Accounts Payable Resume Samples and Examples

The need for reliable accounts payable professionals will remain strong through 2024. The front line contributes to a company's success by properly recording transactions. Accounts payable responsibilities are among the most accounting-related positions.

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 an Accounts Payable Resume?

Your resume serves as a communication tool designed to showcase your qualifications for a specific position within the company. With hundreds, if not thousands, of candidates competing for the same role, it is crucial to have a standout resume.

Follow these tips to increase your chances of getting your resume noticed by hiring managers and advancing to the interview stages.

Personal Information

Ensure that you include your personal information in every accounts payable specialist application file you send. This information will facilitate easier contact from the recruiting team or enable them to gather more information about you. Neglecting this step can make you appear careless and unprofessional.

• Start by including your full name, email address, and phone number as the first piece of information in your application. Additionally, make sure to activate the notifications so that you can promptly respond when the recruiting team reaches out to you.
• The second piece of information to include is the link to your LinkedIn account. Hiring managers often appreciate the opportunity to learn about your professional activities, networks, and previous work portfolios, as it can provide insights into your work style, especially if you have had accounts payable experience.

While social media can also contribute to shaping your professional image, including social media accounts on a resume is less common, especially for roles not directly related to content creation.

If you do decide to include social media accounts, ensure that they are focused on  your professional endeavors rather than personal aspects of your life.

While the contact information section is all about your identity, there are a few things you shouldn't include. First, there is no need to provide your home address in detail, as this is personal information. Usually, they just ask for your city of residence to see if the distance between your home and the office is easy to get to.

Next comes gender and date of birth. Unions and companies work to eliminate age and gender discrimination in the workforce. Therefore, it is not relevant to include this information. Omitting this section shows that your professionalism and skills are not based on these two things.

Resume Summary or Resume Headlines

A resume summary is a concise explanation of who you are in the workforce, what you've accomplished there, what skills you have, and what you want to do next. It is a tool for promoting yourself to the hiring team.

Consisting of a few short sentences, the content of a resume summary can vary depending on your work experience level. A resume summary is suitable for job seekers seeking career advancement in the same field as their previous job, or for those aspiring to move up in their profession.

Career Objective

A career objective is similar to a resume summary. The difference is that a career objective is used for new graduates who have no work experience or for those who want to try a career different from the position in the previous company. 

A career objective is no longer than 3 sentences. The focus is not on work experience but on the skills you can offer the new company. Here are some examples:

Work Experiences

Work experience is the most important part of a resume because it shows not only your responsibilities at your previous company but also your specific roles and accomplishments. Hiring teams make the work experience section the most important consideration when evaluating candidates.

• Start by organizing your experience chronologically, with your most recent experience at the top. If you are a recent graduate, you can replace work experience with internships or volunteer work you have done. Or consider using a functional resume format that emphasizes skills and qualifications.

In some cases, job seekers may have experienced gaps in their work history due to personal reasons. It is important to explain these gaps in either the summary or career objective section. By doing so, you can prevent misunderstandings with the hiring team.

• When writing your accounts payable resume, use short and clear sentences, focus on measurable accomplishments, and coherently present them to highlight your achievements effectively.
• Use action verbs to be more specific about your skills. Action verbs are the type of words that highlight your job responsibilities. A few examples: Performed, developed, directed, achieved, arranged, executed, evaluated, programmed, etc.
• Finally, tailor your resume to the requirements and descriptions requested by the company. For example, Company A asks for candidates who are familiar with A/P and A/R. You then use the words ‘Proficient in A/P or A/R’ in one of the work experience lists.

Skills for Accounts Payable Specialists

In a resume, it is important to include both hard skills and soft skills, as they serve different purposes. Hard skills refer to the technical knowledge required to perform specific tasks, while soft skills encompass interpersonal and communication abilities.

The dynamic nature of the work environment necessitates proficiency in technical skills to drive successful outcomes. Additionally, frequent interactions with colleagues and stakeholders highlight the importance of soft skills.

Striking a balance between these two skill sets enables comfortable work experiences and creates opportunities for greater achievements.

How to list the right skills on a CV?

• Enter relevant keywords based on the job requirements. For example, if the company is looking for candidates with attention to detail, enter those keywords in the list.
• Try to balance hard skills with soft skills. Typically, you only need to include 5 skills on a resume.

Education Section on Your Accounts Payable Resume

The education section is particularly important for recent graduates as it allows the hiring team to assess the alignment of the applicant’s educational background with the company’s needs.

Conversely, for senior-level positions, the emphasis tends to shift towards evaluating the candidate’s work experience and, if included, letters of recommendation in the resume.

Nevertheless, if a candidate possesses a Master’s or Doctoral degree that directly matches the job requirements, it is acceptable and even advantageous to include it in the resume.

If the company does not specifically require a minimum GPA from applicants, there is no need to include it. This is to avoid bias unless the GPA achieved is above 3.

