Accounts Payable Resume: Examples & Writing Guide

Accounts payable resume tamplates and example
Created by CakeResume!

Accounts Payable specialists are a niche group of professionals for which demand continues to grow.

Accounts Payable Clerks are responsible for ensuring that the company’s accounts payable reports are correct and that any unpaid invoices are taken care of. Some of their other responsibilities may include reviewing invoices to ensure accuracy and maintaining backup files for research and referencing purposes.

A well-constructed accounts payable resume is essential for securing most of the jobs. With hundreds of applicants for each posting, standing out with your resume will make a remarkably positive difference to your chances.

How to write a resume for an Accounts Payable

The following 6 steps will help you craft the perfect accounts payable resume:

Step 1.
Learn the difference between an accounts payable CV and an accounts payable resume.

A CV is more general while a resume is usually specifically customized for a particular job.

Step 2. 
Choose from the following 4 general accounts payable resume formats.

1. Chronological

Emphasize your most recent experiences and accomplishments. It's best to use reverse chronological order here to display this information. This is good for senior accounts payable resumes.

2. Functional

Your skills are given more emphasis than your work experience in this particular format and are placed higher and more upfront. A great choice for entry-level accounts payable resumes. 

3. Hybrid/Combination

Your work experience and relevant skills overlap and merge to offer a cohesive view and understanding of your expertise in the subject matter.

4. Targeted

An accounts payable resume format that targets a particular job or company. This is more work-intensive and requires more time to craft well, but it makes you look more qualified and interesting when compared to other candidates gunning for the same job.

Step 3.
Refer to online accounts payable resume samples.

Read several of these to get a good idea of the wording and how your resume should look at the end of the day. Looking at accounts payable resume templates might be a good idea too. 

Step 4.
Tailor your resume for the job to help you stand out.

HR managers read generic resumes all day, but when they see a resume that seems custom made for their company and requirements, they remember, and your chances of landing an interview greatly increase. 

Step 5. 
Write a cover letter for accounts payable jobs.

Be vary of specifics when writing this cover letter and be sure to emphasize your unique experience and skills.

Step 6.
Proofread when you’re done.

Use a spellchecker to finetune your accounts payable resume and ensure there are no typos or grammatical mistakes. 

What to put on an accounts payable resume?

The following sections should make up your accounts payable resume:

1. Resume Profile (Personal Information)

This section provides the manager with basic information about you and allows them to gauge your suitability for their company.

Be sure to provide your:


  • Full name 
  • Professional title 
  • Email Address
  • Phone Number
  • Address (optional) 

💡 Tips: It’s also good if you provide information like your LinkedIn URL, website, social media handles, etc.

Example:

Accounts payable specialist with 3+ years of experience. Well versed in procedure and compliance as well as process optimization.

2. Resume Headline

An accounts payable resume headline is a title to summarize your entire resume basically. It leaves a good first impression and sets the tone for what’s to come. 

Be sure to only include your essential information and experience in this part though.

Example:

  • Self-motivated accounts payable specialist with more than 5+ years of experience.
  • Results-driven accounts payable expert specializing in report analysis and collection procedures.

3. Resume Summary 

Your accounts payable resume summary outlines your skills and experience in a personal way. Your expertise should shine here and it’s important to not go more than one or two sentences here. 

Example:

Accounts payable specialist having 4+ years of professional work experience in the field. Known for accuracy, attention to detail, and effective time management skills. Possesses great interpersonal skills and leadership capabilities with the goal of meeting and exceeding operational and strategic expectations.

4. Career Objective

An accounts payable resume objective describes where you expect your career to take you. 2-3 lines is good enough for this section, but a small paragraph is also acceptable.

🗒 Note: Accounts payable career objectives help you stand out and can give the managers a deeper insight into your motivations and talent.  

Example:

Desired to occupy an accounts payable position at ABC. Looking to leverage strong problem-solving skills and accurate financial statement maintenance.

5. Resume Skills

An accounts payable resume skills section is super important if you are an entry-level accounts payable clerk or your relevant experience happens to be limited. Hiring managers can quickly assess whether you’re a good fit for their job or not using this section. 

Example:

  • Ledger entry and maintenance
  • Extensive trade credit terms knowledge
  • Proficient in MS Excel
  • Skilled at cash conversion cycle
  • SAP Accounts Payable Module
  • Sage X3
  • Oracle NetSuite

6. Work Experience

This can be a tricky section on your accounts payable resume. Accounts payable jobs range from entry-level to senior, so the importance of this section greatly depends on the nature of the job you’re applying for. For entry-level accounts payable resumes, work experience isn’t the most important element, while your skills can be a supplement.

