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Best Jobs For Former Accounts Payable Clerks [2026]

By Chris Kolmar
Jul. 13, 2022
Last Modified and Fact Checked on:

Best Jobs for Former Accounts Payable Clerks in 2026

In 2026, the role of an accounts payable clerk continues to evolve in the dynamic job market. Many professionals in this field are reassessing their career paths as automation and digital transformation reshape the accounting landscape.

While educational programs still train new clerks, there’s a noticeable decline in interest for entry-level positions. This shift raises an important question:

What career paths are former accounts payable clerks pursuing today?

To find out, we analyzed the resumes of individuals who previously held the role of accounts payable clerk and identified the top jobs they transitioned into. We focused on the most common roles to help guide those looking to pivot in their careers.

Top Career Options for Former Accounts Payable Clerks

  1. Staff Accountant Jobs

  2. Accounting Assistant Jobs

  3. Bookkeeper Jobs

  4. Senior Accountant Jobs

  5. Accounting Manager Jobs

  6. Payroll Administrator Jobs

  7. Payroll Specialist Jobs

  8. Buyer Jobs

  9. Controller Jobs

  10. Accounting Associate Jobs

While some of these roles may seem more appealing than others, they represent viable pathways for those seeking to leverage their accounting skills in new directions.

For a more comprehensive look at the opportunities available, check out the detailed list below.

Detailed Ranking of Common Jobs for Former Accounts Payable Clerks

Rank Job Title %
1 Administrative Assistant 2.91%
2 Staff Accountant 2.83%
3 Accounting Clerk 2.55%
4 Office Manager 2.47%
5 Accountant 2.42%
6 Accounts Receivable Specialist 1.93%
7 Customer Service Representative 1.74%
8 Accounting Assistant 1.26%
9 Bookkeeper 1.24%
10 Billing Specialist 1.17%
11 Senior Accountant 0.98%
12 Finance Analyst 0.93%
13 Accounts Payable Supervisor 0.86%
14 Accounting Manager 0.85%
15 Human Resources Coordinator 0.84%
16 Payroll Administrator 0.83%
17 Accounts Payable Manager 0.72%
18 Account Payables Analyst 0.70%
19 Payroll Specialist 0.63%
20 Accounts Receivable Clerk 0.59%
21 Office Assistant 0.57%
22 Sales Associate 0.54%
23 Accounts Payable Associate 0.51%
24 Cashier 0.48%
25 Buyer 0.46%
26 Executive Assistant 0.43%
27 Data Entry Clerk 0.43%
28 Receptionist 0.41%
29 Assistant Manager 0.41%
30 Controller 0.39%
31 Manager 0.38%
32 Accounting Associate 0.37%
33 Human Resources Manager 0.36%
34 Office Administrator 0.36%
35 Account Manager 0.33%
36 Coordinator 0.33%
37 Business Analyst 0.33%
38 Customer Service Trainer 0.32%
39 Administrator 0.31%
40 Specialist 0.31%
41 Accounts Payable Lead 0.31%
42 Senior Accounts Payable Specialist 0.31%
43 Cost Accountant 0.29%
44 Operations Manager 0.29%
45 Accounts Payable Administrator 0.28%
46 Team Leader 0.28%
47 Data Entry Associate 0.28%
48 Analyst 0.27%
49 Human Resources Assistant 0.27%
50 Owner 0.26%
51 Clerk 0.24%
52 Substitute Teacher 0.24%
53 Accounts Payable Assistant 0.23%
54 Cash Application Specialist 0.23%
55 Assistant Controller 0.23%
56 Accounting Technician 0.23%
57 Payroll Clerk 0.23%
58 Accounting Coordinator 0.23%
59 Junior Accountant 0.22%
60 Human Resource Specialist 0.22%
61 Project Accountant 0.22%
62 Consultant 0.22%
63 Teacher 0.22%
64 Supervisor 0.21%
65 Legal Assistant 0.21%
66 Payroll Manager 0.21%
67 Charge Bookkeeper 0.19%
68 Volunteer 0.19%
69 Project Coordinator 0.19%
70 Assistant 0.19%
71 Credit Analyst 0.19%
72 Accounting Analyst 0.19%
73 Finance Manager 0.18%
74 Senior Finance Analyst 0.18%
75 Accounting Supervisor 0.18%
76 Tax Preparer 0.17%
77 Finance Specialist 0.17%
78 Property Manager 0.17%
79 Auditor 0.17%
80 Owner/operator 0.17%
81 Project Manager 0.17%
82 Aircraft Mechanic 0.16%
83 Secretary 0.16%
84 Accounts Receivable Analyst 0.16%
85 Data Analyst 0.16%
86 Accounts Payable Technician 0.16%
87 Accountable Clerk 0.16%
88 Account Specialist 0.16%
89 Accounts Receivable Manager 0.16%
90 Medical Assistant 0.16%
91 Finance Assistant 0.16%
92 Purchasing Agent 0.16%
93 Senior Staff Accountant 0.16%
94 Internship 0.16%
95 Processor 0.15%
96 Collections Specialist 0.15%
97 Finance Coordinator 0.14%
98 Associate 0.14%
99 Home Health Aid 0.14%
100 Office Clerk 0.14%

Most Common Jobs for Former Accounts Payable Clerks

  1. Administrative Assistant

  2. Staff Accountant

  3. Accounting Clerk

  4. Office Manager

  5. Accountant

  6. Accounts Receivable Specialist

  7. Customer Service Representative

  8. Accounting Assistant

  9. Bookkeeper

  10. Billing Specialist

All of these positions utilize skills that former accounts payable clerks possess or serve as stepping stones to new careers. However, it’s important to note that these roles consistently align with the job market expectations for those transitioning from accounts payable roles.

How We Determined the Best Jobs for Former Accounts Payable Clerks

Utilizing data from over 7 million resumes, we examined those that included “accounts payable clerk” in their work history. We then identified subsequent job titles that appeared frequently, ranking them based on their prevalence.

To create our list of intriguing jobs, we filtered the ranked list for roles that:

  • Appeared in less than 1% of all new job listings, and
  • Were not included in our top 100 common jobs database.

As the landscape of employment for former accounts payable clerks continues to change, these insights can help guide your next career move. Embrace the opportunities that align with your skills and explore new possibilities that the modern job market offers.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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