Specialist, Vendor Risk & Compliance at Essex in Woodland Hills, CA

Specialist, Vendor Risk & Compliance Location: Los Angeles - North City Woodland Hills State California Job Location Woodland Hills Regional Office Position Type Regular The Vendor Risk & Compliance Specialist is responsible for conducting due diligence for all new and existing vendors and will be the primary decision maker for vendor activation readiness. This role will report to the Senior Manager of Accounts Payable and will work closely with Essex’s Accounts Payable, Procurement, Property Management, Legal, and IT teams. WHAT YOU WILL DO: Own vendor compliance and risk assessment processes across Yardi PayScan, Vendor Shield, and VendorCafe. Perform enhanced due diligence on new and existing vendors, including fraud risk analysis and legitimacy verification. Review and validate W-9s, tax classifications, banking documentation, insurance certificates, licenses, and regulatory requirements. Identify and escalate high-risk vendors, suspicious activity, or control gaps to leadership. Review and approve new vendor setups and changes in accordance with internal controls. Serve as the primary decision-maker for vendor activation readiness based on compliance and risk criteria. Maintain ongoing monitoring of vendors for changes in ownership, banking, tax status, or compliance standing. Maintain and audit vendor master data to ensure accuracy and compliance with internal controls. Enforce segregation of duties and change-management controls for vendor updates. Support SOX, internal, and external audits related to vendor governance. Design and enhance vendor onboarding, vetting, and compliance workflows. Develop documentation, policies, and standard operating procedures. Analyze trends in vendor risk, duplicates, and fraud attempts; recommend mitigation strategies. Serve as the primary liaison between Accounts Payable, Procurement, Property Management, Legal, and IT for vendor-related matters. Train AP staff and business users on vendor compliance standards and system workflows. Respond to vendor inquiries related to account status, documentation, and system access. Identify process improvements to enhance vendor data quality and operational efficiency. WHAT YOU WILL NEED: 2+ years of accounts payable or administrative support experience. Vendor management or procurement operations experience is a plus. Strong attention to detail and accuracy in data management. Familiarity with ERP, procurement, or vendor management systems. Familiarity with SOX compliance/internal controls. Working knowledge of vendor onboarding and compliance processes. Experience supporting audits or financial reviews preferred. Intermediate to advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel or similar data tools (vlookups, pivot tables) preferred. Excellent organizational and time-management skills. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information. Problem-solving mindset with the ability to work cross-functionally. WHAT THE JOB REQUIRES: Operates in a fast-paced work setting. Requires the ability to multitask and adapt quickly to changing priorities. May involve tight deadlines due to financial close or audits. Work is primarily conducted in an office setting. Requires sitting at a desk or workstation for extended periods. Involves the use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and printers. Requires the ability to work Monday through Friday. Entails in-person office requirements consistent with the Company’s hybrid policy, located at Essex's corporate offices in Irvine, Woodland Hills, San Mateo, and Bellevue. Requires the ability to sit or stand for extended periods. Minimal physical effort in the day-to-day tasks. Minimal travel may be required for occasional meetings, training, or conferences. All full-time regular associates are offered competitive salaries, experience career growth, and are eligible for benefit packages that include medical, dental, vision, paid parental leave, 401k employer match, excellence rewards, wellness programs, and much more. With our 12 paid holidays and 15 PTO days, work/life balance is a priority! Additionally, most positions are eligible for a housing discount of 20%. Essex provides great communities in which to live, work and invest. We are a purpose-driven company, and we pride ourselves on promoting an internal culture of growth and opportunity by engaging, enabling, and empowering our teams. Working at Essex is not a destination. It is a journey where you can confidently build your career. New hires generally start between $67,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year. The final salary offer will be determined after reviewing relevant factors, including but not limited to skill sets; relevant experience; internal equity; and other business and organizational needs. This role is also eligible to participate in Essex’s discretionary Annual Bonus program that is commensurate with the level of the position.