AP & Payment Operations Specialist

Position Details: Title: Sr. Analyst, Accounts Payable Department: Accounting Reports to: Manager, Accounts Payable Location: Dearborn Job Classification: Hybrid FLSA Status: Exempt Job Band: Professional Job Summary This role provides senior‑level strategic and analytical leadership across Accounts Payable and Travel & Expense, with expanded ownership for enterprise insight, risk management, and cross‑functional influence. The Senior Analyst independently drives automation, advanced analytics, and scalable operations across invoice processing, vendor behavior, working capital, and expense management. Working closely with Accounts Payable, Travel & Expense, Accounting, FP&A, and Procurement, the role translates complex data into executive‑ready insights, strengthens internal controls, supports accurate month‑end close and forecasting, and contributes meaningfully to finance transformation initiatives. Inspired by Hard Work At Carhartt, the values of hard work—dependability, honesty, and trust—are rooted in the legacy of our founder, Hamilton Carhartt. His commitment to serving hardworking people continues to inspire everything we do. Guided by his legacy and our mission—We serve and protect all hardworking people by building durable products—we remain dedicated to upholding these principles in every decision we make and every product we create. Associate Responsibilities * Independently identify, prioritize, and lead AP and T&E automation initiatives, including technology enhancements and touchless invoice expansion. * Assist with implementation and ongoing support of AP and T&E systems, tools, and workflows. * Own advanced AP analytics to identify trends across invoice volume, exception rates, payment timing, duplicate payments, and vendor behavior, translating insights into recommended actions. * Serve as a subject matter expert on AP controls, proactively identifying control breakdowns or unusual transaction patterns and driving fact‑based remediation recommendations. * Develop, monitor, and interpret key AP performance metrics (e.g., invoice cycle time, % touchless invoices, discount capture) and present findings to leadership. * Partner closely with Treasury to support working capital optimization initiatives, including payment term compliance, discount strategies, and cash forecasting inputs. * Lead senior‑level analytical review of AP balances, accruals, and flux explanations during month‑end close with minimal oversight. * Assess invoice cutoff accuracy and financial completeness risk, independently identifying issues and coordinating resolution. * Translate AP and T&E trends into concise, executive‑level narratives that inform forecasts, actuals, audits, and leadership decision‑making. * Support Procurement with advanced, data‑driven insights related to vendor performance, invoice accuracy, and contract adherence. * Leverage T&E spend data, dashboards, and reporting tools to detect anomalies, policy non‑compliance, and emerging risk; recommend process or policy improvements. * Serve as functional backup for AP payment processing and vendor setup activities, as well as backup support for the Travel & Expense Program Specialist including employee inquiries, issue resolution and expense auditing. * Act as escalation point for complex vendor, payment, or system issues with material financial or reputational risk. * Mentor AP and T&E Specialists and Analysts by setting analytical standards, reviewing complex work, and elevating team capability. Required Education * Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Analytics, or related discipline or equivalent years of related experience.   Required Skills & Experience * Minimum of 6 years of experience in AP, FP&A, Accounting, or Finance Operations with ownership of complex analytical workstreams. * Deep understanding of procure‑to‑pay and its impact on cash flow and working capital. * Advanced Excel skills (Power Query, pivots, data analysis) * ERP experience required (SAP S/4HANA or similar); ability to understand system design impacts on accounting and controls * Experience with Microsoft Power Platform tools, including Power BI, Power Apps and Power Automate, to support and enhance automated solutions preferred * Ability to manage competing priorities and support time‑sensitive activities such as month‑end and year‑end close * Strong attention to detail with the ability to operate independently, apply judgment, and influence outcomes without formal authority * Effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across teams Physical Requirements and Working Conditions * Typical office environment; office setting. Extended periods of time sitting, standing, typing on a computer is required. * Willing to work some evenings or weekends if necessary * This position has a Hybrid location: Associate will work on-site regularly as needed for work activities. * Carhartt is a tobacco free workplace. #LI-HYBRID

THE ROLE We're seeking an Accounts Payable & Treasury Specialist to support day-to-day accounts payable and treasury activities across our corporate entities, forming part of a tightly knit finance team spread across multiple international locations. This role suits someone who is comfortable working independently, can manage their own workload, and has solid hands-on experience in AP, with some exposure to treasury. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES * Review and approve employee expense reports in line with internal policies and local requirements * Prepare and process payment runs for multiple entities, ensuring accuracy, completeness and timeliness * Maintain and update supplier details within the Group’s ERP system * Monitor and manage the AP inbox, responding to internal and external queries * Support the management and ongoing optimization of the purchase order (PO) system * Contribute to improving and streamlining AP processes, including supporting gradual insourcing of activities currently performed by third parties * Support the monitoring and reconciliation of bank accounts, cash positions, and intercompany balances * Contribute to improving cash visibility and identifying operational efficiencies across Treasury activities * Support bank account management activities, including account openings/closures and maintenance (including bank mandates and authorized signatory records) * Prepare and manage banking documentation, including KYC (Know Your Customer) and UBO (Ultimate Beneficial Owner) requirements * Participate in finance and treasury-related projects (e.g. system enhancements, process improvements, implementation/optimization of finance systems and tools) * Assist with ad hoc tasks and analysis required by Treasury function SKILLS & COMPETENCIES To be successful in this role, you will demonstrate: * Time management & prioritization skills - things can get a little hectic, so the ability to effectively manage yourself and your workload is critical * Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (in English and/or other European languages) - you must be able to organize your thoughts in a way that others find clear and compelling. You will be expected to put