What does an accounts payable clerk do?
An accounts payable clerk is responsible for supporting the accounting department by performing clerical duties to file financial reports timely and accurately. Accounts payable clerks manage and verify invoices documents, reconcile balance spreadsheets, process payments for suppliers and vendors, resolve billing discrepancies, confirm and post account statements, record outstanding credits, and maintain an organized record of transactions. An accounts payable clerk must have excellent knowledge of the accounting principles to deliver high-quality services and help the business minimize excessive financial loss.
Accounts payable clerk responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real accounts payable clerk resumes:
- Manage revenue ledger including other subsidiary ledgers and responsible for the reconciliation of various income accounts to ensure accuracy of postings.
- Match, code, and process vendor payments via MAS90 accounting system - including check runs and ACH payments.
- Perform duties in compliance with GAAP, company and department policies and procedures, internal controls, and Sarbanes-Oxley requirements.
- Process division payroll in coordination with ADP payroll systems for semi-monthly and weekly union contract employees.
- Scan and store documents daily, retrieve W2 and W9 information along with service provider agreements when or if need.
- Print, review, research, edit, code and batch invoices for processing via the various ERP financial systems.
- Play a key role in developing the current procedures and processes used to set up vendors in their ERP system.
- Recognize for improving the process of cutting checks and preparing ACH payment journals by including credit information taken on check stubs.
- Scan and archive vendor W9's with invoices including filing all checks with backups for auditing purposes according to establish policies.
- Process monthly accruals for upper management.
- Establish a QuickBooks accounting system to reflect accurate financial records.
- Enter information into QuickBooks accounting system to reflect accurate financial records.
- Participate in month-end closings by preparing month-end accruals for assign business entities
- Process payroll, finalize office services budget and negotiate purchasing price reductions.
- Develop and maintain internal control and processes for payroll and other important documents.
Accounts payable clerk skills and personality traits
We calculated that 13% of Accounts Payable Clerks are proficient in Customer Service, Data Entry, and Purchase Orders. They’re also known for soft skills such as Computer skills, Detail oriented, and Integrity.
We break down the percentage of Accounts Payable Clerks that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 13%
Perform register sales transactions quickly and accurately in accordance with established cash control procedures and Customer Service guidelines.
- Data Entry, 10%
Provided administrative support to upper management via drafting all official company correspondence, typing, filing and performing data entry.
- Purchase Orders, 8%
Prepared documentation for manager approval issuing stop-payments or purchase order amendments.
- Expense Reports, 6%
Prepare expense reports and ensure appropriate reimbursement, review and process travel expense vouchers for accountability and proper authorization.
- Vendor Invoices, 6%
Verify vendor invoices with corresponding purchase orders and receiving records or by obtaining other supporting documents as necessary.
- Vendor Statements, 5%
Developed exceptional skills in reconciling vendor statements and worked diligently with minimal direction while able to take on additional projects.
Common skills that an accounts payable clerk uses to do their job include "customer service," "data entry," and "purchase orders." You can find details on the most important accounts payable clerk responsibilities below.
