What is an accounts receivable specialist and how to become one

Q: How long does it take to become an Accounts Receivable Specialist?

It takes 6 years of professional experience to become an accounts receivable specialist. That is the time it takes to learn specific accounts receivable specialist skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education.

Q: Are account receivable jobs hard?

Yes, accounts receivable jobs are hard because of the confrontation and problem-solving required. This work requires an eye for detail and a mind for numbers. The workday is structured and can also be satisfying for the right personality.

Q: How much does an AR representative make?

An AR representative makes between $32,000 to $40,000 or $16.40 to $19.20 per hour. The salary varies based on location, certifications, and background. This position may be called AR clerk, which leads towards AR specialist clerk or AR Billing specialist.

Q: How much does an AR specialist make?

An AR specialist makes an average of $35,500 a year or $17.75 an hour. This amount is an entry-level accounting job in larger-sized companies and ensures that bills are properly paid. The pay varies depending on work location and personal background.

Q: Is accounts receivable a stressful career?

Yes, accounts receivable is a stressful career. It involves confrontation through reaching out to companies or individuals who owe debts. This position is also a detail-oriented job, with tedious number crunching and tracking.

Q: Is accounts receivable specialist a good career?

Yes, being an accounts receivable specialist is a good career. You earn a living wage and play a vitally important role in a company. The work can lead to different accounting, auditing, or finance manager positions.

Q: What skills are needed for accounts receivable?

The skills needed for accounts receivable are related to timely payments for rendered goods and services. This job often requires reaching out to businesses or customers who owe debts. Daily tasks included bookkeeping, collecting payments, or auditing accounts.

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

An accounts receivable specialist manages and tracks the payments owed to a company by its clients or customers. They maintain accurate records of all transactions, communicate with customers regarding outstanding balances, and ensure timely payment of invoices. Accounts receivable specialists may also be involved in resolving payment disputes and negotiating payment plans. They must have strong attention to detail, excellent communication skills, and be proficient in accounting software.

ScoreAccounts Receivable SpecialistUS Average

Salary

3.1

Avg. Salary $39,873

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.9

Growth rate -8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.49%

Asian 3.87%

Black or African American 12.89%

Hispanic or Latino 18.98%

Unknown 4.18%

White 59.59%

Gender

female 81.76%

male 18.24%

Age - 46

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 - 46

Stress level

7.9

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

4.9

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.6

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an accounts receivable specialist?

Pros

Develops skills in finance and accounting
Chance to work with a diverse group of clients
Opportunity to collaborate with other departments
Provides job security due to the importance of managing finances
Exposure to different software systems and programs

Cons

Often requires working with difficult or unresponsive clients
Can lead to long hours during peak periods, such as month-end close
May require working outside regular business hours, including weekends or holidays
May require constant communication with clients, which can be time-consuming
Workload can be cyclical, leading to periods of high stress followed by lulls in activity

Accounts receivable specialist career paths

Key steps to become an accounts receivable specialist

Explore accounts receivable specialist education requirements
Most common accounts receivable specialist degrees
Bachelor's
44.9 %
Associate
27.8 %
High School Diploma
12.9 %
Start to develop specific accounts receivable specialist skills
Skills Percentages
Customer Service 15.49%
Patients 8.90%
Data Entry 5.39%
Credit Card Payments 4.32%
Reconciliations 3.98%
Show more
Complete relevant accounts receivable specialist training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New accounts receivable specialists 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 receivable specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real accounts receivable specialist resumes.
Research accounts receivable specialist duties and responsibilities
- Manage profitable accounts receivable ledgers for existing and new clientele maintaining accuracy of monies enter to appropriate relate account.
- Perform accounts reconciliations, complex invoice research, statement reconciliations, complex invoice research, statement reconciliation and journal entries.
- Follow company's standard operating procedures in cooperation with Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance providers to resolve billing issues.
- Cash and credit allocation of customer payments in ROSS ERP system.
Prepare your accounts receivable specialist resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your accounts receivable specialist 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 receivable specialist 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 receivable specialist resume templates
Build a professional accounts receivable specialist 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 receivable specialist resume.
Apply for accounts receivable specialist jobs
Now it's time to start searching for an accounts receivable specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
2. Consult your professional network
3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
4. Watch out for job scams

