Before you start writing about your data entry and cost savings abilities, payable specialist experiences, and so on, there are a couple of basic steps we need to look at first.
In order for your accounts payable specialist resume to be effective, the content of your resume has to look professional and straightforward.
Just like establishing controls for propelled efficiency gains, you're going to have to set up a layout and format for your resume.
The layout of the Accounts Payable Resume
The layout of the accounts payable specialists resume is basically the template on which you're going to be writing about your experiences, skills, and achievements.
The layout is going to separate the content of your resume into smaller, easier to read and understand sections.
A good resume layout will undoubtedly increase the chances of job search success.
These are the layout sections we will be discussing in our article; try to include all of them on your resume page:
- Contact Information
- Professional Objective / Professional Summary
- Work Experience Section
- Education Section
- Skills Section
- Additional Information
The structure of the Accounts Payable Resume
The structure of the resume is a critical element that you need to get right, or else risk having an ineffective resume.
The resume structure dictates how the content of your accounts payable specialist application is going to look.
There are a couple of things you need to consider while structuring your accounts payable specialist resume:
- Make sure to use chronological format order. Chronological formatting means that you'll be writing your job descriptions, work experiences, education, and skills from oldest to newest.
- Always use bullet points whenever you're listing key points about your previous work experiences, or during any other time, you'll have to discuss multiple key facts or skills about your work history.
- Make sure to use some accounts payable specialist industry jargon as well as some action verbs when describing your work history (i.e., organized, oversaw, maintained). This is done to get past the ATS.
Start with the Contact information of the Accounts Payable Resume
The main reason why you're writing your accounts payable resume sample is for hiring managers to notice that you're the right man for the job.
However, stating how good you are with vendor accounts or with accounting isn't going to be useful unless you tell the hiring manager how to get in touch with you - right off the bat!
It is crucial that you start your resume with the contact information section, and you need to start this section with your name.
Example of a header / Example of a bad header for Accounts Payable
CORRECTAccounts Payable Clerk
Oakland, California
ElseKGuertin@teleworm.us
510-503-9652
https://trailerhook.com/
This is ineffective contact information, as the header and the info have the same font size. The candidate name is hard to see.
INCORRECTElse K. Guertin
Accounts Payable Clerk
Oakland, California
ElseKGuertin@teleworm.us
510-503-9652
https://trailerhook.com/
Professional summary/objective for Accounts Payable
As we've mentioned before, a lot of hiring managers will use ATS software to filter out unwanted applications. But what do they do with the ones that stick around?
On average, a recruiter will spend up to 10 seconds on each resume. This is a very short amount of time to show the reader how good you are at timely processing vendor issues, late fees, and purchase orders.
To get around this issue, you can include all of your most essential and effective experiences, skills, and abilities into one short section of your accounts payable resume.
There are two options:
The resume summary is suited for accounts payable specialists with a lot of work experience under their belts. Use this section to briefly talk about your most important work experiences, achievements, and skills.
The objective statement is a better option for an entry level accounts payable clerk. If you don't have a lot of work experience, write your career goals, top skills, and motivations in the objective statement.
Resume Summary Examples
CORRECTMotivated and multi-skilled Accounts Payable Specialist with 8 years of experience in accounting principles, taxation policies, and income tax procedures. Excellent organizational skills and great skill at keeping records up-to-date, accounts reconciled, and financial and accounting reports accurate. Extensive knowledge of New York, federal, and GAAP standards.
This summary is ineffective as it offers much less than the summary above. It is poorly written and isn’t as impactful as the first summary.
INCORRECTSkilled Accounts Payable Specialist with experience in accounting. Able to be organized and keep records current, statements accurate, and accounts reconciled for auditing. Extensive knowledge of GAAP standards.
Objective Statement Example
CORRECTReliable Accounts Payable Clerk with excellent abilities in managing accounts and paying bills. Knowledgeable in CaseWare use and reconciliation. Trained in accurate and timely processing. Detail-oriented with focus on accuracy. Seeking position as an Accounts Payable specialist in a reputable and established company.
Work Experience in the Accounts Payable Resume
After taking care of the summary / objective sections, we'll begin writing the experience section of the accounts payable specialist resume.
The contact info and summary sections aren't going to show the reader just how well you're able to deal with accounting issues, decreasing processing time for full cycle accounts and matched invoices.
Describe your professional experiences on your Accounts Payable Resume
When discussing your work history in the work experience section, there are a couple of things to keep in mind.
In order for the reader to be able to clearly see how you've dealt with credit memos, renegotiated payment terms, or processed employee expense reports, the content needs effective structuring.
Don't forget to use chronological format ordering and bullet points for describing job duties, achievements, and other details you wish to include in the job description.
Examples of professional experiences for Accounts Payable
CORRECTKohl's Food Stores
08/2014 - Present
Conducted accurate closing processes, accruals, sub ledger and journal entries according to compliance requirements on a monthly basis.
Provided training to new team members regarding company policies and accounting systems to keep operations efficient.
Improved cash flow processes and decreased late fees by 15%.
Kept detailed records, accurate ledgers, vendor invoices and payment status documents to present to clients to justify the payments they were required to make.
Education in the Accounts Payable Resume
Even though being an accounts payable specialist is all about payable invoices and dealing with accounts payable issues; many employers nowadays require candidates to have a college degree or higher.
Indeed, a high school diploma doesn't cut it with many accounting firms. Therefore it's essential that the education section of your application is well written and laid out.
Should you start with education or work experience in an Accounts Payable resume?
In case you're wondering, don't worry, we're here to answer the age-old question - Should you start with education or work experience?
The answer is a bit tricky.
If you have years worth of professional experience and can offer valuable expertise with accounting, general ledger work, and certified accounts, then it's better to start with the experience section.
If you're an entry level accounts payable clerk, start with the academic section.
How to properly list your education in an Accounts Payable Resume?
Make sure to start with the highest form of education that you have. If you have a college degree, then write your college degree information first.
For more related resumes see our resume builder by clicking here!
Example of the education section of an Accounts Payable Resume
CORRECTBachelor of Accountancy
Lake View College, Ladysmith, Wisconsin
2010 - 2014
GPA 3.72
Skills to put in the Accounts Payable Resume
Showcasing your accounting skills effectively in the application is essential.
In case you weren't able to mention some important accounting skills in the other sections, the skills section is the perfect opportunity for you to show how good you are at accurate and timely processing.
What are the main skills sought for in an Accounts Payable Resume?
Accounting skills can range from business management abilities to work experience with checking invoice discrepancies for appropriate accounts.
Here's a list of the top skills we believe will be beneficial for your accounts payable specialist resume:
- Attention to detail
- Great Plains software expertise
- General ledger entries
- Marketing
- Quicken expertise
- Statement Billings
- Expense Control
- Accounts Payable/Receivable
- Reporting
- Budgeting
- Customer Satisfaction
- Cold Calling
- Accounts payable
- Internal Auditing
- Computer Proficient
- Auditing proficiency
- Account Management
- Internal controls
- Client Relations
- Payment coordination
- Check processing
- Enterprise Resource Planning software
- Multi-Task Management
