Lead Accounts Payable Specialist

Karman Industries

Founded in 2024 and headquartered in Signal Hill, California, Karman Industries is at the forefront of revolutionizing industrial thermal energy. Our mission is to electrify global thermal systems across data centers, manufacturing, and energy industries. Karman is developing the revolutionary Heat Processing Unit (HPU) to reinvent thermal handling for giga-scale data centers & AI factories. The HPU is built around a supercritical CO2 chiller system utilizing a high-speed electrically driven turbomachinery core. Our system aims to reduce energy consumption in data center thermal management by greater than 25% and increase energy density by 10x.

At Karman Industries, we are committed to fostering a dynamic and inclusive work environment where innovation thrives. Our team is composed of passionate professionals dedicated to making a tangible impact on the future of industrial manufacturing. Join us in our mission to transform the industry and contribute to a more sustainable world.

Lead Accounts Payable Specialist

Karman Industries is seeking a highly motivated Lead Accounts Payable Specialist to join our growing Finance team. This role will own the day-to-day accounts payable function and serve as the primary accounting partner for invoice processing, vendor payments, employee expense activity, and AP-related controls as Karman transitions from prototype to volume production. The successful candidate will manage a high-volume, increasingly complex AP environment, drive accurate three-way matching and timely payments, resolve vendor and purchasing discrepancies, and help build scalable processes and systems as the company grows. This is a hands-on lead role with significant ownership and the opportunity to shape the AP function from an early stage. We are a team that values first-principles thinking, hands-on problem solving, and close cross-functional collaboration to deliver accurate, timely, and well-controlled financials. This role is on-site and does not have travel requirements.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end accounts payable process, including invoice intake, coding, three-way match (purchase order, receipt, and invoice), approvals, payment processing, and vendor account reconciliation

• Serve as the primary point of contact for AP matters and lead day-to-day execution of the function as transaction volume and organizational complexity increase

• Review invoices and supporting documentation for accuracy, appropriate approvals, tax treatment, and compliance with company policies and internal controls

• Prepare payment runs, ensuring payments are accurate, properly authorized, and made in accordance with vendor terms

• Partner closely with Supply Chain, Procurement, Receiving, Operations, and other teams to resolve purchase order, receiving, pricing, and invoice discrepancies

• Maintain accurate vendor records, including W-9 documentation, payment terms, banking information, and other required support

• Review employee expense and corporate card activity for appropriate documentation, coding, approvals, and policy compliance

• Reconcile AP subledger activity and key AP-related balance sheet accounts and support month-end close, accruals, and cut-off procedures

• Support 1099 reporting and internal and external audit requests related to accounts payable

• Identify opportunities to automate and improve AP processes while maintaining strong controls and service to internal stakeholders and vendors

• Help train and provide day-to-day guidance to future AP team members as the accounting organization grows

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience

• 3+ years of progressive accounts payable or accounting experience, including ownership of end-to-end AP processes

• Strong understanding of three-way match, vendor management, payment processing, and AP-related month-end close activities

• Strong communication skills

• Experience working with ERP/accounting and AP systems (e.g., NetSuite, QuickBooks, SAP, Coupa, Bill.com, or similar)

• Strong attention to detail and demonstrated ability to maintain accuracy and controls in a high-volume environment

• Highly self-motivated and capable of managing multiple priorities, resolving issues independently, and communicating effectively across functions

• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-growth environment with evolving systems and processes

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in a manufacturing, hardware, industrial, aerospace, or other inventory-intensive environment

• Experience supporting procurement and receiving workflows and resolving purchase order and inventory-related discrepancies

• Experience implementing or scaling AP processes, systems, and internal controls

• Experience with 1099 reporting and sales/use tax or partial manufacturing exemptions

• Advanced Excel skills and experience working with expense management and procurement platforms

Karman Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Karman Industries is governed on the basis of 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.