How To Become A Receptionist/Accounts Receivable: What It Is and Career Path

What is a receptionist/accounts receivable and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Jodi Olson

The average receptionist/accounts receivable salary is $34,003. The most common degree is a high school diploma degree with an business major. It usually takes 4-6 years of experience to become a receptionist/accounts receivable. Receptionist/accounts receivables with a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow -5% and produce -77,200 job opportunities across the U.S.

What's a day at work look like for a receptionist/accounts receivable?

Jodi Olson

Assistant Accounting Professor, Winona State University

Graduates could see a range of possibilities from working entirely remotely to fully on-site with precautions in place, based on recent graduate and internship experiences we have seen during the pandemic. Except for a very few internships cut short or cancelled immediately at the onset of the pandemic as the profession adapted to unknowns and putting safety measures in place, we have not seen a significant change in the demand for interns or graduates. Some new graduates expect their first day on the jobs to be remote and feel ready to meet that challenge being familiar with the technology required to be productive and communicate virtually. It has become an assumption that precautions are in place, regardless of the remote or in-person setting. It seems that both graduates and employers are working hard together to achieve success, both with caution and the usual high professional standards.

ScoreReceptionist/Accounts ReceivableUS Average

Salary

2.7

Avg. Salary $34,003

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.0

Growth rate -5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.63%

Asian 6.13%

Black or African American 7.08%

Hispanic or Latino 14.99%

Unknown 3.98%

White 67.19%

Gender

female 94.90%

male 5.10%

Age - 53

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 - 53

Stress level

6.0

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.4

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.3

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a receptionist/accounts receivable

Explore receptionist/accounts receivable education requirements

Most common receptionist/accounts receivable degrees

High School Diploma

33.1 %

Associate

28.9 %

Bachelor's

22.3 %

Start to develop specific receptionist/accounts receivable skills

Skills	Percentages
Data Entry	13.88%
Customer Service	13.84%
Purchase Orders	7.00%
Payroll	6.16%
Vendor Invoices	5.07%

Complete relevant receptionist/accounts receivable training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New receptionist/accounts receivables 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 a receptionist/accounts receivable based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real receptionist/accounts receivable resumes.

Gain additional receptionist/accounts receivable certifications

Receptionist/accounts receivable 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 receptionist/accounts receivable certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for receptionist/accounts receivables include Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and International Accredited Business Accountant (IABA).

More About Certifications

Research receptionist/accounts receivable duties and responsibilities

Assist office management and staff with administrative projects/responsibilities such as managing time-sensitive projects, filing, copying, and collating materials.
Utilize computerize accounting software programs (QuickBooks) to perform duties and responsibilities.
Convert manual system to QuickBooks with custom invoicing, including tracking overdue accounts.
Calculate and enter payroll into system.

Prepare your receptionist/accounts receivable resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your receptionist/accounts receivable 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 a receptionist/accounts receivable resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable receptionist/accounts receivable resume templates

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