Accounts Payable | Accounts Receivable Jobs

Accounting clerks play a vital role in most businesses and organizations by maintaining financial records and assisting with the general operations of the finance department. In many smaller businesses, accounting clerks might handle a broad spectrum of accounting duties such as general bookkeeping, payroll, accounts payable and accounts receivable. In larger corporations and business organizations, accounting clerks tend to be assigned a very specific role in the finance department. For example, one clerk may handle multiple categories of related tasks such as accounts payable and accounts receivable.

Accounts payable and receivable clerks work in a variety of industries and organizations. All businesses, both large and small, use accounts payable and receivable clerks to manage their financial transactions and records. Federal, state and municipal government agencies, as well as nonprofit organizations also employ these specialized clerks to monitor revenue streams, send out invoices and pay financial obligations as they come due.

Job Duties Specific to Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable Clerks

While the overall objective of accounts receivable and accounts payable clerks is to assist with the management of a company’s finance or accounting department, there are separate and distinct duties associated with the each of the positions.

Accounts Payable Clerks manage outgoing bills and invoices on behalf of the company. These bills might include utility payments, product or inventory invoices, employee expense accounts and reimbursements. In some companies, the accounts payable clerk may also be required to assist with payroll. Some of the other specific duties associated with this position include:

Updating and maintaining records of expenditures
Sending out payments for company credit cards
Responding to vendor invoices
Ensuring that all payments are made in accordance with company policy
Ensuring that all payments are sent on time
Resolving payment discrepancies and disputes on behalf of the company

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Educational Requirements

Most employers require accounts payable and receivable clerks to have obtained at least a high school diploma or its equivalent. While some employers offer entry-level positions that do not require prior experience or training, employers almost always show preference to candidates with several years of accounting-related experience or some formal education. For this reason, would-be accounts payable and receivable clerks often pursue associate’s degrees in accounting, finance or payroll accounting. In today’s competitive job market, candidates with specialized skills and training may have an advantage over those who lack formal education that gives them some background in the field in lieu of experience.

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Certification

The Institute of Financial Operations is a professional association that offers two distinct levels of accounts payable certifications:

Certified Accounts Payable Associates (CAPA) is a designation specifically geared toward individuals that have less than five years of accounting or bookkeeping experience. This certificate allows accounts payable clerks to demonstrate their skills within the profession while still holding entry-level positions within a company or organization. CAPA candidates must have at least one year of experience working with accounts payable and have an associate’s degree in accounting or a related field, or three years of relevant work experience in lieu of formal education. Once experience and/or educational qualifications are met, candidates sit for the CAPA exam. The CAPA designation is awarded upon successful completion of the exam.

Certified Accounts Payable Professional (CAPP) is a designation reserved for accounts payable professionals who meet one of the following qualifications:

At least 2 years of managerial experience with a bachelor’s degree or higher
At least 3 years of managerial experience with an associate’s degree or higher
At least 5 years of managerial experience with no degree required

All candidates must successfully complete the CAPP certification exam.

An alternative certification is provided by the American Institute of Bookkeepers (AIPB). This nationally recognized professional association offers the Certified Bookkeeper Designation (CB) to qualified candidates. In order to qualify for the designation, candidates must have at least two years of professional experience in accounting, bookkeeping, accounts payable or a related field. Once the minimum qualifications are met, candidates are required to pass a 4-part exam that covers several accounting-related topics. The first two portions of the exam must be taken at one of the 300 Prometric Testing centers that are located nationwide. The remaining two sections are in open-book format and can be taken online at candidates’ convenience.

Salary Information

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, accounts payable/receivable clerks fell within the broader classification for bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks.

As of 2018, their average salary was $40,240, while top earners in the 90^th percentile earned at least $61,650. The majority of accounts payable/receivable clerks worked in professional services where they earned a median salary of $42,560, followed by the finance and insurance industry where the median salary was $41,720 that year.