What does an accounts payable supervisor do?
An accounts payable supervisor is an executive who is responsible for the timely payments of expense vouchers and vendor invoices. Accounts payable supervisors maintain the accuracy of the organization's financial records. They report to the head of the accounting department and oversee the accounts payable team. It is also part of their job to manage the company's budget reports and expense accounts. Leadership skills, strong communication, adaptability, and attention to detail are required to carry out this job.
Accounts payable supervisor responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real accounts payable supervisor resumes:
- Manage the consolidation of multiple departments during process re-engineering, re-alignment and ERP implementation.
- Lead year-end closing operations, process monthly, quarterly / year-end financial records, and monitor accounting reconciliations procedures.
- Post daily transactions, cash receipts, wire transactions and EFT and ACH transactions through PeopleSoft accounts receivable module.
- Evaluate accounting ERP system and test new system plug-ins, provide system testing evaluation reports and help with system implementation.
- Identify opportunities for quality improvement such as working with various suppliers to set up automate invoice processing and payments via ACH.
- Work with auditors to insure SOX compliance, update corporate travel policy, and provide training to staff for reimbursement system.
- Co-Creat, co-wrote and co-maintain all documentation relate to department design, SOX compliance processes, procedures, and process flows.
- Perform supervisory responsibilities in accordance with GAAP.
- Review and approve disbursement and payroll activity for domestic service centers and manufacturing plants.
- Improve efforts to perform quarterly accruals and job cost reconciliation, greatly reducing relate administrative costs.
- Recognize timekeeping issues and rectify as deemed necessary, input all timekeeping for bi-weekly payroll system.
- Participate in the monthly-closing process by preparing and transferring revenue and expenditure accruals into the general ledger system.
- Complete preliminary financial reporting monthly various analyses, reporting of outstanding expense liabilities in accordance to GAAP standards.
- Lead year-end closing operations, process monthly, quarterly / year-end financial records, and monitor accounting reconciliations procedures.
- Maintain vendor file with W9 forms, issue 1099-MISC, and file 1096 with IRS.
Accounts payable supervisor skills and personality traits
We calculated that 8% of Accounts Payable Supervisors are proficient in Customer Service, Reconciliations, and Vendor Invoices. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Organizational skills.
We break down the percentage of Accounts Payable Supervisors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 8%
Communicated daily with departments and vendors regarding outstanding invoices and resolving problems as quickly as possible while ensuring excellent customer service.
- Reconciliations, 6%
Led year-end closing operations, processed monthly, quarterly / year-end financial records, and monitored accounting reconciliations procedures.
- Vendor Invoices, 6%
Processed customer/vendor invoices and expenses.15 Assisted controller with comprehensive budget analysis.16 Interfaced with purchasing for shipment issues.
- Purchase Orders, 5%
Verified invoice amounts with purchase orders and receiving tickets, communicated with appropriate departments regarding any discrepancies.
- Accruals, 4%
Managed Month-end close process, cost accounting, monthly journal accruals, account reconciliations inter-company balances and reconciliations.
- ACH, 4%
Project managed ACH and P-Card implementation including monthly reconciliation.
Most accounts payable supervisors use their skills in "customer service," "reconciliations," and "vendor invoices" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential accounts payable supervisor responsibilities here:
Detail oriented. For certain accounts payable supervisor responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "detail oriented." The day-to-day duties of an accounts payable supervisor rely on this skill, as "bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks are responsible for producing accurate financial records." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what accounts payable supervisors do: "compile & manage numerous detailed financial reports for period end review of the government compliance within tight deadlines. "
Math skills. Another common skill required for accounts payable supervisor responsibilities is "math skills." This skill comes up in the duties of accounts payable supervisors all the time, as "bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks deal with numbers daily and should be comfortable with basic arithmetic." An excerpt from a real accounts payable supervisor resume shows how this skill is central to what an accounts payable supervisor does: "operated statistics, prepared and analyzed monthly financial statements in a timely manner. "
Computer skills. While "computer skills" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to accounts payable supervisor responsibilities. Much of what an accounts payable supervisor does relies on this skill, seeing as "bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks need to be comfortable using computer spreadsheets and bookkeeping software." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of accounts payable supervisors: "computerized 100% of all manual checks, reducing processing time per check by half. "
The three companies that hire the most accounts payable supervisors are:
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Compare different accounts payable supervisors
Accounts payable supervisor vs. Supervisor, patient access
A patient access supervisor is an individual who is responsible for supervising a health facility's patient registration, inpatient and outpatient, the financial counseling division, central scheduling, and the PBX department. Patient access supervisors must ensure that high-quality service for patients is achieved as well as the accuracy of information. They must create staffing calendars and make hiring decisions to maintain adequate staffing in the department. Patient access supervisors must also develop and implement policies and procedures for the department.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of an accounts payable supervisor are more likely to require skills like "reconciliations," "vendor invoices," "purchase orders," and "accruals." On the other hand, a job as a supervisor, patient access requires skills like "patients," "patient care," "revenue cycle," and "medical terminology." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Supervisors, patient access earn the highest salaries when working in the health care industry, with an average yearly salary of $48,671. On the other hand, accounts payable supervisors are paid more in the technology industry with an average salary of $59,550.The education levels that supervisors, patient access earn slightly differ from accounts payable supervisors. In particular, supervisors, patient access are 1.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an accounts payable supervisor. Additionally, they're 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Accounts payable supervisor 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.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, accounts payable supervisor responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "customer service," "accruals," "financial statements," and "payroll." Meanwhile, a senior accounting clerk has duties that require skills in areas such as "data entry," "credit card payments," "financial data," and "customer accounts." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Senior accounting clerks earn a lower average salary than accounts payable supervisors. But senior accounting clerks earn the highest pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $54,607. Additionally, accounts payable supervisors earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $59,550 annually.senior accounting clerks earn similar levels of education than accounts payable supervisors in general. They're 3.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Accounts payable supervisor vs. Billing supervisor
A billing supervisor is primarily in charge of spearheading and overseeing the billing procedures of a company. Typically managing a team of billing specialists and clerks, a billing supervisor must set goals and guidelines, gather and analyze billing data, develop reports to be presented to directors and other executives, and create strategies to optimize billing processes. They must also monitor all procedures, ensuring it complies with the company's policies. Furthermore, as a supervisor, they must lead and encourage the workforce to reach goals while implementing the rules and regulations of the company.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, accounts payable supervisors are more likely to have skills like "reconciliations," "vendor invoices," "purchase orders," and "accruals." But a billing supervisor is more likely to have skills like "patients," "billing procedures," "medicaid," and "billing issues."
Billing supervisors make a very good living in the professional industry with an average annual salary of $61,827. On the other hand, accounts payable supervisors are paid the highest salary in the technology industry, with average annual pay of $59,550.When it comes to education, billing supervisors tend to earn similar degree levels compared to accounts payable supervisors. In fact, they're 0.5% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Accounts payable supervisor vs. Branch supervisor
Types of accounts payable supervisor
Updated January 8, 2025
