Accounts Payable Specialist Resume Examples + Expert Tips
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An accounts payable specialist is responsible for managing a company’s financial obligations by ensuring that all invoices are processed accurately and payments are made on time. They also reconcile accounts, maintain records and communicate with vendors and other departments to resolve any discrepancies or issues.
This role requires strong attention to detail, organization and communication skills to ensure that financial operations run smoothly and efficiently. To land a job as an accounts payable specialist, you’ll need a standout resume that highlights these skills. Use our guide to create a winning resume for an accounts payable specialist.
We’ll cover the top accounts payable specialist resume skills to include in your resume. We’ll also provide sample resumes for an accounts payable specialist position to help you land an interview with ease.
Start by editing one of our resume examples for accounts payable specialists or explore our library of customizable resume templates to find one that catches your eye.
Accounts payable specialist resume example (text version)
Ava Taylor
Denver, CO 80439
555 555 5555
example@example.com
Professional Summary
Accomplished accounts payable specialist with a high degree of professionalism and strong problem resolution capabilities. Maintains 100% accuracy in processing invoices. Proficient at vendor management and thrives in challenging, fast-paced environments. Dedicated to providing current state-of-accounts reports to inform cash flow management decisions.
Work History
October 2011 – Current
Richie Restaurant Group – Denver, CO
Accounts Payable Specialist
- Efficiently process vendor invoices and maintain up-to-date system, improving productivity by 35%.
- Open and assign over 300 new vendor accounts.
- Coordinate approval processes of all accounts payable invoices.
- Balance batch summary reports for verification and approval.
- Prepare month-end closing entries for detailed reporting and research and resolve all payment problems.
April 2008 – September 2011
Weller Machining – Denver, CO
Accounts Payable Assistant
- Verified details of transactions, including funds available and total account balances.
- Revamped 70% of the accounting quality system to prepare for important audits.
- Renegotiated payment terms with dozens of suppliers.
- Coded the general ledger and processed vendor invoice payments.
- Rectified escalated accounts payable issues from employees and vendors, reducing loss by 85%.
April 2007 – March 2008
Garrett Roofing – Denver, CO
Accounts Payable Clerk
- Assisted management in developing effective accounts payable system to bring all delinquent accounts current.
- Developed monthly tracking reports to keep management informed of due and past-due vendor invoices.
- Applied proper codes to invoices, files and receipts to keep records organized and easily searchable.
- Prepared over 200 vendor invoices and processed incoming payments.
Skills
- Vendor management
- Bank reconciliation
- Reporting
- Regulatory compliance
- Budget control
- Accounts administration
- Organized
- Proactive
- Self-motivated
- Detail-oriented
Education
- 2011 – January 2016
University of Colorado Denver Aurora, CO
Bachelor of Science Accounting - Coursework emphasis in Accounting, Business and Mathematics
5 essentials of a top accounts payable specialist resume
Contact details
Add your contact information to the top of your resume so hiring managers can contact you. As our accounts payable specialist resume example shows, your contact information must include your full name, your city, state and ZIP code, phone number and professional email address. If you have a LinkedIn profile and professional website, add them last.
Personal statement
A personal statement, also known as a professional summary, is a concise, three-to-five-sentence statement that tells the hiring manager who you are and what you offer. Your summary should include job-relevant skills and one or two notable accomplishments. It should also touch on how long you’ve been in the industry.
Here’s an example: “Highly organized and detail-oriented accounts payable specialist with over five years of experience managing the financial obligations of diverse organizations. Proficient in processing invoices, reconciling accounts and ensuring timely and accurate payments to vendors. Skilled in resolving discrepancies, communicating with vendors and stakeholders and maintaining accurate records. Adept at using accounting software such as QuickBooks and SAP.”
If you have limited professional experience, use an accounts payable specialist resume objective instead. A resume objective for accounts payable specialists should focus on career goals and transferable skills, such as attention to detail and effective conflict resolution.
Skills
Create a skills section on your resume so hiring managers can see that you are a great fit. Add your job-relevant skills to a bulleted list. It’s best to include both hard skills and soft skills, such as regulatory compliance and building vendor relationships.
Some common resume skills for accounts payable specialist positions include communication, attention to detail and time management. It’s also important to demonstrate proficiency in managing accounts payable processes, including invoice processing, vendor management, payment processing and account reconciliation.
