Senior Associate-Accounts Payable

About Us:

Good Business Lab is an independent, non-profit labor innovation and research company. We use rigorous academic research to prove that worker wellbeing programs have business impacts. Additionally, we develop market-ready, scalable products capable of providing dual benefits to workers and businesses. Our goal is to disrupt the traditional notion of business and show that worker well-being can be a part of core business strategy, or in other words, a good business practice.

The founders of the GBL are Ach Adhvaryu – Professor of Economics, Director of 21st Century India Center, School of Global Policy and Strategy at UC San Diego, Anant Ahuja – Director of ESG and Sustainability at Shahi Exports Pvt. Ltd. (India’s largest Ready Made Garment firm), and Anant Nyshadham – Associate Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy at the University of Michigan.

Role Summary:

The Accounts Payable Senior Associate will manage end-to-end accounts payable processes, ensuring timely and accurate vendor payments, maintaining strong financial controls, and supporting compliance requirements across the organization.

The role requires close coordination with program teams, procurement, budget holders, vendors, and the finance team to ensure smooth processing of invoices, reimbursements, advances, and other payments. The individual will also contribute to strengthening systems, documentation, and process improvements within the finance function.

Location: Bengaluru/Delhi/Remote

Length of Commitment: at least one year

Start Date: ASAP (applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis)

What will you do?

Accounts Payable Operations

• Review and process vendor invoices, consultant invoices, reimbursement claims, travel expenses, and payment requests in accordance with organizational policies.
• Verify supporting documents, approvals, procurement records, contracts, and budget availability before processing payments.
• Ensure timely processing of vendor payments, employee reimbursements, advances, and statutory payments.
• Maintain payment trackers and monitor payment timelines to ensure adherence to service-level expectations.
• Reconcile vendor statements and resolve discrepancies in coordination with internal teams and vendors.
• Maintain complete and audit-ready documentation for all payable transactions.
• Support month-end and year-end closing activities related to accounts payable and accruals.

Vendor and Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the primary point of contact for vendor payment-related queries.
• Coordinate with program teams, procurement teams, and budget holders to resolve invoice discrepancies and documentation gaps.
• Maintain and update vendor master records, contracts, tax documentation, and banking information.
• Support onboarding of new vendors by ensuring completeness of required documentation.

Compliance and Financial Controls

• Ensure all transactions comply with organizational policies, donor requirements, internal controls, and statutory regulations.
• Ensure proper accounting classification and project allocation of expenses.
• Support internal and external audits by providing required schedules, reconciliations, and documentation.
• Identify and escalate process risks, exceptions, and compliance concerns.

Taxation and Regulatory Compliance

• Apply GST, TDS, and other applicable statutory requirements while processing payments.
• Ensure accurate tax deductions and maintenance of supporting records.
• Coordinate with the finance team for tax reconciliations and compliance-related documentation.
• Stay updated on regulatory changes impacting accounts payable processes.

Process Improvement and Systems Strengthening

• Maintain and improve accounts payable trackers and workflows using Google Sheets and Excel.
• Support implementation and optimization of accounting and expense management systems.
• Assist in developing and updating SOPs, process documentation, and training materials.
• Identify opportunities for automation, efficiency improvements, and stronger financial controls.
• Contribute to strengthening finance operations and payment processes across the organization.

Who are you?

Required skills and experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce, or a related field.
• Minimum 5-6 years of relevant experience in Accounts Payable, Finance Operations, or Accounting.
• Strong understanding of invoice processing, vendor management, reimbursements, advances, and payment cycles.
• Working knowledge of GST, TDS, and related compliance requirements.
• Proficiency in Google Sheets and MS Excel, including:

• Lookups and data validation
• Reconciliation and reporting
• Financial trackers

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work independently and coordinate across teams.

Good to have:

• Experience working in non-profits, consulting firms, or project-based organizations.
• Familiarity with accounting and expense management systems such as Zoho Books, Zoho Expense, Tally, QuickBooks, or similar platforms.
• Exposure to procurement processes and contract management.

Additional Requirements: (If Any)

• A highly organized and detail-oriented professional who enjoys building efficient processes.
• Someone who takes ownership and proactively resolves issues.
• A strong collaborator who can work effectively with vendors and internal stakeholders.
• A problem solver who can identify process gaps and recommend practical improvements.
• A professional who values accuracy, compliance, and continuous improvement.

The hiring process

We are glad you’re interested in applying for this role! Here is an excerpt of the screening process overview which can take up to 2-4 weeks (from the date of the application deadline).

1. Resume Shortlisting
2. Introductory Conversation
3. Take home assignment
4. First Round Interview
5. Second Round Interview
   

Recent projects and blog posts:

To acclimatize yourself with some of our work, you can read our blog posts on Medium, and also go through our LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Our commitment to diversity

GBL is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, physical disability, or length of time spent unemployed. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We offer traditional monetary workplace benefits such as insurance and travel allowance. We are a young and growing company making us the ideal ground for team members to experiment, take on dynamic roles, and grow with us. We focus on happiness, output, and quality of work.

If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know during the recruiting process.

Note: By clicking on the 'apply for this job' button, you confirm that you understand and accept GBL’s Privacy Policy. You also understand that GBL has zero-tolerance for sexual harassment/ exploitation /abuse/misconduct ("SEA"). You confirm and declare that you have never been convicted by any court of law and/or you have never been subjected to any sanctions or inquiry or proceedings (be it disciplinary, administrative, civil, or criminal) arising from an investigation in relation to sexual harassment/abuse/misconduct or left employment pending investigation and refused to cooperate in such an investigation.