Accounts Payable Manager in Addison, Texas at Southern Airways Corporation

At Surf Air Mobility, we're transforming air mobility. As innovators in aviation, we are at the forefront of creating a more efficient and accessible flying experience. With our commitment to a customer-first approach, advanced software solutions, and electrification, we’re pioneering new ways for people to travel, making flying not only faster but more enjoyable. Our passionate team thrives in a collaborative environment where innovation and hard work go hand in hand. Help us shape the future of aviation while working with cutting-edge technologies that are changing the lives of our passengers.

Accounts Payable Manager

Company: Surf Air Mobility
Department: Accounting Operations
Reports To: VP Accounting Operations and Treasury
Employment Type: Full-Time
Location: Addison, TX

Position Summary

Surf Air Mobility is seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Accounts Payable Manager to lead and oversee the company's accounts payable operations across multiple legal entities in a publicly traded aviation organization.

The ideal candidate will have strong expertise in Oracle NetSuite ERP, experience managing complex accounts payable processes in a multi-entity environment, and a solid understanding of internal controls, SOX compliance, and financial reporting requirements for a publicly traded company.

This position will be responsible for ensuring accurate and timely vendor payments, optimizing accounts payable processes, strengthening internal controls, and supporting the company's financial close and reporting requirements.

The Accounts Payable Manager will work closely with Accounting, Treasury, FP&A, Procurement, Flight Operations, Maintenance, and other business departments to ensure efficient financial operations and compliance with company policies.

Key Responsibilities

Accounts Payable Operations

• Manage the end-to-end accounts payable function across multiple subsidiaries and legal entities, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and timely processing of invoices and payments.
• Oversee invoice processing, coding, approvals, vendor payments, and account reconciliations.
• Manage high-volume vendor invoices and payments, including airline operators, aircraft maintenance providers, fuel suppliers, airport services, travel providers, and corporate vendors.
• Ensure invoices are properly allocated to the appropriate legal entities, departments, cost centers, and general ledger accounts.
• Oversee intercompany transactions and allocations related to accounts payable activities.
• Manage weekly payment runs, prioritize critical vendor payments, and coordinate with Treasury to optimize cash flow.
• Monitor accounts payable aging reports, resolve outstanding balances, and proactively address vendor disputes.
• Establish and maintain strong vendor relationships, particularly with critical airline and aviation service providers.
• Ensure accurate vendor master data, including banking information, payment terms, and tax documentation.

NetSuite ERP Management & Process Optimization

• Serve as the primary Accounts Payable subject matter expert for Oracle NetSuite, including its multi-subsidiary capabilities.
• Manage and optimize AP workflows within NetSuite, including invoice processing, approval routing, vendor payments, and reporting.
• Ensure proper use of NetSuite's multi-entity accounting functionality, including subsidiary assignments, intercompany transactions, and consolidated reporting.
• Identify opportunities to automate manual processes and improve operational efficiency through NetSuite functionality and system integrations.
• Develop and maintain AP dashboards, saved searches, aging reports, and key performance indicators.
• Partner with IT, Accounting, and system administrators to troubleshoot issues, improve system configurations, and implement enhancements.
• Support ongoing ERP optimization, system integrations, and continuous process improvements.
• Ensure data integrity and appropriate access controls within the AP module.

Public Company Compliance & Internal Controls

• Establish, document, and maintain strong accounts payable internal controls consistent with Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) requirements.
• Ensure appropriate segregation of duties, approval authority, and supporting documentation for all accounts payable transactions.
• Support internal and external audits by preparing schedules, documentation, reconciliations, and evidence of control execution.
• Identify control deficiencies and implement corrective actions to strengthen the AP control environment.
• Maintain compliance with company accounting policies, delegated authority limits, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Partner with the Corporate Controller and Internal Audit teams to support remediation initiatives and ongoing control improvements.
• Ensure AP processes and supporting documentation are maintained in an audit-ready manner.