Additionally, note your accounting software skills, such as proficiency with QuickBooks, SAP or other enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.
Work history
Whether this is your first job or you’ve been at it for decades, a resume for an accounts payable specialist must include a section to display your work history. In reverse-chronological order, show your current and previous employers and provide company names, locations and the dates you worked for them. Include at least three bullet points with measurable achievements for every job you list.
When writing a work history section for an accounts payable specialist resume, it’s important to highlight your experience and achievements in managing financial obligations and accounts payable processes. Highlight your achievements in managing accounts payable processes, such as reducing processing time, improving accuracy and increasing on-time payments.
Education
An accounts payable specialist resume must include an education section, whether or not you have a degree. In reverse-chronological order, display the names of the schools and the years you graduated using bullet points. If you did not attend college, list your high school information and the classes you’ve taken since graduating.
Accounts payable specialists typically need at least a high school diploma or equivalent, although some employers may prefer candidates with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field. In addition to formal education, accounts payable specialists should have a strong understanding of accounting principles, financial analysis and bookkeeping.
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Action words for a stand-out accounts payable specialist resume
Use action words and numbers to add impact to your resume.
Here’s a short list of perfect action words for an accounts payable specialist resume:
- Record
- Report
- Track
- Negotiate
- Code
- Rectify
- Balance
- Coordinate
- Develop
- Verify
- Manage
- Maintain
- Organize
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Top skills for an accounts payable specialist resume
Review the job description closely and match the required skills to the skills and traits that fit you.
As an accounts payable specialist, your skills might include the following:
- Administration
- Management
- Leadership
- Organization
- Compliance
- Verbal communication
- Written communication
- Microsoft Office
- Attention to detail
- Invoice auditing
- Quality control
- Quality assurance
Certifications for an accounts payable specialist resume
Having a certificate for an accounts payable specialist job is not required, but having at least one on your resume will make you shine in the eyes of hiring managers.
Here are a few of the certifications available for accounts payable specialists:
- Certified Accounts Payable Practitioner
- Certified Accounts Payable Specialist
- Certified Accounts Payable Professional (CAPP)
- Microsoft Certified Accounts Payable Specialist
- Certified Bookkeeper (CB)
- Accounts Payable Manager
Ongoing professional development is also important for accounts payable specialists to stay up to date with changes in accounting regulations, software and best practices.
Attending industry conferences, workshops and webinars, as well as reading accounting publications, can help accounts payable specialists stay current and advance their careers.
Pair your resume with a matching cover letter
Accounts payable specialist resume FAQ
What is the right way to include keywords in an accounts payable specialist resume?
Having the right keywords in your resume is more important than ever, as employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to scan resumes based on keywords. Scan the accounts payable specialist job description for resume keyword ideas, such as “bank reconciliation” or “Manage vendor relationships.”
Then match these keywords with your abilities and work experiences, and include them in your resume. For example, you could include a skill like “Efficiently managed 75+ accounts per month” in your work history section. Refer to the accounts payable specialist resume sample on this page for additional keyword ideas.
What does an accounts payable specialist resume look like?
There is no standard accounts payable specialist resume template; you can use any of our resume templates and customize them for the job you want. A good resume for an accounts payable specialist will look like the sample resume on this page.
It must display the job seeker’s contact information, various hard and soft skills, job history, education and certifications, if applicable. Your resume might also contain sections for awards and honors if the job candidate has them to display. Check out our accounts payable specialist resume templates to help you build an impressive resume.
Check out our collection of resume samples to help you write a top-quality resume for an accounts payable specialist job. You’ll surely find accounts payable specialist resume examples to inspire you!
What is the right format for an accounts payable specialist resume?
The account payable specialist resume format you use depends on your experience and goals. If you have a few years of experience in billing, choose the combination resume format, which highlights your noteworthy work history and skills.
If you’re a fresh college graduate or are just breaking into the industry, go with the functional resume format, which focuses on your industry-related skills and training.
If you have more than five years of experience, go with a chronological resume format, which leans heavily on your work achievements.
Refer to our example of a chronological resume for an accounts payable specialist for inspiration. We also have functional and combination resume examples for accounts payable specialists that you can reference.
How do you write a professional statement for a vendor relations accounts payable specialist role?
A vendor relations accounts payable specialist has additional accounts payable specialist responsibilities that involve developing and maintaining positive relationships with vendors.
