Accounts Payable Specialist Resume Examples
Years of Experience
- 0
- 2-3
- 5-10
- 10+
Kayla McAdams
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
789 Second Street, Joplin, MO, 64801
Profile
Ambitious young professional determined to positively contribute to the accounting industry. Noted interest in developing automated systems to increase accuracy and transparency in financial transaction reporting. Willing and able to quickly learn new software, platforms and technologies.
Key Skills
- Attention to detail
- Information management and organization
- Problem-solving and advanced mathematics
- Friendly and communicative
Education
Bachelor of Science in Accounting
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, Ann Arbor, MI, September 2014 – May 2019
Coursework completed:
- Accounting Principles
- Accounting Information System Design
- Advanced Big Data Analytics
- Financial Decision Making
Professional Experience
Accounts Payable Intern, JNE Accounting Firm, Topeka, KS
May 2019 – Present
- Selected to present original research at an anti-fraud seminar to over 250 accounts payable specialists
- Assist with training new staff to use the latest accounting software
- Track and manage payments and transactions totaling over $100,000 for 5-7 clients
Financial Aid Office Student Worker, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
January 2017 – May 2019
- Answered 30 to 50 phone calls per day from students inquiring about their accounts
- Ensured public and private student loan money was disbursed in a timely and accurate manner
- Monitored office supplies and placed orders for replenishment when necessary
Marlon Brown
(000) 987-6543
[email protected]
155 Row Lane, Toledo, OH 43613
Profile
Self-motivated, proactive Accounts Payable Specialist with over 2 years experience handling invoicing, reconciling, purchase orders, and vendor management. Highly familiar with US GAAP, budget control, and accounts administration. Organized, proficient in multiple software platforms, and flexible with multiple priorities. Skilled at collaboration and learning new concepts quickly.
Key Skills
- Data entry and general ledger entry
- MS Office, QuickBooks, Sage X3, Oracle NetSuite, and SAP Accounts Payable Module
- Detail-oriented
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Teamwork
Education
Associate of Applied Business – Accounting Technology
OWENS COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Toledo, OH, September 2016 – May 2018
Professional Experience
Accounts Payable Specialist, STP Enterprises, Toledo, OH
January 2020 – Present
- Coordinating approval procedures of accounts payable invoices
- Balancing batch summary reports for verification
- Entering financial transactions into internal database with 100% accuracy and full compliance with company policy
- Introduced process optimization and auditing procedures that have led to a 15% processing time reduction
Accounts Payable Clerk, FasTemp Staffing Solutions, Toledo, OH
June 2018 – January 2020
- Filled in for absent or unfilled A/P positions in various companies
- Resolved backlogged work and billing issues, resulting in annual overpayment savings of $25,000 for one business and $15,000 for two businesses
- Communicated regularly with a nationwide network of suppliers and vendors
- Commended by company executives for creating timely, accurate cash flow reports and A/P liability summaries
Arthur Archer
(100) 100-1000
[email protected]
44 Fourth Street, Sacramento, CA 44444
Profile
Solution-oriented accounts payable specialist who has over six years of experience working with vendors. Adept at understanding and delivering on expectations while maintaining professional, cordial relationships. Proven track record of improving on-time payment rate and cutting down overall expenditures. Accurate invoice processor who avoids errors through cross-checking and attention to detail.
