How To Become An Accounts Payable Technician: What It Is and Career Path

What is an accounts payable technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

An accounts payable technician is an individual responsible for managing a company's financial obligations to its vendors and suppliers. This includes verifying and processing invoices, reconciling statements, and preparing payments. They maintain accurate and organized records of all transactions and communicate with vendors to resolve any issues or discrepancies. Additionally, accounts payable technicians may assist in budgeting and forecasting activities. The role requires attention to detail, strong communication skills, and proficiency with accounting software.

ScoreAccounts Payable TechnicianUS Average

Salary

3.7

Avg. Salary $47,325

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.8

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

8.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.62%

Asian 6.75%

Black or African American 9.07%

Hispanic or Latino 23.20%

Unknown 5.05%

White 55.31%

Gender

female 45.05%

male 54.95%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress level

7.8

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.9

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.2

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an accounts payable technician?

Pros

Job stability and security
Good salary and benefits
Opportunities for career advancement
Exposure to finance and accounting industry
Access to professional development opportunities

Cons

High workload and tight deadlines
Strict adherence to policies and procedures
Boredom due to routine tasks
Potential for errors due to high volume of data entry
Perception of being a low-level job in the company hierarchy

Key steps to become an accounts payable technician

Explore accounts payable technician education requirements

Most common accounts payable technician degrees

Bachelor's

39.2 %

Associate

38.6 %

High School Diploma

9.6 %

Start to develop specific accounts payable technician skills

Skills	Percentages
FAA	13.48%
A/P	9.15%
Powerplant	8.56%
Airframe	7.79%
Troubleshoot	7.03%

Complete relevant accounts payable technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New accounts payable technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an accounts payable technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real accounts payable technician resumes.

Gain additional accounts payable technician certifications

Accounts payable technician certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific accounts payable technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for accounts payable technicians include Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA).

More About Certifications

Research accounts payable technician duties and responsibilities

Manage the FOD prevention program to reduce costly repairs and increase the participation in FOD awareness and FOD walk downs.
Utilize technical data to troubleshoot maintenance issues.
Obtain practical experience on the Garrett TPE-331 powerplant.
Maintain catalog of store A/P, A/R source documents.

Prepare your accounts payable technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your accounts payable technician resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an accounts payable technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable accounts payable technician resume templates

Build a professional accounts payable technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your accounts payable technician resume.