What does an account payables analyst do?
An accounts payable analyst is primarily responsible for managing and processing invoices and payments, ensuring accuracy and timeliness. They are also responsible for coordinating with various departments to obtain and acquire data and invoices, submitting payments to external vendors and suppliers, identifying errors and inconsistencies, and providing corrective measures. One may also perform clerical tasks such as producing progress reports and presentations, managing schedules, addressing issues and concerns through calls and correspondence, and resolving them promptly and efficiently.
Account payables analyst responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real account payables analyst resumes:
- Manage budget submissions by subsidiaries in Europe/AFNE region in Hyperion.
- Perform month end close activities such as account reconciliations and journal entries resulting in accurate financial statement reporting.
- Perform validation in ERP to ensure invoices not already paid.
- Maintain fixed assets in ERP system to report the correct depreciation monthly.
- Request current vendors to switch payment type from check to ACH and enroll in e-Invoicing for faster and more efficient processing.
- Coordinate ACH implementation/conversion to electronic payment system.
- Assist managers/timekeepers with various questions or concerns relate to payroll.
- Assist in preparation of financial statements by analyzing prepay expenses and recording accruals.
- Handle financial data and assist controller/plant manager with various accounting and payroll tasks.
- Coordinate system security controls and user permissions in PeopleSoft testing and production sites.
- Prepare quarterly documentation for cash distribution platforms and expense reconciliation to ensure SOX compliance.
- Maintain documentation and reports relate to all banking activity above in accordance with SOX requirements.
- Prepare and analyze historical data through PeopleSoft queries for AP metrics monitoring and data analysis.
- Facilitate communication for resolving outstanding balance sheet items suspense and accruals, and all unmatch open receipts.
- Perform Sarbanes-Oxley procedure testing surrounding all aspects of the business for the corporate site and other manufacturing locations.
Account payables analyst skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of Account Payables Analysts are proficient in Customer Service, Data Entry, and Purchase Orders. They’re also known for soft skills such as Computer skills, Integrity, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Account Payables Analysts that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 11%
Provide customer service to internal and external customers when addressing any discrepancies or issues with invoices and/or other pertinent documents.
- Data Entry, 6%
Provided accounting and data entry support related to cash receipts/revenue.
- Purchase Orders, 5%
Investigate and resolve problems associated with processing of invoices and purchase orders communicating resolution of discrepancies to appropriate persons.
- Reconciliations, 5%
Performed month end close activities such as account reconciliations and journal entries resulting in accurate financial statement reporting.
- Vendor Invoices, 5%
Processed vendor invoices for payment on-line which improved efficiency and exceeded expectations for Detroit Diesel.
- Expense Reports, 4%
Processed departmental account payable Performed weekly check runs Balanced daily reports to track productivity Tracked expense reports and disbursement
"customer service," "data entry," and "purchase orders" are among the most common skills that account payables analysts use at work. You can find even more account payables analyst responsibilities below, including:
Computer skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for an account payables analyst to have is computer skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks need to be comfortable using computer spreadsheets and bookkeeping software." Account payables analysts often use computer skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "coded vendor invoices and entered into computer and processed for payment"
Integrity. Many account payables analyst duties rely on integrity. "bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks have control of an organization’s financial documentation, which they must use properly and keep confidential," so an account payables analyst will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways account payables analyst responsibilities rely on integrity: "worked across various levels throughout the organization to ensure seamless transition into oracle erp system ensuring data integrity and target deadlines. "
Detail oriented. account payables analysts are also known for detail oriented, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to account payables analyst responsibilities, because "bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks are responsible for producing accurate financial records." An account payables analyst resume example shows how detail oriented is used in the workplace: "compiled instruction manual detailing country specific banking nuances to facilitate supplier profiles for electronic, ach and check payments. "
Math skills. account payables analyst responsibilities often require "math skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks deal with numbers daily and should be comfortable with basic arithmetic." This resume example shows what account payables analysts do with math skills on a typical day: "provide reports and statistics for the management to help improve the overall accounts payable process. "
The three companies that hire the most account payables analysts are:
- SMX Convention Center51 account payables analysts jobs
- Robert Half18 account payables analysts jobs
- CVS Health4 account payables analysts jobs
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Account payables analyst vs. Senior accounting clerk
Senior Accounting Clerks lead in a complex set of work staff and are responsible for performing governmental fund accounting that involves reporting and financial record keeping. They are responsible for resolving discrepancies, verifying and auditing financial reports, and inputting data into their financial accounting system. They must know methods of verifying and reconciling accounting records, accounts payable and receivable, and how to familiarize themselves with their firm's financial accounting software. They must also be skilled in handling large sums of cash with integrity and making manual arithmetical calculations with speed and accuracy.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, account payables analyst responsibilities require skills like "customer service," "erp," "strong analytical," and "journal entries." Meanwhile a typical senior accounting clerk has skills in areas such as "credit card payments," "financial data," "customer accounts," and "accounts receivables." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Senior accounting clerks earn the highest salaries when working in the finance industry, with an average yearly salary of $54,607. On the other hand, account payables analysts are paid more in the energy industry with an average salary of $66,023.The education levels that senior accounting clerks earn slightly differ from account payables analysts. In particular, senior accounting clerks are 3.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an account payables analyst. Additionally, they're 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Account payables analyst vs. Analyst
Analysts are employees or individual contributors with a vast experience in a particular field that help the organization address challenges. They help the organization improve processes, policies, and other operations protocol by studying the current processes in place and determining the effectiveness of those processes. They also research industry trends and data to make sound inferences and recommendations on what the company should do to improve their numbers. Analysts recommend business solutions and often help the organization roll out these solutions. They ensure that the proposed action plans are effective and produce the desired results.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real account payables analyst resumes. While account payables analyst responsibilities can utilize skills like "purchase orders," "reconciliations," "vendor invoices," and "expense reports," analysts use skills like "troubleshoot," "data analysis," "management system," and "project management."
On average, analysts earn a higher salary than account payables analysts. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, analysts earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $79,330. Whereas account payables analysts have higher pay in the energy industry, with an average salary of $66,023.In general, analysts achieve similar levels of education than account payables analysts. They're 4.9% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Account payables analyst vs. Account associate
An account associate is responsible for supporting the accounting and finance department in performing accounting operations, bookkeeping functions, and other related clerical tasks. Account associates analyze and sort financial statements accordingly, assist on payroll processing, evaluate account reconciliations and receivables, create financial reports, and updating recent account information on the database. They also handle clients' inquiries and concerns, routing calls to the appropriate accounting staff or department. An account associate must have excellent analytical and communication skills, as well as comprehensive knowledge of the accounting principles.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from account payables analyst resumes include skills like "purchase orders," "vendor statements," "erp," and "strong analytical," whereas an account associate is more likely to list skills in "work ethic," "strong work ethic," "develop leads," and "patients. "
Account associates earn the best pay in the finance industry, where they command an average salary of $48,877. Account payables analysts earn the highest pay from the energy industry, with an average salary of $66,023.account associates typically earn similar educational levels compared to account payables analysts. Specifically, they're 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Account payables analyst vs. Accounting associate
An accounting associate is responsible for supporting the operations of the accounting department, ensuring the stability of the financial services and status of an organization. Accounting associates process invoices, update client accounts on the database, manage financial reports, assist with tax auditing and processing, monitoring the financial statements and activities of the organization, escalate financial disputes, and verify accounts receivable. An accounting associate must have excellent knowledge of the accounting industry, as well as exceptional analytical and time-management skills to perform clerical duties as needed under minimal supervision.
Types of account payables analyst
Updated January 8, 2025