Professional Experience
Accounts Payable Specialist, Bakersfield Manufacturing, Bakersfield, CA
September 2017 – Present
- Negotiate payment plans with vendors, in one case reducing total expenditures by $2 million through early payments
- Process 500+ invoices per week
- Regularly communicate with 14 vendors, including two Fortune 500 companies
- Maintain records of payment transactions
- Cross-check records for errors, finding and correcting an average of 10 per week
Accounts Payable Clerk, Sacramento Solutions, Sacramento, CA
July 2015 – August 2017
- Cleared backlog of six months of work, resolving 30 accounting errors
- Processed and verified invoices, serving as the primary point of contact for 12 clients
- Created and delivered weekly, monthly and quarterly reports to executive team, including CFO
- Implemented use of QuickBooks software, reducing company-wide payment errors by 90%
Education
Bachelor of Science in Accounting
SAN FRANCISCO UNIVERSITY, San Francisco, CA, September 2011 – June 2014
Key Skills
- Identifying and using clients’ and vendors’ preferred communication channels
- Accounting software, including QuickBooks, Oracle NetSuite and Tipalti
- Bookkeeping and reporting
- Vendor negotiations
Certifications
- Certified Bookkeeper, Bookkeepers Association, 2018
- Certified Accounts Payable Professional, Financial Professionals Association, 2021
Regina Rickson
(111) 222-3333
[email protected]
333 Third Highway, Boise, ID 33333
Profile
Senior accounts payable specialist with 11+ years of experience in vendor interactions and payment processes. Able to manage relations with multiple vendors while keeping all accounts in good standing. Organized bookkeeper whose accurate records prove valuable at tax time and during reconciliation and reviews. Skills include the use of industry-standard software, clear communication, and accounting ability.
Professional Experience
Senior Accounts Payable Specialist, Boise Business Solutions, Boise, ID
January 2015 – Present
- Process approximately 15,000 invoices per month, covering over $1 million in payments to vendors
- Recommend use of cost-saving measures like early payments and bulk purchases, triggering an average of $30,000 in vendor discounts per quarter
- Review deliveries and inventory to ensure vendors are meeting obligations
- Reconcile vendor invoices with internal records to identify errors and overpayments, saving $500,000+ to date
- Deliver weekly and quarterly reports to managers and executives regarding vendor payments, invoice issues, and other account-related matters
Accounts Payable Specialist, Smith Solutions, Bismarck, ND
July 2009 – December 2014
- Reviewed invoice coding for errors, catching an average of 12 per week
- Kept records on over 40 vendors
- Assisted with end-of-month book closing
- Resolved several months of backlogged vendor payments through payment plans and open communication
- Researched vendor agreements to find discount opportunities, in one case saving $12,000 per order
Education
Bachelor of Science in Accounting
NEBRASKA UNIVERSITY, Lincoln, NE, September 2005 – June 2009
Key Skills
- Vendor relations
- Bookkeeping
- Accounting software, including Oracle, NetSuite, and Tipalti
- Written and verbal communication
- Delivering reports
Certifications
- Certified Accounts Payable Specialist, Financial Professionals Association, 2019
- Bookkeeper Certification, Bookkeepers of America, 2020
Common Key Skills and Action Verbs for Accounts Payable Specialist Resumes
Hiring managers usually look for a specific list of skills and attributes when recruiting for accounts payable specialist roles. Many now use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to scan resumes for relevant keywords, so it’s important to know the vocabulary to use to get yourself noticed. Weaving in as many of the following keywords and action verbs as possible can help get your resume flagged by an ATS for further consideration by a hiring manager.
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Accounting software | Accounts payable codes |
| Accuracy | Attention to detail |
| Check processing | Customer service |
| Data analysis | Data protection and confidentiality |
| Efficiency | Email and telephone communication |
| Mathematical reasoning | Microsoft Excel |
| Organization | Problem-solving |
| Record keeping | Relationship management |
| Teamwork | Time management |
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Analyze | Assess |
| Balance | Calculate |
| Collaborate | Communicate |
| Conduct | Deliver |
| Handle | Identify |
| Monitor | Prepare |
| Record | Rectify |
| Resolve | Track |
How to Write a Better Accounts Payable Specialist Resume
Highlight your soft skills
While mathematical and analytical skills are vital for a career as an accounts payable specialist, employers also value soft skills just as highly. This role requires you to collaborate with colleagues and manage relationships with clients and vendors. Therefore, it’s a good idea to highlight at least one soft skill displayed in each of your previous roles. If you can, include a quantifiable result that these skills allowed you to achieve.
