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Accounts payable associate skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted experts
Curtis Nicholls Ph.D.,
Dr. Nicholas Robinson
Accounts payable associate example skills
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical accounts payable associate skills. We ranked the top skills for accounts payable associates based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 11.3% of accounts payable associate resumes contained customer service as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills an accounts payable associate needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 accounts payable associate skills for your resume and career

1. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how accounts payable associates use customer service:
  • Performed customer service responsibilities, including researching questionable invoices, providing financial information regarding pay status and auditing employees expense reports.
  • Researched and investigated all vendor discrepancies for account payment as well as providing profession internal and external customer service.

2. Data Entry

Data entry means entering data into a company's system with the help of a keyboard. A person responsible for entering data may also be asked to verify the authenticity of the data being entered. A person doing data entry must pay great attention to tiny details.

Here's how accounts payable associates use data entry:
  • Prepared invoices for approval by manager also ensured proper general ledger codes and data entry were accurately entered into Great Plains.
  • Participated in annual physical inventory performing various functions from data entry, tag control coordinator, and auditor.

3. Purchase Orders

Here's how accounts payable associates use purchase orders:
  • Processed incoming vendor invoices by coding and matching invoices with receiving documents, purchase orders and entering accurately into accounting systems.
  • Matched supplier invoices to purchase orders and receiving packets ensuring that invoice represented an authorized and legitimate purchase.

4. Vendor Statements

Here's how accounts payable associates use vendor statements:
  • Review vendor statements for accuracy and contact departments and/or vendors for any needed corrections.
  • Uploaded vendor statements and vendor history reports into Excel for account reconciliations.

5. Vendor Invoices

Here's how accounts payable associates use vendor invoices:
  • Processed payments of vendor invoices ensuring accurate coding to maximize efficient entry.
  • Assisted in scanning and indexing vendor invoices to facilitate efficient processing.

6. Expense Reports

Here's how accounts payable associates use expense reports:
  • Processed corporate expenses using JD Edwards System Processed expense reports and monthly-consolidated billing Verified invoices against batch reports Matched invoices to checks
  • Monitored and flagged invoices/expense reports for required approvals and policy exceptions before processing for payment.

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7. Reconciliations

Here's how accounts payable associates use reconciliations:
  • Assumed accountability for bank reconciliations, internal and external wage garnishments, and reconciliation of expense accounts.
  • Performed daily purchase order reconciliations, researched financial histories, and reviewed account status.

8. Journal Entries

Journal entries can be defined as an act of keeping or making records of any transactions either economic or non-economic. The journal entries are made in the accounting systems of an organization. The entries are filled with two main fields; debit and credit. The debit and credit must be equal at the end of a journal entry else it is not considered correct. The journal entries also keep the date of transactions and the names of the accounts that were affected by the transactions.

Here's how accounts payable associates use journal entries:
  • Prepared journal entries to correct account coding/dollar amounts after communicating with field office personnel.
  • Prepared monthly journal entries and account reconciliation notebooks for audit review.

9. Vendor Inquiries

Here's how accounts payable associates use vendor inquiries:
  • Reconciled invoices with purchase orders and receivers, responded to vendor inquiries and provided payment information to internal and external customers.
  • Responded to and investigated vendor inquiries regarding payments, insuring appropriate actions are taken for resolution.

10. Payment Processing

Here's how accounts payable associates use payment processing:
  • General ledger coding of non-purchase order transactions for payment processing.
  • Performed various projects assign by the Accounting Mgr Reviewed contracts and 1099's to ensure proper payment processing for all contractors.

11. Credit Card

A type of card issued by banks and other financial institutions, that enable users to manage and borrow their finances is called a credit card. The funds borrowed from a financial institution through a credit card are meant to be paid back along with certain amounts of interest imposed by the bank.

Here's how accounts payable associates use credit card:
  • Collected and maintained corporate credit card receipts for monthly reconciliation from five leadership members.
  • Reconcile company credit card statements and verify original receipts for each purchase.

12. Vendor Accounts

Here's how accounts payable associates use vendor accounts:
  • Monitor vendor accounts to ensure payments are accurately processed, and to maintain quality partner relationships.
  • Reconciled vendor accounts when needed and participated in vendor meetings.

13. ACH

Automated Clearing House, ACH is a computerized electronic network to process, coordinate and manage transactions (credit and debit) and automated money transfers between banks and other financial institutions without the use of paper checks, electronic transfers, credit cards, or cash networks. The ACH network is regulated by the federal government and managed by the National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA).

Here's how accounts payable associates use ach:
  • Negotiated extended terms and executed bank verification for ACH payment applications.
  • Prepare and process ACH payments: Employees deposits, transfer of funds from one account to another, business payments.

14. Invoice Processing

Here's how accounts payable associates use invoice processing:
  • Proposed and completed a 4-week pilot study which separated invoice processing and problem resolution functions.
  • Ensured timely invoice processing, coding accuracy, and required authorization.

15. ERP

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is computer software used by major corporations and organizations for conducting their management and accounting tasks efficiently. ERP systems bind different business processes with each other allowing smoother flow of data between them resulting in swift project assessment and completion.