Vendor relations accounts payable specialists work closely with vendors to resolve any issues or disputes related to payments, contracts or services. They negotiate contracts and payment terms, monitor vendor performance, and provide feedback to the management on vendor performance, pricing and quality.
Here is a sample professional statement for a vendor relations accounts payable specialist resume:
“As a vendor relation accounts payable specialist with over five years of experience, I am skilled in managing the financial obligations and vendor relationships of companies. My expertise in vendor management, invoice processing and account reconciliation has enabled me to improve accuracy and reduce processing time, resulting in significant cost savings. My ability to communicate effectively with vendors, internal departments and other stakeholders has helped me build positive relationships and resolve issues quickly.”
Do’s and don’ts for building an accounts payable specialist resume
- Use measurable achievements to describe your accounts payable specialist abilities and experience. For example, “Managed accounts payable for a company with over 500 vendors, processed up to 200 invoices per week, and ensured on-time payments to vendors.“
- Use action words to make an impact on your accounts payable specialist resume, such as processed, verified, reviewed or recorded.
- Tailor your resume to your target accounts payable specialist job. For example, if the job requires experience with a specific accounting software, highlight your experience with that software.
- Use keywords from the job description — such as “vendor management,” “expense reporting” and “account reconciliation” — throughout your accounts payable specialist resume.
- Format your accounts payable specialist resume so that it is easy to read by ATS software and human eyes.
- Don’t lie about your accounts payable specialist experience and skills.
- Don’t boast that you’re the “best accounts payable specialist ever.” Instead, include concrete examples of your relevant experience, such as proficiency with accounting software and data entry.
- Don’t Include irrelevant personal information such as your ethnicity and age.
- Don’t add skills and experience not pertaining to being an accounts payable specialist. Instead, focus on the accounts payable-related experience that is most relevant to the job you’re applying for.
- Don’t forget to proofread. An accounts payable specialist resume with errors is unprofessional.
Top 4 tips for acing an accounts payable specialist interview
Research.
It’s vital to take the time to learn about the company’s history, goals, values and people before the interview. Doing so conveys interest, passion and commitment — traits that can set you above the competition.
Make an effort to understand the company’s industry and its role within it. This can help you understand the types of vendors and payments the company may deal with, as well as any regulatory or compliance requirements.
Research the software the company uses for its accounts payable processes, such as QuickBooks, Xero or SAP. Familiarize yourself with these programs and highlight any experience you have with them in your application.
Practice.
Practice really does make perfect. To prepare for your interview, start by reviewing the most common interview questions, such as:
- How would your coworkers describe you?
- What attracted you to this company?
- Give me an example of how you juggle multiple deadlines
Write down two or three possible answers for each question, then practice answering them with a friend. Prepare for job-specific questions, such as:
- What experience do you have with accounts payable processes, such as invoice processing, payment processing and account reconciliation?
- What accounting software are you familiar with, and which ones have you used in your previous roles?
- Can you explain how you handle discrepancies or errors in invoices or payments?
- How do you prioritize your workload and manage multiple deadlines?
- What experience do you have with vendor management and building relationships with suppliers?
Ask questions.
Always have at least three questions ready for each person you speak with during the interview process. Doing so shows that you’re interested and that you’ve been paying close attention.
Some questions you might ask for an accounts payable specialist job are:
- What is the team’s biggest accomplishment this year?
- Can you describe the company’s accounts payable processes, including how invoices are received, processed and paid?
- What are the biggest challenges of this role?
- What accounting software does the company use for its accounts payable processes?
- What are the expectations about managing workflow within the team?
- Can you describe the company’s payment terms and policies for vendors and how the accounts payable specialist would be responsible for managing these?
Prepare references.
Have professional references ready before you enter your interview — you never know if the hiring manager might want to contact them immediately. Ask a former manager and two former colleagues who can speak about your performance and who you know will give you an excellent review.
Cover letter examples for the next step in your billing collections career
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Sources
- Randstad. Job profiles. Article. Accounts payable specialist
- Coursera. Business. Article. What is Accounts Payable? Definition and Careers
- Betterteam. Job Descriptions. Article. Accounts Payable Specialist Job Description
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Accounts Payable Specialist Resume Example
Elizabeth is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and a member of the Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Careers Coaches. She is passionate about delivering information that empowers job seekers to achieve their professional goals.
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