroll, AP, and vendor administration topics.
o Establish and monitor service-level agreements (SLAs) and key performance indicators (KPIs) to track accuracy, timeliness, and customer satisfaction.
o Communicate proactively with internal stakeholders regarding upcoming changes, deadlines, and impacts (e.g., year-end, system changes, bonus cycles).
Education:
Minimum: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field required.
Experience:
• Minimum: 8+ years of progressive experience in Accounting Operations, Payroll, Accounts Payable, or related functions.
• 5+ years of people leadership experience managing multi-functional or multi-location teams.
Knowledge and Skills:
• Minimum:
Demonstrated ability to leverage AI automation tools (or lead their adoption) to transform transactional processes.
Advanced proficiency in Excel and comfort with data analysis, dashboards, and KPI reporting.
Demonstrated leadership skills in raising the team’s performance to higher levels of quality and quantity
Preferred: Knowledge of GAAP, Payroll and AP best practices, and internal control frameworks (including SOX).
Hands-on experience with ERP/financial systems, Payroll platforms, and vendor management systems;
Why choose a career at Mercury?
At Mercury, we have been guided by our purpose to help people reduce risk and overcome unexpected events for more than 60 years. We are one team with a common goal to help others. Everyone needs insurance and we can’t imagine a world without it.
Our team will encourage you to grow, make time to have fun, and work together to make great things happen. We embrace the strengths and values of each team member. We believe in having diverse perspectives where everyone is included, to serve customers from all walks of life.
We care about our people, and we mean it. We reward our talented professionals with a competitive salary, bonus potential, and a variety of benefits to help our team members reach their health, retirement, and professional goals.
Learn more about us here: https://www.mercuryinsurance.com/about/careers
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We offer many great benefits, including:
Mercury Insurance is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
USD $118,664.00 - USD $230,619.00 /Yr.
At Mercury, we have been guided by our purpose to help people reduce risk and overcome unexpected events for more than 60 years. We are one team with a common goal to help other others. Everyone needs insurance and we can’t imagine a world without it.
Our team will encourage you to grow, make time to have fun, and work together to make great things happen. We are an award-winning company, and we owe that to our amazing team!
We care about our people, and we mean it. We reward our talented professionals with a competitive salary, bonus potential, and a variety of benefits to help our team members reach their health, retirement, and professional goals.
Mercury was founded in 1961 by George Joseph, Mercury’s Founder and Chairman. Back in the 50s, everyone paid the same rate, regardless of their driving record. Joseph decided he could create a new system by developing an insurance company that used different factors to create fair and equitable rates for a variety of drivers.
“We called our company Mercury, because I wanted us to be fast and nimble, just like the Roman God of business and merchants,” says Joseph. “He was also responsible for delivering good news to people on Earth, which is exactly what we do for Mercury customers every day.”
We, Mercury Insurance (NYSE-MCY), are a leading independent broker and agency writer of automobile insurance in California and one of the fastest growing automobile insurers in the nation. We were ranked as the fourth largest private passenger automobile insurer in California, with over $4.5 billion in total assets, 4,500 team members, and 8,000 independent agents.
We started by providing comprehensive coverage options for auto and expanded our offerings into home, condo, renters, and business insurance, as well as mechanical protection. We operate through a network of local, independent agents in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia.