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	15.49%
Patients	8.90%
Data Entry	5.39%
Credit Card Payments	4.32%
Reconciliations	3.98%

How did you land your first accounts receivable specialist job

Marianella Benutto

Accounts Receivable Specialist

My whole career has been in accounting and it started as a collector in Accounts Receivable. I got really good at it and did it for 3 years. Then I moved, and my same company had a position in the Air Export Department that needed someone with finance experience. They basically created my job position and I handled all Air Export accounting. Therefore, learning the product which I had to become an Air Export Operations agent as well as an Air Export Customer Service Agent, to learn everything that had to do with the product. Once I knew how to move around in that product, I became an Air Export Analyst. Then I handled accounting for the biggest and fastest product in our branch. That meant I handled everything from A/R, A/P, trained my agents to not make accounting errors. Was called in to interviews to ask basic accounting questions for new hires. Worked with payment centers to get our money in. Worked with vendors for lower rates. Working with airlines, work with all the departments of our branch in making them understand our product as well how Air Export was involved with all the different departments. I became very knowledgeable, therefore a trainer, and I worked globally with our branches to resolve accounting issues to make sure we got our money in at my branch, as well all other branches with accounting issues which were connected with my branch. I learned to work with a lot of different people and learned a lot working globally with different countries.

Average accounts receivable specialist salary

The average accounts receivable specialist salary in the United States is $39,873 per year or $19 per hour. Accounts receivable specialist salaries range between $31,000 and $50,000 per year.

Average accounts receivable specialist salary

$39,873 Yearly

$19.17 hourly

More accounts receivable specialist salary info

What am I worth?

How do accounts receivable specialists rate their job?

4.5/5

Based on 2 ratings

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Accounts receivable specialist reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2022

Pros

Helping companies grow their business.

Cons

Working with companies that do not follow the GAAP guidelines.

5.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2019

Pros

Investigating claims of denials and getting claims pain in a timely manner

Cons

Nothing

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2019

Pros

Being able to work with a variety of people of different aptitudes with different focuses. Learning the ins and outs of the financial world, as well as networking for the future. Able to stay on top of technological advances and stay competitive for future advancement.

Cons

Inefficient flow of information from top to bottom.

Accounts receivable specialist FAQs

How long does it take to become an Accounts Receivable Specialist?

Are account receivable jobs hard?

How much does an AR representative make?

How much does an AR specialist make?

Is accounts receivable a stressful career?

Is accounts receivable specialist a good career?

What skills are needed for accounts receivable?

Have more questions? See all answers to common office and administrative questions.

Search for accounts receivable specialist jobs

Accounts receivable specialist jobs by state

Updated January 8, 2025

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.

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Office and Administrative Industry
Accounts Receivable Specialist

Updated January 8, 2025

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What is an accounts receivable specialist and how to become one

What are the pros and cons of being an accounts receivable specialist?

Accounts receivable specialist career paths

Key steps to become an accounts receivable specialist

Explore accounts receivable specialist education requirements

Most common accounts receivable specialist degrees

Start to develop specific accounts receivable specialist skills

Complete relevant accounts receivable specialist training and internships

Research accounts receivable specialist duties and responsibilities

Prepare your accounts receivable specialist resume

Choose from 10+ customizable accounts receivable specialist resume templates

Apply for accounts receivable specialist jobs

How did you land your first accounts receivable specialist job

Average accounts receivable specialist salary

How do accounts receivable specialists rate their job?

Accounts receivable specialist reviews

Accounts receivable specialist FAQs

How long does it take to become an Accounts Receivable Specialist?

Are account receivable jobs hard?

How much does an AR representative make?

How much does an AR specialist make?

Is accounts receivable a stressful career?

Is accounts receivable specialist a good career?

What skills are needed for accounts receivable?

Search for accounts receivable specialist jobs

Accounts receivable specialist jobs by state