For senior accounts payable resumes, however, work experience would be very important as it proves that you’ve honed your craft well and can handle the rigors of day-to-day tasks in a professional environment.

Example:

XYZ Accounting Firm @New York

Accounting Payable Clerk

June 2016-April 2020

  • Verified accuracy of incoming invoices.  
  • Practically used SAP for accounts payable to beat targets by 40%.   
  • Contributed extensively to team projects.  

7. Education

The highest academic qualifications you’ve gained up until this point in your life go here. A degree is likely very important for most accounting related jobs, so be sure to include this in your accounts payable resume. 

Example:

New York University (2015-2019)

  • Undergraduate
  • Major: Accounting and Finance
  • Minor: French
  • President at Chess Club

8. Certification

Accounting certifications may also be a necessary part of the job description for accounts payable jobs. Don’t forget to include these in your accounts payable resume. 

Examples:

  • CMA
  • CPA

Tips for writing the best accounts payable resume

Tip 1: Customize the resume for the job.

Generic resumes are unimpressive and give a bad impression that you might be careless. 

Tip 2: Use keywords from the accounts payable job description.

ATS software is used to categorize all the applications a job posting receives, and companies use this to weed out applications. The right keywords will protect your accounts payable resume and will ensure that it gets read by the manager. 

Tip 3: Quantify results on the resume.

Including statistics and numbers in your accounts payable resume helps you stand out and makes your qualifications more believable.

Tip 4: Choose an ATS-friendly resume format for accounts payable.

Avoid using redundant icons, decorations, or cluttered resume formats.

Tip 5: Use resume action words.

Be sure to describe your achievements and skills convincingly and powerfully.

Tip 6: Emphasize your skills. 

As account payable jobs are usually specialist focused, make sure that your skills are the star of your accounts payable resume. Most of the time, an extensive and well-described skillset can make up for lackluster work experience.

How to write a cover letter for accounts payable positions? 

Cover letters are a great way to give the managers insight into you as a person and to give them a chance to understand you and your motivations better. Your cover letter for accounts payable should be no longer than 1 page.

Cover Letter Writing Guide for Accounts Payable Positions:

  1. Contact information
    Your full name, your email address, and your mobile phone number should be included.
  2.  Introduction 
    Start off strong by addressing the hiring manager with their full name. The company’s website and their LinkedIn page should give you all the information you need.
  3.  Motivation (Intentions for applying) 
    Describe your desire to work at the company by outlining the reasons for sending your application. This is a fantastic place to go into more detail and solidify the fact that you understand the company and its products/services very well.
  4. Qualification 
    Your skills, achievements, qualifications and your most notable accomplishments should be included. Don’t be shy and make sure you don’t miss anything important.
  5. Closing 
    Thank the people reading your cover letter and end it with your full name. 

Accounts Payable Resume Sample
(Text Format)

Nick Weaver

Taiwan 
Twitter: twitter.com/nick
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nick

Profile

“An adaptive and strongly motivated learner who has extensive knowledge of accounts payable procedures and guidelines. Skilled at handling large volumes of invoices in a dynamic, high-pressure corporate environment. Team-oriented with strong communication skills and the ability to constantly learn and adapt according to the task at hand.”

Work Experience

Accounts Payable Specialist.KMPG (Taiwan)

2017-2019     

  • Extensively researched process optimization. Helped identify and reduce redundant steps in purchase order approval.
  • Reduced overpayments by over 8% with a 3-step process compliance.
  • Introduced a new AP automation suite to streamline operations and to replace legacy software resulting in a 35% reduction in processing times.

Skills

  • General accounts payable processes and management
  • GAAP Standards and government regulations
  • Vendor negotiations  
  • Journal entries and ledger
  • Team building and staff supervision

Education

  • University of Arizona (2014-2017)
    Undergraduate Degree
    Management and Accounting 

CakeResume provides the best account payable resume templates & formats for accounts payable talents to showcase their skills and experiences. Sign up to create the best accounts payable resume. Now!

线上简历工具

制作一份能帮你获得面试机会的简历。免费下载 PDF。

更多您可能有兴趣的文章

最新相关文章
简历
2024年3月6日

What to Write in an Email When Sending a Resume [+ Examples & Tips]

Looking for guidance on writing an effective email to send resume? Discover expert tips and email examples to maximize your chances of landing that dream job!