Accounts Payable Manager

About Kirkland & Ellis

At Kirkland & Ellis, we don’t just meet the standard for legal excellence — we set it. Our culture is built on teamwork, ingenuity and an unwavering commitment to continuous growth. We tackle the most sophisticated legal challenges with bold ideas and innovative solutions, powered by the exceptional experience and ambition of our 7,000+ people, including 4,000+ attorneys, across 24 offices worldwide. Our dedicated professionals share our lawyers’ commitment to excellence and show up each day to do meaningful work that helps drive global business, investment and innovation forward.

What You’ll Do

Are you a forward-thinking finance leader who can develop high-performing teams while transforming how accounts payable operations work?

As Accounts Payable Manager, based in our Chicago office under the firm’s hybrid workplace model, you’ll provide strategic and operational leadership for the U.S. Expense and Supplier Onboarding and Management functions. Reporting to the Senior Manager of Accounts Payable, you’ll directly manage two Accounts Payable (AP) Leads and provide leadership to a broader team of approximately ten employees.

You’ll have the opportunity to elevate service delivery, develop future leaders, strengthen controls, and advance technology, automation, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled improvements across the function.

• Lead end-to-end operations: Oversee U.S. expense reimbursement and supplier onboarding and maintenance, ensuring accurate, timely service supported by effective controls and adherence to firm policies.
• Own the core platforms: Administer and optimize expense and supplier onboarding workflows in Emburse and Coupa (and future platforms), partnering with Financial Systems and stakeholders to strengthen system use and controls.
• Develop people and future leaders: Coach AP Leads and the broader team, establish clear expectations and accountability, support development planning, and build leadership capabilities across the function.
• Shape operational strategy: Partner with AP and Finance leadership on initiatives that improve scalability, service delivery, staffing models, technology investments, and long-term operational efficiency.
• Modernize processes and technology: Identify and lead process, technology, automation, and AI-enabled improvements.
• Lead meaningful change: Develop communication, training, and adoption approaches that help the AP team and firm stakeholders successfully embrace new processes, tools, and ways of working.
• Turn data into action: Develop meaningful reporting and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), including backlog, turnaround time, and exception rates, to monitor results, uncover trends, and continuously improve service and efficiency.
• Be a trusted escalation partner: Resolve complex matters involving expense policies, reimbursement exceptions, supplier onboarding and maintenance, controls, and stakeholder support.
• Stay close to the work: Maintain strong working knowledge of expense and supplier onboarding operations, providing hands-on support and coverage during periods of high volume, staffing changes or business disruption.
• Strengthen governance: Maintain standardized processes, service expectations, documentation, internal controls, reporting practices, and escalation protocols.
• Bring an external perspective: Stay current on AP and expense-management practices and peer benchmarks, applying relevant insights to recommendations for the function.
• Support evolving priorities: Contribute to special projects and other initiatives as business needs evolve.

What You’ll Bring

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field.
• Experience: At least eight years of progressive accounts payable or accounting operations experience, including at least three years of direct people-management experience.
• Operational expertise: Experience managing expense reimbursement and/or supplier onboarding in a high-volume environment; law firm or professional services experience is preferred.
• People leadership: A demonstrated ability to develop employees, manage performance, create accountability, and cultivate a collaborative, service-oriented team.
• Controls and compliance: Experience establishing and enhancing internal controls, segregation of duties, and audit-ready practices.
• Process improvement: A track record of identifying inefficiencies, redesigning workflows, implementing solutions, and measuring results.
• Technology fluency: Experience with enterprise expense management, supplier onboarding, or procure-to-pay platforms is required; familiarity with Coupa and/or Emburse is strongly preferred.
• Digital mindset: Comfort using AI and automation tools and identifying opportunities to apply new technology within finance operations. Experience with tools such as Microsoft Copilot or Claude is a plus.
• Systems and reporting: Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel; familiarity with Elite 3E, Power BI, or similar financial and reporting tools is preferred.
• Business judgment: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to use metrics to manage performance, balance competing priorities, and translate observations into clear recommendations.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage cross-functional stakeholders and communicate effectively with senior leadership.

If you’re excited to develop talented teams, modernize finance operations, and shape the future of Accounts Payable as Accounts Payable Manager, we’d love to hear from you!

Compensation

The base salary range below represents the low and high end of the salary range for this position in Chicago. This range may differ based on your geographic location and cost of living considerations. At Kirkland & Ellis, we consider compensation more than just a base salary. We offer an exceptional range of flexible benefits including comprehensive healthcare, paid time off, and retirement. We also offer personal support and tailored learning and development opportunities all designed to help you realize your full potential both in life and at work.

Compensation Range:

Chicago: $116,000 - $144,000

How to Apply

Thank you for your interest in Kirkland & Ellis LLP. To complete an application and submit your resume, please click "Apply Now."

Don't meet every job requirement? That's okay! If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't perfectly fit every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right person for this role or others at Kirkland.

Equal Employment Opportunity

All employment decisions, including the recruiting, hiring, placement, training availability, promotion, compensation, evaluation, disciplinary actions, and termination of employment (if necessary) are made without regard to the employee’s race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy or childbirth, personal appearance, family responsibilities, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, political affiliation, source of income, place of residence, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, physical or

mental disability, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law. #LI-Hybrid #LI-KK1