Accounts Payable Manager (WMS Band 1)

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring an Accounts Payable Manager (WMS Band 1) within the Financial Services Division.

Location:

• Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.
• Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Schedule:

• This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.
• A minimum of one day per week is required in the office.
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline:

• Apply by April 6, 2026
• This position will remain open until filled. The agency reserves the right to make a hire at any time after application review begins. Applications received after the date above may not be considered.

Duties

As the Accounts Payable manager, you will manage and administer all agency-wide processes related to travel advances and reimbursements, vendor and training payments, agency credit card activity, and the recording and reconciliation of capital assets. Leading the Accounts Payable Unit, you will ensure accurate, timely, and compliant financial transactions across more than 3,200 account codes. 

In this role, you will provide leadership and oversight for key financial systems, serve as a statewide subject matter expert, and help shape agency-wide fiscal policies and procedures. You will guide staff, promote process improvements, and collaborate with program and agency leadership, the Office of Financial Management, and the Department of Enterprise Services to support effective financial operations and system enhancements. With significant responsibility for internal controls, statewide policy interpretation, and fiscal data integrity, this role directly supports Ecology’s ability to safeguard public resources, meet regulatory standards, and advance the agency’s mission through sound financial stewardship.

What you will do:

• Lead and manage the Accounts Payable Unit, including setting priorities, assigning workloads, and ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant financial transactions.

• Maintain data integrity across all financial systems by ensuring expenditures are correctly recorded and classified.

• Oversee agency-wide travel processes, ensuring employees receive consistent guidance, timely reimbursements, and up-to-date information on state travel regulations.

• Manage vendor payments, training payments, purchasing cards, leases, and debt service to ensure accurate and timely processing.

• Serve as the agency’s point of contact and security manager for the Agency Financial Reporting System (AFRS), Capital Asset Management System (CAMS), and related financial systems.

• Develop, update, and interpret fiscal policies and procedures related to travel, purchasing, credit cards, inventory, and capital assets in alignment with state and federal requirements.

• Provide responsive customer service to agency management and staff by researching financial issues, answering inquiries, and producing financial information as needed.

• Support year-end and biennial financial closing activities, including capital asset reconciliation, general ledger entries, and contributions to the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR).

Qualifications

For detailed information on how we calculate experience and responses to other frequently asked questions, please visit our Recruitment website.

Required Qualifications:

Eight (8) years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Experience in state accounting, auditing, or budgeting. Experience must include three (3) years of supervising or leading fiscal positions.

Experience must include demonstrated competence in the following skill sets:

• Advanced Knowledge of State Accounting – Ability to understand and effectively use state accounting systems, laws, policies, and procedures to ensure all financial activities are accurate, compliant, and aligned with state and federal requirements.

• Communication and Collaboration – Ability to explain financial information clearly and work effectively with all levels of management and staff to support understanding, informed decision-making, and coordinated action.

• Budget System Knowledge – Ability to understand state budget systems and work collaboratively with budget managers and staff to ensure financial information is accurate, consistent, and aligned with budget decisions.

• Process Improvement – Ability to analyze existing processes, identify gaps or inefficiencies, and design improved approaches to increase the accuracy, consistency, and effectiveness of financial operations.

• Workload and Time Management – Ability to plan, prioritize, and organize work to meet deadlines and manage multiple responsibilities effectively.

• Confidentiality – Ability to use sound judgment and maintain confidentiality to support trusted and reliable fiscal operations.

• Education involving a major study in a financial-related field; certification as a Public Accountant, Internal Auditor, Certified Government Financial Manager, or Management Accountant; or any field which involves 18 quarter or 12 semester credits in accounting, auditing, or budgeting. 

Examples of how to qualify:

• 8 years of experience
• 7 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits
• 6 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree)
• 5 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits
• 4 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree
• 3 years of experience AND a Master’s degree or higher

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• Employee must read, sign, and abide by the Financial Services/Fiscal Office Agreement on Confidential Information (Part A), Internal Control Responsibility (Part B), and Safeguarding and Preventing Misuse of Ecology’s Data (Part C).

Desired Qualifications:

• Federal Financial Management – Demonstrated knowledge of federal grant management, cash management, and revenue management.

• Compensation Rules – Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of federal and state laws and rules regarding employee compensation and pay.

• Contracting and Procurement – Demonstrated knowledge of state and federal contracting and procurement laws, policies, and procedures.

• Coding and Reporting Design – Ability to design expenditure and revenue codes and reports that meet state requirements and provide useful information to agency management.

• Influence and Negotiation – Ability to negotiate with and influence internal and external groups using effective oral and written communication skills while maintaining trust, respect, and confidentiality.

• Continuous Improvement – Understanding of and experience using Lean or other continuous improvement methods to increase efficiency and better respond to customer needs.

If you are excited about this role but not sure if your experience aligns perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply. Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At the Department of Ecology, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging. You may just be the needed candidate for this or other roles.

Supplemental Information

Ecology does not use the E-Verify system; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.

Application Process

Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified job seekers from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

Click “Apply” at the top of this page. Complete the entire application, including full work history and responses to all supplemental questions, and attach:

• Cover letter, describing your interest in and qualifications for this position
• Resume

Because we base our selection on the information you provide, it is in your best interest to complete the application thoroughly. A resume will not substitute for the “work experience” section of the application or vice versa. Applications with blank fields or supplemental question responses with comments such as “see resume” may be considered incomplete.

For detailed application information, please visit our Recruitment website.

Application Attestation: By submitting an application, you are affirming that the information contained in your application and on all attachments is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information, and any false or misleading answers may result in rejection of your application or dismissal if employed.

Need an Accommodation?

If you need reasonable accommodation during the application and/or screening process, including this job announcement in an alternate format:

• Please contact us at 360-407-6186 or careers@ecy.wa.gov
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 711 or 1-800-833-6384.

Questions?

• For specific questions about the position location options, schedule, or duties, please contact Beth Swanson at Beth.Swanson@ecy.wa.gov 
• If you need assistance applying for this job, are inquiring about the status of your application, would like to request the full position description, or have any other questions, please contact the Recruitment Team at careers@ecy.wa.gov

About the Department of Ecology

As the State of Washington’s environmental protection agency, we are deeply committed to protecting, preserving, and enhancing Washington’s environment for current and future generations. Joining Ecology means becoming part of a team dedicated to protecting and sustaining healthy land, air, water, and climate in harmony with a strong economy. A career in public service at Ecology allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology's work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.

We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following: Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave, 11 Paid Holidays per year, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver,  Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP),  Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives, Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *Click here for more information

To learn more about Ecology, please visit our website, explore Working at Ecology, check out our Strategic Plan, and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or our blog.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency.

Ecology Job Opportunities | Careers at Ecology