Other Sections

• Awards: Including a list of awards can be a valuable addition to your resume, providing supporting information that adds value. However, when applying for an accounts payable position, ensure that the awards align with your skills. Simply list awards you have received within the past 1 tp 3 years.
• Certifications: Include a list of credentials that showcase your expertise in accounts payable. This is especially valuable for recent graduates or job seekers without prior work experience. Make sure to include credentials only from reputable and credible institutions.
• Projects: For freelancers or accounts payable clerks with side jobs, it is helpful to include a list of completed projects. Just like the work experience section, list the projects chronologically, starting with the most recent.
• Hobbies & Interests: This section is not mandatory. You can include it only if your hobbies and interests are related to the company's requirements or add value to your resume.

Tips for Writing the Best Accounts Payable Resume

1) Resume customization

Why is it necessary to create a customized resume? The answer lies in the multiple stages a resume goes through before reaching the hands of the recruiting team. For instance, automated Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) filter resumes based on specific keywords that match the given requirements.

To craft an outstanding resume, it is crucial to carefully examine each job requirements and make note of the relevant keywords. Analyze the job description provided to understand what the company is seeing.

As mentioned earlier, each company has its unique set of keywords and job titles. therefore, it is essential to tailor your resume and cover letter to incorporate the relevant keywords that align with the job requirements.

2) Accounts payable resume versus Accounts payable CV

There are clear distinctions between a curriculum vitae (CV) and a resume. Firstly, CVs are typically longer, while resumes are limited to two or three pages for the sake of effectiveness.

The second difference lies in the level of detail provided. A CV includes comprehensive information, starting with a detailed account of experiences such as work, volunteer work, internships, and organizational involvement. 

Conversely, a resume should only include experience that is relevant to the job you are applying for.

In many countries, resumes are commonly used for academic job applications or scholarships. However, some companies specifically request a resume instead of a CV.

Therefore, it is advisable to check the requirements of the company before submitting an application to determine whether they require a CV or a resume.

3) Choose from the following 3 general accounts payable resume formats

• Chronological: Chronological resumes are most commonly used today. Writing chronologically means listing work experience, projects, education, and certifications from the most recent to the oldest.
• Functional: The functional resume places more emphasis on hard and soft skills. It typically uses a career objective and is used by recent graduates and those looking to change careers.
• Combination: Job hoppers often find the combination resume format beneficial, as it combines elements of both chronological and functional resumes. This format allows for highlighting skills and qualifications at the top of the resume, followed by the inclusion of work experience.

4) Proofread

The last crucial step in crafting appealing accounts payable resume is ensuring its accuracy by eliminating any mistakes. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the job seeker to thoroughly proofread their own resume. A resume riddled with typos and errors will likely encounter difficulties advancing to the next step.

Accounts Payable Resume Examples

Accounts Payable Resume Sample for Junior and Entry Level Specialist

Accounts Payable Resume Sample for Manager

Accounts Payable Resume Sample for Freelance Accounts Payable Specialist

Accounts Payable Cover Letter Writing Guideline

Writing a cover letter is crucial for setting yourself apart from other candidates. It serves as a messenger, conveying your personal reasons and motivations for applying to a job with a specific company.

A well-written cover letter has the power to provide a thorough description of your professional and personal identity. Comprehensive in nature, this type of letter covers your educational history, work experience, skills, knowledge, and accomplishments, providing a holistic overview of your qualifications and suitability for the position or program.

Here are some tips for writing an impactful cover letter:

1. Include your name, email, phone number, LinkedIn account, and home address. This will make it easier for the recruiting team to contact you.
2. Before writing your cover letter, make sure to research the company and understand the job requirements. This will help you customize your cover letter to fit the company’s needs.
3. Once the research is done, be sure to include the right keywords. Sometimes companies use different keywords for the same position. For example: Company A needs 'Accounts Payable Staff' while Company B needs 'Accounts Payable Officer'.

If you want to apply to Company A, include the keyword "Accounts Payable Staff" at the beginning, middle, and end of your cover letter. This will help your application pass the ATS machine check.

4. Instead of copying a cover letter template exactly, use it as a reference to guide you. It’s important to personalize your cover letter so that the hiring team can make an objective assessment.
5. The cover letter should be no more than 450 words on one page. Make sure there are no typos, grammatical errors, or misinformation in the letter.
6. If you are getting a reference from an old boss, don't forget to mention that at the bottom of the letter.

Let's look at the cover letter example for accounts payable position's application

Conclusion

1. The primary responsibility of the Accounts Payable staff is to ensure that all payments to vendors, customers, and suppliers are made properly.
2. The format of an Accounts Payable resume can vary depending on the candidate's level. Recent graduates should highlight math, business, and accounting skills. On the other hand, jobseekers with more experience can include accomplishments at previous companies.
3. Ensure that your resume and cover letter incorporate relevant keywords that align with the company’s specific requirements. Examples of such keywords could include, ‘Accounts Payable, ‘Accounts Payable Staff’, or ‘Accounts Payable Officer’. Keep in mind that each application may differ depending on the company’s preferences.
4. Remember to double-check your resume and cover letter for typos, misinformation, and grammatical errors before submitting.

This article on Accounts Payable resumes can be helpful for those who are unsure about preparing a strong application. In addition to the article, CakeResume offers a wide range of informative articles and a vast selection of easily accessible resume templates. Sign up now to take advantage of these resources.

— Originally written by Erika Rizqi—