Job Description
Job Description
Founded in 1954, Vibrant Ingredients is a leading provider of natural, clean label ingredients and systems that power extraordinary food and beverage experiences. The company’s broad portfolio — including natural flavors, botanical extracts, functional nutrition, cold brew coffee, tea essences, and food protection solutions — enhances taste, texture, color, shelf life, and performance across a wide range of applications. Vibrant operates four state-of-the-art facilities across the United States and works with leading brands, manufacturers, and foodservice operators. With vertically integrated capabilities and a proven track record of innovation and execution, Vibrant helps customers accelerate to market without compromise.
About the role:
We are a trusted partner to our customers when it comes to innovation and an industry leader in clean label ingredients, we are a true partner. We collaborate with our customers in ways that respect people and the environment. A commitment to Purely Better™ drives our innovation team to discover new, on trend solutions.
The Accounts Payable Specialist is responsible for the accurate, timely, and compliant processing of vendor invoices and payments for Vibrant Ingredients. In addition to managing day-to-day accounts payable operations, this role plays a key part in process improvement, system optimization, and cross-functional finance initiatives as the company continues to scale and automate.
This position is ideal for a detail-oriented AP professional who enjoys owning processes, strengthening controls, and partnering with Procurement, Operations, and Finance. At the outset, this role will also support the development of future procure-to-pay processes, data governance, and scalable tools to enable an efficient AP function
How will you contribute:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. Essential job functions and duties include, but are not limited to:
Transactional Accounts Payable
- Process high-volume vendor invoices including raw materials, co-manufacturing, freight, packaging, MRO, and corporate spend
- Perform 2-way and 3-way matching against purchase orders and receipts in Microsoft Business Central
- Review invoices for accuracy, pricing, quantities, tax treatment, and approvals
- Resolve discrepancies by partnering with Procurement, Operations, and vendors
- Maintain vendor master data including banking details, tax forms, and payment terms
- Execute weekly payment runs (ACH, wire, check) in accordance with company controls
- Ensure adherence to payment terms and support working capital objectives
- Respond to vendor inquiries professionally and timely
- Maintain clean AP aging and support audit requests
Month-End Close & Compliance
- Support month-end close activities related to AP accruals and cutoffs
- Prepare recurring AP accruals (freight, utilities, services, raw materials)
- Reconcile AP subledger to the general ledger
- Support 1099 reporting and vendor tax compliance
- Assist with internal and external audits
Process Improvement & Projects
- Serve as day-to-day AP functional lead for procure-to-pay initiatives
- Identify inefficiencies and implement improvements to reduce cycle time and errors
- Standardize AP procedures across plants and business units
- Support AP automation tools and ERP enhancements
- Partner with IT and Finance Systems on upgrades, testing, and rollouts
- Collaborate with Procurement to improve PO compliance and vendor setup
- Support KPI development and reporting in PowerBI
- Participate in working capital initiatives and internal control improvements
- Document AP workflows, SOPs, and controls
Minimum Requirements/Qualifications:
- 5+ years of Accounts Payable experience in a mid-size or manufacturing environment
- ERP experience (Microsoft Business Central or Great Plains preferred)
- Strong understanding of PO-based AP and 3-way matching
- High attention to detail with strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Excellent organizational and time management skills
- Professional communication skills with internal and external partners
- Process-oriented mindset with a continuous improvement approach
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in food & beverage manufacturing or CPG
- Exposure to AP automation tools (Bill.com, Tipalti, Stampli, AvidXchange, etc.)
- Experience supporting system implementations or process improvement initiatives
- Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups)
- Familiarity with freight, ingredient, and co-manufacturing invoices
Work Environment:
- May involve exposure to allergens such as Soy, Wheat, Fish, Shellfish, Milk, Egg, Tree Nuts and Sesame.
What Vibrant Ingredients can offer you:
- Generous time off for vacations
- Paid Holidays
- 401(k) with company match
- Tuition reimbursement
- Medical/Dental/Vision
- Health & Wellness programs
More about us:
Vibrant Ingredients, headquartered in Lake Mary, FL, is one of the world's leading independent providers of natural ingredients. With a legacy spanning over 70 years, we deliver a diverse portfolio of clean label ingredients and innovative system solutions to the food and beverage industry. Our commitment to quality and performance is reflected in our American-made products, which enhance both taste and functionality. Backed by advanced manufacturing capabilities, we specialize in fermentation, patented cold brew extraction, custom flavor development, and a range of drying and blending technologies. Operating from four state-of-the-art facilities strategically located across the U.S., we ensure the accessibility of real, high-quality ingredients—helping our customers create better-for-you food and beverage for consumers.
"Improving the food and beverages consumed by providing real ingredients from nature that work."
This position is currently classified as hybrid between Lake Mary and Eustis.
Employees are eligible to participate in Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, 401(k), Holidays, Vacation, Tuition Reimbursement Program.
The final salary offered for this position may take into account a number of factors including, but not limited to, location, skills, education, and experience.
The Company reserves the right to modify, update, change and/or make corrections to this job description, at the sole discretion of senior management, at any time during the employee’s employment term, at the sole discretion of management.
EEO Statement
Vibrant Ingredients is an equal opportunity employer committed to employing a diverse workforce and providing accommodations for people with disabilities in all parts of the hiring process as required under its Employment Accommodation Policy. Vibrant Ingredients will work with applicants to meet accommodation needs that are made known to Vibrant Ingredients in advance.
**Please no external recruiters**