How to hire an accounts payable manager

How to hire an accounts payable manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step accounts payable manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an accounts payable manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new accounts payable manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an accounts payable manager do?

Post an accounts payable manager job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the accounts payable manager you need to hire. Certain accounts payable manager roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect accounts payable manager also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of accounts payable manager salaries for various roles:

   Type of Accounts Payable Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Accounts Payable Manager	Financial managers are responsible for the financial health of an organization. They produce financial reports, direct investment activities, and develop strategies and plans for the long-term financial goals of their organization.	$24-45
   Manager/Finance Accounting	A manager of finance accounting's role is to oversee the financial activities in a company or organization. Their responsibilities revolve around coordinating with other departments to gather financial data, analyze the revenues and expenditures, and develop written reports and presentations... Show more	$31-61
   Branch Manager	Branch managers oversee the company's field office. This position is usually present in industries such as banking and food service... Show more	$18-38

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Reconciliations
   • Purchase Orders
   • Vendor Invoices
   • Financial Statements
   • Payroll
   • Internal Controls
   • Accruals
   • General Ledger Accounts
   • ACH
   • Process Improvement
   • Credit Card
   • Data Entry
   • Expense Reports

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage bi-weekly payroll, bonuses, pay cards, PTO.
   • Collect, enter & manage the quality of information require to produce accurate information report to IRS.
   • Authorize all AP payment invoices, manage deposits and cash management functions, while providing overall complete payroll oversight.
   • Refine the 'pro forma invoice' system process to manage prepayments of client invoices enhancing efficiency and adding value.
   • Assist in computer software upgrade to integrate all accounting functions including pricing, AP, AR, GL and inventory.
   • Ensure timely and efficient processing of authorize AP invoices and cash disbursements, as well as AR invoices and cash receipts.

   More accounts payable manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the accounts payable manager job description is a good way to get more applicants. An accounts payable manager salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for an accounts payable manager in Alabama may be lower than in Oregon, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level accounts payable manager. Additionally, an accounts payable manager with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average accounts payable manager salary

   $69,808yearly

   $33.56 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level accounts payable manager salary

   $51,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average accounts payable manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Oregon	$95,504	$46
   2	California	$90,456	$43
   3	Washington	$86,880	$42
   4	Connecticut	$85,207	$41
   5	District of Columbia	$84,333	$41
   6	New Jersey	$82,780	$40
   7	Alaska	$78,157	$38
   8	Pennsylvania	$75,894	$36
   9	Massachusetts	$75,676	$36
   10	New York	$74,003	$36
   11	Texas	$73,677	$35
   12	Georgia	$72,013	$35
   13	Indiana	$71,280	$34
   14	Nevada	$71,156	$34
   15	Illinois	$70,987	$34
   16	Virginia	$70,627	$34
   17	Colorado	$70,484	$34
   18	Florida	$70,464	$34
   19	Minnesota	$69,829	$34
   20	Maryland	$69,654	$33

   Average accounts payable manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Microsoft	$112,633	$54.15	37
   2	Workday	$108,560	$52.19	2
   3	JCPenney	$104,230	$50.11
   4	Nike	$97,372	$46.81	1
   5	AssetMark	$96,793	$46.54
   6	Staffing.com	$91,697	$44.09	2
   7	Tenet Healthcare	$90,409	$43.47	4
   8	Kemper	$89,552	$43.05	14
   9	Sempra Energy	$87,967	$42.29
   10	Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith	$87,002	$41.83	8
   11	Datadog	$86,546	$41.61
   12	Airtable	$85,480	$41.10
   13	Desktop Metal	$83,795	$40.29
   14	World Wildlife Fund	$83,384	$40.09
   15	Amgen	$83,094	$39.95	7
   16	UL	$82,394	$39.61	7
   17	Warby Parker	$82,132	$39.49
   18	Virginia Hospital Center	$81,431	$39.15
   19	Prologis	$80,999	$38.94	1
   20	Geisinger Medical Center	$80,299	$38.61

4. Writing an accounts payable manager job description

   A job description for an accounts payable manager role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an accounts payable manager job description:

   Accounts payable manager job description example

   BASIC FUNCTION : As an Accounts Payable Manager, you are responsible for supervising and providing a strong leadership to our accounts payable department to ensure that it runs smoothly. Review all invoices for appropriate documentation and approval prior to payment. Process 3-way P.O. matching invoices and correct P.O. Prioritize invoices according to cash discount potential and payment terms, process check requests, audit and process credit card bills, match invoices to checks, obtain all signatures for checks and distribute checks accordingly. You also responsible for 1099 maintenance. Respond to all vendor inquiries. Reconcile vendor statements, research and correct discrepancies. Maintain files and documentation thoroughly and accurately, in accordance with company policy and accepted accounting practices. Assist in month end closing and assist with other projects as needed.

   Key Responsibilities Areas:

   • Directs the Accounts Payable staff to ensure timely processing in conjunction with established month end close and year end close processes

   • Ensures invoices are coded correctly

   • Ensures batches are reviewed and posted timely

   • Develops written procedures to ensure adherence to company guidelines

   • Trains and evaluates staff to enhance performance and development

   • Addresses performance issues of staff

   • Some responsibilities of the accounts payable manager comprise of clearing accounts by processing payments, handling concerns or issues with the vendors that are pertaining to the payment disbursement, and working with several departments in accordance to the financial transactions in the entire company.

   • Aside from handling the daily tasks and duties within the accounts payable department, the accounts payable manager is responsible for training and supervising staff and clerks within the department through selecting new employees. They also train staff on new procedures and evaluate workers by determining if their overall performance is satisfactory for their company and department.

   Minimum Requirements:

   • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience

   • Experience using Great Plains version 10.00 or higher

   • Must possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills

   • Ability to work well under pressure

   • Strong analytical skills

   • Organizational skills

   Benefits

   • 401(k)

   • Medical Insurance

   • Dental Insurance

   • Vision Insurance

   • Life Insurance

   • PTO

   • Holiday Pay

   • Competitive Compensation

   Company DescriptionFood processing company (manufacture of tortillas)

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find accounts payable managers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any accounts payable managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level accounts payable managers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your accounts payable manager job on Zippia to find and recruit accounts payable manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with accounts payable manager candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new accounts payable manager

   Once you have selected a candidate for the accounts payable manager position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new accounts payable manager first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire an accounts payable manager?