Computer skills. The most essential soft skill for an accounts payable clerk to carry out their responsibilities is computer skills. This skill is important for the role because "bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks need to be comfortable using computer spreadsheets and bookkeeping software." Additionally, an accounts payable clerk resume shows how their duties depend on computer skills: "generated computerized and manual checks. "
Detail oriented. Another essential skill to perform accounts payable clerk duties is detail oriented. Accounts payable clerks responsibilities require that "bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks are responsible for producing accurate financial records." Accounts payable clerks also use detail oriented in their role according to a real resume snippet: "maintain detailed records of vendor activity, w-9 and insurance records. "
Integrity. accounts payable clerks are also known for integrity, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to accounts payable clerk responsibilities, because "bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks have control of an organization’s financial documentation, which they must use properly and keep confidential." An accounts payable clerk resume example shows how integrity is used in the workplace: "placed in a position of high trust and accountability as liaison between lawyers and hr to ensure distribution of monetary needs. "
Math skills. For certain accounts payable clerk responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "math skills." The day-to-day duties of an accounts payable clerk rely on this skill, as "bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks deal with numbers daily and should be comfortable with basic arithmetic." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what accounts payable clerks do: "prepared and maintained all plant financial reports, budgets and statistics. "
The three companies that hire the most accounts payable clerks are:
- Robert Half736 accounts payable clerks jobs
- Randstad North America, Inc.71 accounts payable clerks jobs
- AppleOne Employment Services52 accounts payable clerks jobs
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Compare different accounts payable clerks
Accounts payable clerk vs. Bookkeeper
Bookkeepers are employees who are in charge of the company's general ledger. They are well-versed in basic accounting principles, and they apply these in their work. Bookkeepers manage the entry of items in the general ledger, assign items into their proper categories, and ensure that the entries are balanced. They also act as auditors by checking the accuracy and veracity of the receipts or vouchers in their possession before entering them into the system. Bookkeepers ensure that their files are up to date and free of errors.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, accounts payable clerk responsibilities require skills like "vendor statements," "payroll," "credit card," and "vendor inquiries." Meanwhile a typical bookkeeper has skills in areas such as "payroll tax returns," "financial transactions," "credit card accounts," and "sales tax." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Bookkeepers really shine in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $42,063. Comparatively, accounts payable clerks tend to make the most money in the technology industry with an average salary of $41,570.The education levels that bookkeepers earn slightly differ from accounts payable clerks. In particular, bookkeepers are 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an accounts payable clerk. Additionally, they're 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Accounts payable clerk vs. Clerk
Clerks are responsible for many of the general administrative tasks in the office. They are in charge of manning office telephone lines, managing incoming and outgoing mails, filing paperwork and other needed records, scheduling and documenting meetings, typing out documents when needed, disseminating memos and other official announcements, and keeping an inventory of office equipment and supplies. Clerks should have good office skills, communication skills, business writing skills, and time management skills. They should also be able to treat any document or paperwork they handle with confidentiality.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that accounts payable clerk responsibilities requires skills like "purchase orders," "expense reports," "vendor invoices," and "vendor statements." But a clerk might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "basic math," "math," "cleanliness," and "pos."
Clerks earn a lower average salary than accounts payable clerks. But clerks earn the highest pay in the health care industry, with an average salary of $31,380. Additionally, accounts payable clerks earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $41,570 annually.clerks earn similar levels of education than accounts payable clerks in general. They're 1.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Accounts payable clerk vs. Accounting technician
An accounting technician is responsible for evaluating financial information procedures to support accounting and taxation tasks, verifying the accuracy of account statements for the reference of accountants. Accounting technicians manage the payroll processes, generate invoices, perform account reconciliations, analyze account receivables, prepare budget reports, and monitor the company's financial transactions. Accounting technicians should always adhere to taxation legislation, comply with accounting disciplines, and coordinate with the account management for any findings and concerns, requiring them to have excellent communication and analytical skills.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from accounts payable clerk resumes include skills like "hr," "vendor inquiries," "invoice processing," and "w-9," whereas an accounting technician is more likely to list skills in "travel vouchers," "financial transactions," "management system," and "ledgers. "
Accounting technicians earn the highest salary when working in the government industry, where they receive an average salary of $39,070. Comparatively, accounts payable clerks have the highest earning potential in the technology industry, with an average salary of $41,570.Most accounting technicians achieve a similar degree level compared to accounts payable clerks. For example, they're 1.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Accounts payable clerk vs. Accounting administrator
An accounting administrator is responsible for reviewing and analyzing account statements, managing deposits, and resolving bank discrepancies and financial disputes. Accounting administrators handle the efficient and accurate cash flow within an organization, including payroll release and filing of petty cash. They maintain an organized record of payments and billing statements for reference and audit purposes to generate reports for the management. An accounting administrator must have extensive knowledge of the accounting principles, as well as excellent communication and analytical skills to perform duties effectively, even under minimal supervision.
Types of accounts payable clerk
Updated January 8, 2025
