How To Write an Accounts Receivable Resume
Create an accounts receivable (AR) resume with the same focus on detail you bring to your work as an AR professional. Start by making a list of facts. Include your experience, such as leading AR teams, tracking payments, and results you’ve achieved for employers, along with relevant education and certifications. Then choose a template that lets you organize those facts to tell a cohesive story about your qualifications for the position. Learn more about creating an AR resume with the tips and examples below.
1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your qualifications
Open your resume with a short summary of your career highlights. Focus on how your experience, education, and skills meet specific needs listed in the employer’s job posting. Highlight anything that sets you apart from similar applicants. For example, you could mention your in-depth experience with Xero or other accounting programs or highlight your ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
Senior-Level Profile Example
Senior AR specialist with over 11 years of advancement and experience. Skilled at leading, training, and motivating AR team members. Draw on deep knowledge of Microsoft Office software and specialist accountancy programs, including Xero and Sage Business Cloud. Maintain high precision and efficiency in dynamic and fast-paced work settings.
Entry-Level Profile Example
Motivated AR clerk with over two years of experience tracking payments for various company departments. Provide timely, accurate billing to help businesses raise efficiency and profit. Equally effective working solo or on a team. Quickly adapt to new work challenges and industry conditions.
2. Add a results-driven professional experience section
The professional experience section must do more than list your past employers and job duties. Use this section to give examples of your success and indicate the value you’ll generate in your next role. Include bullet points on your past results, and quantify the information whenever possible. For example, rather than just saying you reduced AR, give details such as the type of accounts, the time span, and the amount you reduced them.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Senior Accounts Receivable Specialist
ARAG North America, Des Moines, IA | February 2017 to present
- Audit accounts to ensure correct setup and premium application
- Oversee AR files and prepare 5500 forms
- Investigate and reconcile any account discrepancies, offering suggestions to prevent recurrence
- Liaise with clients to obtain necessary files and resolve underpayment issues
- Train new hires on AR principles and processes
Highlight:
- Streamlined various AR processes, raising overall billing efficiency 35%
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Accounts Receivable Clerk
Electrical Designs Limited, Omaha, NE | July 2020 to present
- Maintain financial reports, bank reconciliations, and other documentation
- Quickly and accurately enter and code all invoices to accounts waiting for payment
- Help department manager process biweekly checks
- Research and resolve any account discrepancies
- Create customer accounts and enter data in central database
3. Include relevant education and certifications
Always review job listings carefully so you know what education and certifications the employer is looking for. If you have those credentials, feature them in a concise, easy-to-scan format on your resume. Also include any credentials that relate to your target job and may help you stand out. For example, a Certified Billing and Coding Specialist credential might be relevant if you’re applying to AR jobs in health care.
Education
Template:
[Degree Name]
[School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
Example:
Associate of Science in Business Administration
Franklin Community College, Atlanta, GA | 2014
Certifications
Template:
[Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example:
Accounts Receivable Specialist (ARS), Institute of Finance & Management, 2017
4. List pertinent key skills
Often, before you can impress a hiring manager with your resume, you have to get it past an applicant tracking system (ATS). One way to do that is by emphasizing those of your skills the ATS is likely coded to look for. Consider the list below and whether any of these skills align with your AR experience — when they do, incorporate them with your resume.
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Account reconciliation | Accounting |
| Bookkeeping | Budgeting |
| Collections | Customer service |
| Data analysis | Data entry |
| General accounting software | General ledger |
| Invoicing | Microsoft Excel |
| QuickBooks | Ten-key |
| Time management | Vendor relations |
How To Pick the Best Accounts Receivable Resume Template
Choose a simple resume template that keeps the focus on your relevant information. Avoid fancy templates with expressive fonts or flourishes, and stick with basic formatting to ensure a clean, concise document.
Accounts Receivable Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Jonathan Carter
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | 123 Second Street, Omaha, NE 34567
Profile
Motivated Accounts Receivable Clerk with 2+ years of experience tracking payments for various company departments. Provide timely, accurate billing to help businesses raise efficiency and profit. Equally effective working independently or on a team. Adapt readily to new work challenges and fast-changing industry conditions.
Key Skills
- Accounting Software (Xero, QuickBooks)
- Advanced Mathematics
- Bookkeeping Procedures
- Data Entry & Analysis
- Financial Reconciliations
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Access)
Professional Experience
Accounts Receivable Clerk, Electrical Designs Limited, Omaha, NE | July 2020 to Present
- Maintain financial reports, bank reconciliations, and other documentation
- Quickly and accurately enter and code all invoices to accounts waiting for payment
- Help department manager process biweekly checks
- Research and resolve any account discrepancies
- Create customer accounts and enter data in central database
Administrative Assistant – Accounting, Robert Morris, Omaha, NE | September 2019 to July 2020
- Helped company’s accountant manage bank accounts, process payroll, and gather tax information for external audits
- Called customers for debt collection
Education
Associate of Applied Science in Accounting, Metropolitan Community College, Omaha, NE | 2020
Certifications
Accounts Receivable Manager (ARM), Institute of AR Finance & Management
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) in Excel
Daphne Rogers
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | 555 Third Street, Atlanta, GA 09876
Profile
Dedicated Accounts Receivable (AR) Specialist with 8+ years of advancement and experience. Thrive in dynamic and fast-paced work settings. Bilingual: Fluent in English and Spanish.
