What Does an Accounts Payable Clerk Do?
An accounts payable clerk is responsible for processing all the invoices for a company and processing all payments. They might typically handle utility bills, product or inventory invoices, employee expense accounts, and reimbursements. Some accounts payable clerks also assist with payroll. Accounts payable clerks must be familiar with accounts payable practices, general accounting procedures, and have a good working knowledge of relevant accounting software, such as QuickBooks.
Accounts payable clerks need to be organized, have excellent attention to detail, strong communication skills, and great problem-solving skills. They might have to resolve payment discrepancies or disputes and must be comfortable working with vendors and suppliers. Some accounts payable clerks also provide administrative support to a company or private office by maintaining inventory files and financial documents and ensuring the safety and confidentiality of employee records and other financial documents.
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National Average Salary
Accounts payable clerk salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. To explore salary ranges by local market, please visit our sister site zengig.com.
The average national salary for an Accounts Payable Clerk is:
$50,197
Sample Job Descriptions
Example 1
Accounts payable clerks work under the supervision of the accounting manager and are responsible for receiving, processing, and verifying invoices. They handle all aspects of accounts payable, including purchase orders, bank deposits, and bills. They must be extremely accurate, able to meet payment schedules and deadlines, and have excellent attention to detail. [Your Company Name] is looking for an experienced accounts payable clerk to take our company to new levels. As an ideal candidate, you have experience in bookkeeping, working with accounting software, and processing payments.
Typical duties and responsibilities
- Maintain petty cash
- Log all incoming invoices and outgoing payments
- Monitor all vendor contracts and supplier agreements
- Identify discrepancies and resolve billing issues
- Reconcile payable reports on a monthly basis
- Keep track of all credits owed to the company and ensure they are appropriately applied to vendor payments
Education and experience
- This position requires an associate’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related discipline
Required skills and qualifications
- Excellent attention to detail
- Strong organizational ability
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
- Effective corporate communication skills
- Ability to consistently meet deadlines
- Excellent data entry skills
Preferred qualifications
- Strong bookkeeping and accounts payable skills
- Proven experience calculating, posting, and managing financial records
- Solid mathematical skills
- Proficiency with spreadsheets and accounting software
- Attention to detail
- High level of accuracy
Example 2
We are seeking someone who is high-energy, organized, and a team player. Jobseekers who are highly organized, and attentive to details with a growing knowledge of accounting systems and rules tend to do great at this position.
Essential duties and responsibilities
- Drop-Ship Delivery: Matching drop-ship deliveries to invoices, reconciling differences, batching, and data entry of batches
- Creating debit memos
- Filing various documents
- Communication with store personnel and/or vendors
- Coding utility bills
- Assisting with expense invoice processing
- Data entry
Skills and qualifications
- Attention to detail
- Communicates effectively
- Growing knowledge of accounting systems and rules, and an understanding of business activities
- Regularly verifies all work thoroughly and efficiently to ensure accuracy
- Experience in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel
- Must be organized and be able to multi-task
Example 3
Responsibilities
- Recover outstanding invoices and requests needed for approvals
- Enter invoices in an accounting system
- Create weekly payables reports and submit them for approval
- Responsible for weekly check runs, collecting invoices, and submittals for signature
- AP adjustments
Experience needed
- Accounts Payable
- Attention to detail
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Solid computer skills
Candidate Certifications to Look For
- Certified Accounts Payable Professional (CAPP) – The CAPP sets candidate’s apart from their peers by designating that you have demonstrated the knowledge and skills required to be successful as an accounts payable professional. This self-paced program contains 13 modules that thoroughly cover accounts payable best practices and procedures. Two or more years of work experience is required to obtain certification. The certification must be renewed every 2 years.
- Accredited Payables Specialist (APS) – The APS shows a candidate’s strong understanding of accounts payable fundamentals, best practices, and commitment to accuracy and compliance. The self-study online program covers invoices, payments, internal controls, taxes, and more. Three years of experience is recommended without a degree and 1 year of experience with a degree. To maintain certification, they are required to complete 15 continuing education units per year.