Accounts Payable Specialist - Pharma (Contract to Hire)

Location: Princeton, NJ
Comp: $55,000 - $70,000 (conversion target)
Type: Contract to Hire
Industry: Pharmaceutical / Life Sciences

Position Overview

A leading pharmaceutical company in Princeton, NJ is seeking an experienced Accounts Payable Specialist to support high‑volume invoice processing, vendor management, and payment operations within a fast‑paced, highly regulated environment. This role is ideal for someone with strong AP fundamentals, ERP experience, and the ability to work with cross‑functional teams in finance, procurement, and compliance. Contract‑to‑hire with long‑term growth potential.

Key Responsibilities

• Process high‑volume AP invoices with accuracy and adherence to pharma compliance standards
• Review and validate vendor documentation, match PO/receipts, and resolve discrepancies
• Support weekly payment runs (ACH, checks, wires) and prepare payment batches
• Maintain vendor accounts, ensure updates, and handle onboarding and verification
• Perform 3‑way match, coding, and posting of invoices into ERP
• Assist with month‑end close: accruals, reconciliations, and reporting
• Monitor AP inbox, prioritize requests, and respond to internal/external inquiries
• Research and resolve invoice exceptions and ensure timely approvals
• Assist with audits, SOX controls, and documentation
• Collaborate with procurement and supply chain teams on PO compliance
• Maintain accurate AP files following company policies and FDA/industry guidelines

Required Skills & Experience

• 2+ years of Accounts Payable experience (pharma or manufacturing preferred)
• Strong understanding of invoice flow, payment cycles, and AP best practices
• Experience with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, or similar)
• Proficient in Excel (VLOOKUPs, pivot tables)
• Solid understanding of 3‑way match and PO‑based AP
• Strong communication skills for internal and vendor interactions
• Ability to work in a high‑volume, deadline‑driven environment
• Detail‑oriented with strong problem‑solving skills

Preferred

• Pharmaceutical or life sciences AP experience
• Knowledge of SOX, GxP, or other regulated environment standards
• Experience with Concur or similar expense tools

Why This Role

• Stable pharma organization with long‑term growth
• Opportunity to convert to a permanent role
• Collaborative finance team with strong internal processes
• Competitive contract‑to‑hire compensation