Professional Experience
Accounts Receivable Specialist, Rental Max, Atlanta, GA | November 2017 to Present
- Foster positive customer relationships to ensure timely payments
- Train new AR team members on policies and procedures
Highlights:
- Introduced procedures that raised invoice processing efficiency by 22%
- Led company’s transition from Oracle to QuickBooks software. Completed project ahead of schedule with no disruption to accounting operations
Accounts Receivable Clerk, Roberts HVAC Systems, Atlanta, GA | November 2014 to October 2017
- Drafted invoices, researched discrepancies, and performed various other daily AR duties
- Organized and entered new customer data in central database
- Completed monthly financial closing for the AR department
Education
Associate of Science in Business Administration, Franklin Community College, Atlanta, GA | 2014
Key Skills
- Credit & Collections Management
- Data Entry & Analysis
- Internal Controls
- Microsoft Excel
- QuickBooks
- Task Prioritization
- Team Collaboration
Certifications
Accredited Receivables Specialist (ARS), IOFM | 2017
QuickBooks Certification, NACPB | 2016
Languages
Fluency in Spanish | Basic proficiency in French
Devin Parry
(765) 432-1098 | [email protected] | 321 Main Road, Des Moines, IA 76543
Profile
Senior Accounts Receivable Specialist with 11+ years of advancement and experience. Skilled at leading, training, and motivating AR team members. Draw on deep knowledge of Microsoft Office software and specialist accountancy programs including Xero and Sage Business Cloud. Maintain high precision and efficiency in dynamic and fast-paced work settings.
Professional Experience
Senior Accounts Receivable Specialist, ARAG North America, Des Moines, IA | February 2017 to Present
- Audit accounts to ensure correct setup and premium application
- Oversee AR files and prepare 5500 forms
- Investigate and reconcile any account discrepancies, offering suggestions to prevent recurrence
- Liaise with clients to obtain necessary files and resolve underpayment issues
- Train new hires on AR principles and processes
Highlight:
- Streamlined various AR processes, raising overall billing efficiency 35%
Accounts Receivable Clerk, Lutheran Services in Iowa, Des Moines, IA | November 2011 to February 2017
- Quickly and accurately entered data and documented sales
- Helped prepare for external financial audits
- Generated client invoices for medical services and facilitated insurance claims
Education & Credentials
Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration, College of Business & Public Administration, Drake University, Des Moines, IA
Accounts Receivable Certification, IOFM
Key Skills
- Advanced Mathematics
- Data Gathering & Entry
- Microsoft Excel
- Reporting & Documentation
- Task Prioritization
- Team Collaboration
- Time Management
Advice from a Recruiter: Rebecca Finney
1. What are the most in-demand skills for accounts receivable that should be featured on a candidate’s resume?+
Hard Skills
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office
- Proficiency with accounting software (Quickbooks, Sage, SAP, etc.)
- Customer service
- Reports and analysis
- Investigation
Soft Skills
- Professional and interpersonal communication
- Customer-service oriented
2. What work experience and other accomplishments are hiring managers looking for in an accounts receivable candidate?+
Hiring managers often prefer accounts receivable candidates with previous experience in AR and collections. Even previous experience in customer experience is worth highlighting because much of AR does have roots in customer service.
3. What else, in addition to a resume, should an accounts receivable candidate be prepared to provide hiring managers?+
It never hurts to include a cover letter as long as the grammar, syntax, and spelling are correct and the context is relevant to the job that the candidate is applying for. Sometimes, candidates may be asked to complete a Microsoft Proficiency test, so any previous certifications that a candidate can provide are recommended.
4. What advice would you give an accounts receivable candidate about their job search? +
Utilize your alumni network. Accountants know other accountants! In an interview, talk specifically about your accounting experience(s), and the systems/programs you’ve used. Be able to explain how your actions have supported other accountants.
Frequently Asked Questions: Accounts Receivable Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for accounts receivable resumes?+
Action verbs serve several purposes on your resume. They signal you’re an applicant who gets things done. When you start bullet points and sentences with strong verbs, you make it easier for hiring managers to scan your resume and remember information. Start with some of the options below, which are commonly used on AR resumes.
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Audit | Balance |
| Calculate | Charge |
| Collect | Close |
| Coordinate | Create |
| Credit | Enter |
| Identify | Invoice |
| Post | Prepare |
| Prevent | Process |
| Reconcile | Report |
| Resolve | Streamline |
| Update | Write off |
How do you align your resume with an accounts receivable job posting?+
Start by cross-referencing your skills and experience with what’s mentioned on the job posting. Anytime those two lists overlap, highlight that fact on your resume by using similar words and phrases. For example, if the employer seeks someone with experience using Sage accounting tools, cite them in your profile or skills section.
Job opportunities for accounting clerks of all types are on the decline, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, so aligning your resume with each job posting can help you stand out in a competitive field.
What is the best accounts receivable resume format?+
Most AR professionals should use the combination (or hybrid) format. True to its name, this format combines two important features of other resume formats: the chronological format’s experience section and the functional format’s profile section.
A combination resume offers the best of both worlds by fusing these two sections. The experience section lets you outline your recent work history – essential information for most employers. At the same time, the profile section lets you display your career highlights at the top, regardless if they’re from that work history or another part of your background. The resulting resume is straightforward yet strategic. It gives hiring managers the clearest possible view of your background and relevant skills, so they can decide to proceed with your candidacy.
Expert advice: include a cover letter with your resume
A cover letter lets you elaborate on your experience and why you’re the right choice for the position. For tips on this document, see our bookkeeper cover letter guide.