Here's how accounts payable associates use erp:
  • Complete A/P Process - dual system using ERP and QB Online and obtaining AP approval on all invoices via stamp.
  • Played a key role in developing the current procedures and processes used to set up vendors in their ERP system.
top-skills

What skills help Accounts Payable Associates find jobs?

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What skills stand out on accounts payable associate resumes?

Curtis Nicholls Ph.D.Curtis Nicholls Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor of Accounting, Co-director of the Student Managed Investment Fund, Bucknell University

The obvious trends are going to become more pronounced: coding and technology-related skills. I think we are going to see an elevation in the coding expectations. In the future, I expect employers to begin providing coding assessments to potential candidates. This is a common feature of engineering and finance jobs, and I think we will see it with respect to claims about coding prowess.

Data skills will also continue to become more prevalent across all business disciplines. Employers are looking for experience with large data sets, data visualization software (e.g. Tableau, PowerBI, Alteryx, etc.) and statistical analysis. Data has become a major currency, and employees' ability to utilize data for decision making will be critical to success in the employment marketplace.

Beyond the obvious, I think the pandemic has also shifted focus to skills surrounding resilience and motivation. I've heard employers during the pandemic express surprise at the disparity of responses to the pandemic: some employees made the pivot to remote work seamlessly, others required significantly more support. Skills that demonstrate resilience, such as group work, honors programs, etc. will become more important.
I would encourage job seekers to highlight skills learned during the pandemic. I would anticipate a regular interview question inquiring about how the job seeker used their extra time during the pandemic. The most common answers will likely include lots of Queen's Gambit and Tiger King, but employers will look for answers surrounding the development of new skills or acquired certifications. Imagine the employer's thoughts when you suggest that you used the extra time to pursue a lifelong dream such as learning to play the piano or guitar. If you missed the early pandemic window of opportunity, take advantage now!

This line of questions may precede a dangerous trend for employers to look for indications of mental strength. I find this possibility disheartening as we could see employers screening employees with mental health challenges at a time when the solidarity of a job could provide much needed structure.

What soft skills should all accounts payable associates possess?

Dr. Nicholas Robinson

Director of Accountancy, Eastern Illinois University

Thinking of the less than the obvious answer would be the ability to ask questions the right way. If something is unclear or you just cannot figure it out, ask a question. The key part to this is TRYING to figure it out first and understanding when you are wasting your own time not getting anywhere. People will respect that you tried before coming to them for help. Another aspect of asking questions is listening to the answer. Make sure the answer is clear, and you know where or what you are supposed to do from there. Carry a notebook or something like that to both write down the questions you have on your project and their answers. I always find it impressive when people take notes and pay attention to the answer because it happens far too often that people ask questions but never listen to the response.

What hard/technical skills are most important for accounts payable associates?

Dr. Nicholas Robinson

Director of Accountancy, Eastern Illinois University

Excel, excel, excel. It does not matter how much you know in Excel. There is always something more to learn, improve upon, or make more efficient. If you are coming straight out of school, you may have had a lot of exposure to Excel, but if you are not using it every day in a work-like setting, you can get slow and forget how things work. Know how to look up techniques and tools. You will spend much of your working life dealing with Excel spreadsheets, so be sure you are comfortable with them.

What technical skills for an accounts payable associate stand out to employers?

Jodi OlsonJodi Olson LinkedIn profile

Assistant Accounting Professor, Winona State University

Accountants serve many industries and sectors, so a broad range of technical skills is required to be ready to meet the needs of employers. Graduates must be technically competent in areas such as accounting information systems, tax preparation, auditing, managerial/cost accounting, financial reporting, and financial statement analysis. Also, graduates are expected to have general business acumen in areas such as management information systems, business law, operations, strategic management, and ethics. All these skills are important for graduates, but the pandemic has made the accounting systems and management information systems skills operative in allowing graduates to deliver their other areas of technical expertise.
Do you want to know more?
Read more about what experts have to say about accounts payable associate

List of accounts payable associate skills to add to your resume

Accounts payable associate skills

The most important skills for an accounts payable associate resume and required skills for an accounts payable associate to have include:

  • Customer Service
  • Data Entry
  • Purchase Orders
  • Vendor Statements
  • Vendor Invoices
  • Expense Reports
  • Reconciliations
  • Journal Entries
  • Vendor Inquiries
  • Payment Processing
  • Credit Card
  • Vendor Accounts
  • ACH
  • Invoice Processing
  • ERP
  • General Ledger Accounts
  • Accruals
  • Payroll
  • W-9
  • Financial Reports
  • Vendor Payments
  • Accounts Payables
  • Accounts Payable Processing
  • Payment Terms
  • Credit Memos
  • Shared Services
  • Payable Transactions
  • Payable Functions
  • W9
  • Account Reconciliations
  • Payable Invoices
  • Payable Process
  • Wire Transfers
  • Deltek Costpoint
  • PeopleSoft
  • Computer System
  • Cost Centers
  • Payable Checks
  • IRS
  • Due Invoices
  • SOX
  • Payment Issues
  • AS400
  • QuickBooks
  • Payable System
  • Check Request
  • Payable Issues
  • Reconcile Accounts Payable
  • Manual Checks
  • Financial Statements

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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