Improper Payments Manager (Accounting)

Improper Payments Manager (Accounting)Location: Alexandria, VA (Hybrid - Onsite Mon-Thurs, Remote Fridays)Work Authorization: Must be a U.S. Citizen or Green Card holderSchedule: Full-time (40 hours/week)Compensation: Salary is open and commensurate with experienceOverviewWe are seeking an experienced Improper Payments Manager to lead the design and implementation of a scalable improper payments program. This role focuses on identifying, preventing, and reducing payment errors and risks through analytics, process improvement, and internal controls across accounts payable operations.Key ResponsibilitiesDesign and implement a comprehensive improper payments program with a risk-based approachAnalyze accounts payable data to detect duplicate, inaccurate, or unauthorized paymentsConduct stakeholder interviews and document end-to-end payment processes and controlsPerform gap assessments and evaluate internal controls (preventative vs. detective)Develop risk assessment frameworks and classify payment risks (low/medium/high)Build analytics and testing routines to identify anomalies and payment irregularitiesDevelop statistical sampling methodologies for payment reviews and audit supportIdentify root causes of improper payments and recommend corrective actionsCreate dashboards, reports, and metrics to monitor program effectivenessSupport quarterly reviews and ensure repeatable, scalable processesLead documentation, training, and knowledge transfer to internal teamsQualificationsBachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related fieldActive CPA requiredMinimum 5+ years of relevant experience, including 2+ years at a manager levelStrong background in Accounts Payable processes and internal controlsExperience developing or implementing improper payment or audit programsAdvanced data analysis, querying, and reporting skillsExperience with ERP systems and understanding of data structuresKnowledge of risk assessment, compliance, and fraud detection methodologiesNice to HaveExperience with predictive analytics or statistical sampling techniquesPublic sector or large enterprise environment experienceRequired SkillsRequired Experience