Example #1
Good
Collaborated with a team of 6 colleagues to solve complex accounting discrepancies, resolving 98% of errors within 2 hours.
Bad
Worked as a team to fix accounting errors.
Example #2
Good
Managed relationships with clients and vendors and responded efficiently to queries, receiving 99.5% positive feedback for customer service throughout employment.
Bad
Helped clients and vendors quickly and politely.
Showcase your educational experience
Detailing your educational accomplishments shows employers that you have the mathematical reasoning and analytical skills to excel as an accounts payable specialist. If you have a bachelor or associate degree in finance or a related field, list any coursework you completed that displays the key competencies employers look for. If you don’t have a degree, mention any core or elective areas of study that demonstrate your aptitude for the role.
Example #1
Good
High School Diploma
WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL, Austin, TX, June 2018
Electives completed:
- Personal Finance
- Information Technology
- Applied Mathematics
Bad
High School Diploma
WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL, June 2018
Example #2
Good
Associate of Applied Science in Accounting
AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Austin, TX, September 2016 – June 2018
Coursework completed:
- Accounting Information Systems
- Advanced Business Communication
- Special Topics in Accounting
Bad
Associate of Accounting
AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Austin, TX, September 2016 – June 2018
How to Align Your Resume With the Job Description
The published job description provides you with valuable insight into a potential employer’s requirements and priorities. By aligning your accounts payable specialist resume with the proficiencies described in the job description, you can show the hiring manager that you can deliver effectively and set yourself apart from other candidates.
While it can save time to submit the same generic resume for each opening, you stand a far higher chance of being called for an interview by tailoring your application to the job ad. Try to include examples of when you’ve demonstrated the skills listed first or more than once in the job description. Compare your resume with the job ad before submitting it to check that you’ve covered as many of these must-haves as possible.
Example Accounts Payable Job Description
Sysco is one of Texas’s fastest-growing wholesale food suppliers and was recently voted as one of the top three employers for staff well-being. We are seeking an efficient and detail-oriented accounts payable specialist to join the finance department at our Dallas office. The role requires outstanding customer service skills and a proven track record of teamwork.
Responsibilities:
- Respond to clients’ accounts payable queries via email and telephone and go the extra mile to deliver efficient service
- Accurately log discrepancies and use problem-solving skills to address anomalies
- Prepare checks for processing and inspect them for accuracy
- Apply the correct codes to invoices and other financial documentation and maintain precise transaction records
- Work collaboratively with teammates to meet tight deadlines and provide assistance with administrative tasks as required
Qualifications:
- High School Diploma or GED; Associate’s degree in finance or accounting strongly preferred
- 3+ years of accounts payable experience
- Attention to detail
- Mathematical reasoning
- Data analysis
The above job description shows that the employer is looking for the following skills and qualities:
- Efficiency
- Attention to detail
- Customer service
- Telephone and email communication
- Record keeping
- Accuracy
- Problem-solving
- Identifying financial discrepancies
- Data analysis
- Mathematical reasoning
- Check preparation
- Teamwork
- AC codes
- Time management
Once you’ve identified the key skills and proficiencies required, you can adapt your resume to match. Here’s an example of an application tailored to meet the job ad:
Accounts Payable Specialist Job Work Experience Example
Accounts Payable Specialist, Texas International Terminals, League City, TX
July 2013 – Present
- Answer telephone and email inquiries politely and efficiently, achieving a consistent 5-star customer service rating over 4 years
- Leverage strong mathematical reasoning skills to analyze data for discrepancies and solve complex problems, reducing payment errors by 45% in 2020
- Work collaboratively with up to 5 colleagues to maintain accurate financial records and assign AC codes correctly, consistently ranking in the top 5% of teams for attention to detail
- Multitask across competing tasks to meet tight deadlines, managing time effectively, exceeding productivity goals by 32% in 2020