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AI & Automations Manager – Accounting & Shared Services

$115-135k plus bonus

Mission, KS

Bell & Associates has been engaged to help our client recruit their next AI & Automations Manager. This position will own the enterprise AI and automation initiative. Using internal resources (and external resources, as needed), this person will help build the framework for how to identify, prioritize, implement and govern AI across workflows — and will then be accountable for executing it.

Responsibilities

Strategy and Framework

• Partner with leadership to design an AI adoption framework covering opportunity identification, prioritization, implementation, change management and governance.
• Build a prioritized roadmap of AI and automation use cases, ranked by value, effort, risk and readiness. Review with CFO and maintain throughout implementation.
• Define success metrics (hours saved, cycle time, error rates, cost) and report progress to the CFO and leadership team during weekly 1:1 with C-suite.
• Serve as the internal owner and day-to-day point of contact for third party consultants, if utilized, ensuring knowledge transfer so we can sustain the work independently.

Process Discovery and Documentation

• Interview and shadow staff across Treasury, Credit, Accounting, Tax & Compliance and Office Management to understand current-state workflows.
• Document processes with clear process maps, SOPs, and data-flow diagrams.
• Identify bottlenecks, manual handoffs, rework, duplicate data entry and control gaps.
• Design future-state workflows that combine process redesign with AI and automation.

Implementation and Execution

• Lead pilots and rollouts of AI tools and automations — for example: month-end processes, invoice processing, cash application, bank and intercompany reconciliations, credit reviews and customer onboarding, month-end close support, contract and document review, compliance tracking and reporting.
• Evaluate vendors and tools (AI assistants, workflow automation, document intelligence, ERP and accounting integrations) and support build-vs-buy decisions.
• Work with IT and outside vendors on integrations, data access and security requirements.
• Keep automated processes documented, controlled and auditable.

Change Management and Enablement

• Build buy-in by showing employees how AI makes their work easier and more valuable.
• Develop training materials, run working sessions and act as the go-to internal resource for AI tools.
• Identify and develop “AI champions” within each department.

Governance and Risk

• Help set AI usage policies covering budget, data privacy, confidentiality, accuracy and acceptable use.
• Ensure AI-enabled processes maintain appropriate internal controls, review steps and audit trails.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, Business, or a related field.
• 3–5+ years of relevant experience, including time at a Big 4 or national accounting or advisory firm (audit, risk advisory, process improvement, technology consulting, or finance transformation).
• Strong grasp of core finance and accounting processes (AP/AR, treasury, close, reconciliations, credit, tax, and compliance) and the internal controls around them.
• Ability to document, analyze, and redesign business processes.
• Ability to deliver efficiency gains or process improvements with measurable results.
• Highly tech-enabled: comfortable learning new software quickly and experimenting with AI tools.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to work with staff at every level and explain technical ideas in plain business terms.

Preferred

• Hands-on experience with AI tools (e.g., Claude, ChatGPT, Copilot), workflow automation (e.g., Power Automate, Zapier, UiPath) or low-code platforms.
• Experience with ERP systems and data tools (Excel/Power Query, Power BI, SQL).
• Exposure to commodities, agribusiness, logistics or derivatives.
• Process-improvement training (Lean, Six Sigma) or project-management experience.

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Bellsearchfirm.com

Bell & Associates, Inc. is a recognized Executive Recruiting & Staffing leader based in Kansas City. We focus and specialize in the following practice areas – Accounting/Finance, Engineering, Executive Leadership, Financial Institutions, Healthcare, Human Resources, Information Technology, Manufacturing/Operations Management.  We provide top talent to our clients on a Direct Hire, Contract, and Contract-to-Hire basis.