Month-End Close & Financial Reporting

• Lead the accounts payable month-end close process across multiple legal entities.
• Ensure timely and accurate recording of invoices, accruals, and expense allocations.
• Prepare and review consolidated AP reconciliations.
• Coordinate with Accounting and FP&A to ensure expenses are properly recorded in the appropriate reporting periods.
• Investigate and resolve discrepancies between vendor statements, AP subledgers, and general ledger balances.
• Support quarterly and annual financial reporting processes, including audit requests and SEC reporting support.
• Identify opportunities to accelerate the financial close process while maintaining accuracy and control compliance.

Airline & Aviation Industry Operations

• Manage accounts payable processes involving aviation-specific vendors, including aircraft operators, maintenance providers, fuel suppliers, airport service providers, and other operational partners.
• Collaborate with Flight Operations, Maintenance, and Procurement to validate invoices against contracts, approved rates, and services rendered.
• Monitor critical vendor payment obligations to help minimize operational disruptions.
• Support the reconciliation of aircraft-related expenses, maintenance invoices, charter operator charges, and other aviation operating costs.
• Ensure accurate allocation of aviation-related expenses across legal entities, departments, and operating activities.
• Assist with improving visibility into aviation vendor spending, outstanding obligations, and payment forecasts.

Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Lead, mentor, and develop the accounts payable team, establishing clear responsibilities, performance expectations, and accountability.
• Develop standardized AP procedures and provide training on NetSuite workflows, accounting policies, and internal controls.
• Establish and monitor departmental performance metrics, including invoice processing time, payment accuracy, aging balances, and month-end close deadlines.
• Collaborate with Treasury on cash requirements, vendor payment prioritization, and short-term cash forecasting.
• Partner with Procurement and department leaders to improve purchasing controls, invoice approvals, and spend visibility.
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement, operational efficiency, and strong financial accountability.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 7+ years of progressive accounts payable or accounting experience, including at least 3 years in a supervisory or management role.
• Hands-on experience with Oracle NetSuite ERP is required, including vendor management, invoice processing, payment workflows, and AP reporting.
• Experience managing accounts payable operations in a multi-entity or multi-subsidiary environment.
• Experience working for a publicly traded company or within a SOX-compliant accounting environment is preferred but not required.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, lookups, and data analysis.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, meet tight deadlines, and work effectively in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in the airline, aviation, transportation, or travel industry.
• Experience with NetSuite ERP, including multi-subsidiary accounting, intercompany transactions, and consolidated reporting.
• Experience with NetSuite AP automation, electronic payment processing, and third-party integrations.
• Experience with ERP implementations, system migrations, or post-implementation process optimization.
• Familiarity with aircraft maintenance expenses, charter operator invoices, fuel costs, and aviation vendor contracts.
• Experience managing high-volume AP operations and complex vendor payment arrangements.
• Experience improving financial processes and remediating internal control deficiencies.

Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will be a hands-on Accounts Payable leader who combines strong technical accounting knowledge with operational expertise. They will be comfortable managing complex vendor relationships, working within a multi-entity NetSuite environment, and supporting the rigorous internal control and reporting requirements of a publicly traded company.

The ideal candidate is proactive, highly organized, process-driven, and capable of balancing operational payment requirements with cash management priorities, financial accuracy, and regulatory compliance.

Benefits:

Competitive Salary: Attractive compensation package based on experience.

Health & Wellness: After 30 days of employment on the 1st of the next month, you are eligible to sign up for medical, dental, and vision insurance, air ambulance coverage, short-term disability, pet insurance, health savings accounts, and company-paid life insurance.

Retirement Plans: Employees can enroll in our company’s 401(k) plan.

Employee Discounts: After completion of your probationary period, you can access the My ID Travel program, which allows members of your immediate family to participate as well. This program provides travel privileges, including:

For Dallas based team members: Addison Office Amenities include: full free on site gym, two indoor pickleball courts, game tables in lobby, on-site day care through Kinder Care, on-site coffee shop, on-site café, free underground parking, easy access to Tollway and George Bush, and great location near restaurants in Addison.

This job description is not an exclusive or exhaustive list of all job functions that an employee in this position may be asked to perform from time to time.

At Surf Air Mobility, we are committed to building a more inclusive ecosystem that integrates women, people of color, and other underrepresented groups into the cleantech sector and aerospace industry. We strongly encourage applications from qualified applicants and members of underrepresented groups. Surf Air Mobility is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Surf Air Mobility is governed based on merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status