together well-written, grammatically correct emails and other communications. When communicating verbally – whether over the phone, on video calls, in person or in meetings – you will need to be articulate, warm and engaging * Flexibility - being an effective team player means being flexible in your approach and open to getting involved with new things, even if they are not spelt out in your job description * Intellectual Curiosity – Treasury is a broad and nuanced field, and we are looking for someone who is truly interested in our profession and has the intellectual curiosity to delve deep into topics and bring fresh ideas to the team * IT Literacy - you need to be comfortable with IT systems and working with data (you should have at least intermediate-level Excel) * Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills * Passion for our mission ‘to generate a more sustainable future by leading the transition to clean energy * Our values: be a leader, build trust, be responsible, be innovative and ‘bring your alpha’. EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS  * Experience: 3–6 years of relevant experience in accounts payable and treasury operations roles. * Education: Degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field; professional qualification is a plus * Global Exposure: Demonstrable experience working with international, distributed teams in a global company is highly advantageous. * Languages: Fluent, advanced business-level English is required. Fluency in Italian or Spanish is strongly preferred. * Systems: Excellent proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint). Familiarity with Oracle NetSuite, Yooz, AccessPay, or Expensify is beneficial. * Eligibility: Must have the legal right to work in Italy.  WHAT WE OFFER * A busy role in a supportive team, with plenty of opportunities to learn * International scope – we operate in over 8 countries * Hybrid working – we will need you in the central Milan office at least three times a week, but you will normally be able to work remotely for the remainder of the week * €10 meal vouchers (Ticket Restaurant) * Transport discounts * Annual discretionary bonus. * CCNL - Contratto Collettivo Nazionale per i dipendenti da aziende del terziario della distribuzione e dei servizi HOW TO APPLY If you are interested in this opportunity, please follow the link to apply or send your application to careers@nextenergygroup.com. If you have been shortlisted for the next stage, we will be in contact within 14 days. By selecting “Apply” or sending us your CV, you indicate you have read and acknowledged NextEnergy Group’s Candidate Privacy Notice. DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION Our approach to diversity and inclusion is a natural extension of our values. Our entrepreneurial culture inspires us to try new things, be open to different viewpoints and be bold. Our Group is committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of connectedness that values difference and gives space for individual expression. The collective sum of our individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, innovation, self-expression, and talent and hard work form the bedrock of who we are and who we aspire to be. We are committed to equal employment and advancement opportunity irrespective of race, color, ancestry, social background, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability and gender identity. ABOUT US  NextEnergy Group was founded in 2007 to become a leading market participant in the international solar sector.  Since its inception, it has been active in the development, construction, and ownership of solar assets across multiple jurisdictions.  NextEnergy Group operates via its three business units: NextEnergy Capital (Investment Management), WiseEnergy (Operating Asset Management), and Starlight (Asset Development). NextEnergy Capital manages the Group's investment activities and has invested in over 520 solar plants, exceeding 2GW in capacity across its institutional funds. * NextEnergy Solar Fund (NESF): Listed on the London Stock Exchange, NESF manages 102 solar and energy storage assets in the UK and Italy, with a total installed capacity of 983MW and a gross asset value of £1,014m. * NextPower II (NPII): A private fund of 105 solar plants (149MW) focused on Italy, successfully divested in January 2022, delivering net IRRs exceeding its 10-12% target. * NextPower III ESG (NPIII ESG): A private fund targeting solar infrastructure in OECD countries (e.g., US, Spain, Italy), with $896m raised, exceeding its $750m target. * NextPower UK ESG (NPUK ESG): A private fund dedicated to new-build solar plants in the UK, with ~£600m raised. * NextPower V ESG (NPV ESG): A private OECD solar fund investing in solar and adjacent technologies like battery storage. To date, it has raised $745m, targeting $1.5bn ($2bn ceiling). WiseEnergy® is NextEnergy Group’s operating asset manager.  WiseEnergy is a leading specialist operating asset manager in the solar sector.  Since its founding, WiseEnergy has provided solar asset management, monitoring, technical due diligence and under construction services to over 1,500 utility-scale solar power plants with an installed total capacity in excess of 3.4 GW.  WiseEnergy clients comprise leading banks and equity financiers in the energy and infrastructure sector.  Starlight is NextEnergy Group’s development company that is active in the development phase of solar projects.  It has developed over 100 utility-scale projects internationally and continues to progress a large pipeline of c.10GW of both green and brownfield project developments across global geographies. NextSTEP is the venture capital fund of NextEnergy Group, dedicated to investing in innovative startups in the field of environmental sustainability. The fund primarily focuses on investments in Italy and the United Kingdom but also extends its reach to the rest of Europe and the United States, targeting startups in the pre-seed and seed stages. NextSTEP pays particular attention to emerging entities from incubators, startup accelerators, universities, and research centers, supporting projects that address global challenges in crucial areas such as Climate Change, Energy Transition, CO2 Capture and Sequestration, Circular Economy, Sustainable Cities, Sustainable Mobility, Sustainable Fashion, Waste Management, Water and much more. NextEnergy Foundation is a non-profit organisation founded in 2016 by the NextEnergy Group that operates internationally and whose mission is to proactively participate in the global effort to reduce carbon emissions by providing clean energy sources in regions where they are not yet available and thereby contributing to poverty reduction. As the main sponsor of this foundation, the NextEnergy Group donates at least 5% of its consolidated net profits each year. The NextEnergy Foundation has no overhead costs and therefore 100% of the funds raised go to donations for the various projects. Since 2016, in 8 years of operation the foundation has donated more than £1.2 million, supporting over 30 projects in 27 different countries around the world. Italy Pay Range €37.600—€42.500 EUR