Accounts Payable Specialist Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

Your job description is the first contact between your company and your new recruit. With millions of people searching for jobs on Indeed each month, a great job description can help you attract the most qualified candidates to your open position. To get you started, here are some tips for creating an effective job description.

Post a job

Accounts Payable Specialist job title

An effective job title wiil typically include a general term, the level of experience and any special requirements. The general term will optimize your job title to show up in a general search for jobs of the same nature. The level of experience will help you attract the most qualified applicants by outlining the amount of responsibility and prior knowledge required. And if your position is specialized, consider including the specialization in the job title as well. But avoid using internal titles, abbreviations or acronyms to make sure people understand what your job posting is before clicking.

  • Accounts Payable Specialist
  • Senior Accounts Payable Clerk
  • Accounts Payable (with Oracle proficiency)
  • Accounts Payable Clerk
Post a job

Accounts Payable Specialist Job Description Examples:

Accounts Payable Specialist job summary

A good job description starts with an attention-grabbing summary of the position and its role within your company. Your summary should provide an overview of your company and expectations for the position. Outline the types of activities and responsibilities required for the job so job seekers can determine if they are qualified, or if the job is suitable for them.

Example of an Accounts Payable Specialist job summary

We are looking for a reliable and precise professional to help us properly maintain our payable information. The Accounts Payable Specialist will maintain current accounts and assist in invoicing functions. We are seeking an experienced candidate who can analyze expense reports to assign payments to the proper cost centers, work with vendors to resolve past due invoices and reconcile monthly statements with vendors within a specific industry.

Accounts Payable Specialist responsibilities and duties

The responsibilities and duties section is the most important part of the job description. Here you should outline the functions this position will perform on a regular basis, how the job functions within the organization and the title of the manager the person will report to.

  • Maintain petty cash accounts and log all outgoing disbursements
  • Monitor all vendor payment agreements to find discounts that can be used to reduce invoice amounts
  • Responsible for paying all sales tax on appropriate invoices and making a note of each tax payment made
  • Keep track of credits owed to the company and ensure all credits are properly applied to vendor payments
  • Reconcile payable reports each month to confirm that all amounts paid were accurate

Accounts Payable Specialist qualifications and skills

Next, outline the required and preferred skills for your position. This may include education, previous job experience, certifications and technical skills. You may also include soft skills and personality traits that you expect from a successful candidate. While it may be tempting to include a long list of skills and requirements, including too many could dissuade qualified candidates from applying. Keep your list of qualifications concise, but provide enough detail with relevant keywords and terms.

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance or related discipline
  • 2+ years experience in accounts payable
  • Ability to use Microsoft productivity software such as Excel and Word
  • Excellent attention to detail
  • Strong organizational ability
  • Effective corporate communications skills
  • Ability to consistently meet all deadlines

Job Description Examples

Need help writing a job description for a specific role? Use these job description examples to create your next great job posting. Or if you’re ready to hire, post your job on Indeed.

No search results found