Accounts Payable Clerk Resume examples & templates
Copyable Accounts Payable Clerk Resume examples
Ever wonder who makes sure a company's bills actually get paid on time? That's where Accounts Payable Clerks come in — the unsung heroes who keep businesses financially organized and vendors happy. This detail-oriented role sits at the intersection of finance, administration, and relationship management, requiring both analytical skills and a knack for detective work (tracking down that missing invoice from three months ago takes serious sleuthing!). In today's increasingly digital finance departments, the role has evolved beyond simple data entry, with AP clerks now managing sophisticated ERP systems and automated payment platforms that are transforming traditional paper-based processes.
According to recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data, accounting clerk positions (including AP) are projected to grow at 3% through 2029, with over 1.7 million people currently employed in these roles. While that growth rate might seem modest, what's changing is the nature of the work itself. As automation handles more routine tasks, today's AP clerks are developing skills in exception management, fraud detection, and cash flow optimization. For those just starting out, this role offers a fantastic entry point into corporate finance with clear pathways to specialize in procurement, financial analysis, or even management accounting as your career progresses.
Junior Accounts Payable Clerk Resume Example
Megan Torres
mtorres892@gmail.com | (714) 555-8721 | linkedin.com/in/megantorres | Fullerton, CA 92831
Detail-oriented Accounts Payable Clerk with 1+ year experience managing invoice processing and vendor relationships. Quick learner with proficiency in QuickBooks and Microsoft Excel; Committed to maintaining accurate financial records and streamlining payment processes while reducing errors by 17% in current role.
EXPERIENCE
Accounts Payable Clerk | Westridge Manufacturing, Inc. | Anaheim, CA | June 2022 – Present
- Process 85+ vendor invoices weekly, ensuring accurate coding and timely payment within company’s Net-30 terms
- Reconcile vendor statements against internal records to resolve discrepancies, resulting in $4,300 in identified duplicate payments
- Maintain organized digital filing system for 200+ vendors, improving document retrieval time from 12 minutes to under 3 minutes
- Assist with month-end closing procedures including accruals and journal entries
- Set up ACH payments for new vendors, reducing paper check processing by 24%
Accounts Payable Intern | Pacific Financial Services | Irvine, CA | January 2022 – May 2022
- Sorted and distributed incoming mail to appropriate departments while learning basic AP functions
- Entered invoice data into QuickBooks, processing approximately 40 invoices per week with 99% accuracy
- Assisted with filing and organizing vendor documentation during system migration project
- Performed three-way matching of purchase orders, receiving reports, and vendor invoices
Customer Service Associate (Part-time) | Target | Fullerton, CA | August 2020 – December 2021
- Managed cash drawer with average daily transactions of $2,500 while maintaining accuracy
- Resolved customer concerns regarding pricing discrepancies and return policies
- Trained 4 new team members on POS system and store procedures
EDUCATION
Associate of Science in Accounting | Fullerton College | Fullerton, CA | May 2022
- GPA: 3.7/4.0
- Relevant Coursework: Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Intermediate Accounting I, Business Communication
- Member, Student Accounting Society
CERTIFICATIONS
QuickBooks Online Certification | Intuit | March 2022
Excel Specialist Certification | Microsoft | February 2022
SKILLS
- Accounts Payable Processing
- Invoice Coding & Matching
- Vendor Statement Reconciliation
- QuickBooks & QuickBooks Online
- Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook)
- Data Entry (65 WPM)
- Document Management
- Month-End Close Support
- Payment Processing (ACH, checks)
- Basic Journal Entries
Mid-level Accounts Payable Clerk Resume Example
Jennifer Morales
San Diego, CA | (619) 555-8742 | jmorales.finance@email.com | linkedin.com/in/jennifer-morales
Detail-oriented Accounts Payable Clerk with 5+ years of experience managing invoice processing and vendor relationships. Reduced payment processing time by 27% through implementation of automated tracking systems and streamlined workflows. Known for accuracy in reconciliations and meeting tight deadlines in fast-paced environments. Comfortable with multiple accounting software platforms and ERP systems.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Senior Accounts Payable Clerk | Pacific Coast Manufacturing | San Diego, CA | June 2021 – Present
- Process and code 200+ weekly invoices for a manufacturing company with $12M annual revenue
- Manage vendor accounts and resolve discrepancies, maintaining 99.6% accuracy rate in payment processing
- Led migration from QuickBooks to NetSuite ERP, creating documented procedures that cut month-end close by 2 days
- Coordinate with 4 department heads to verify and approve expenses against budgets
- Prepare weekly aging reports for CFO review, identifying $43K in overlooked credits from suppliers
Accounts Payable Specialist | Horizon Healthcare Group | San Diego, CA | August 2019 – May 2021
- Processed invoices for 3 medical facilities, managing approximately $750K in monthly payments
- Maintained vendor files and W-9 documentation for 120+ active suppliers
- Recognized and corrected duplicate billing errors, saving company $18,700 in one quarter
- Reconciled vendor statements to internal records monthly, resolving discrepancies within 48 hours
- Assisted with year-end 1099 processing for 75+ contractors and vendors
Accounts Payable Clerk | Bayside Retail Solutions | Chula Vista, CA | March 2018 – July 2019
- Processed and coded invoices for payment, ensuring proper GL account allocation
- Responded to vendor inquiries and maintained positive supplier relationships
- Assisted with weekly check runs of approximately $45K
- Performed routine account reconciliations and investigated discrepancies
- Filed and organized financial documents for easy retrieval (this was before we went paperless!)
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS
Associate of Science in Accounting
San Diego City College, San Diego, CA | 2017
Accounts Payable Specialist Certification
Institute of Finance & Management (IOFM) | 2020
QuickBooks ProAdvisor Certification | 2019
TECHNICAL SKILLS
- ERP Systems: NetSuite, SAP, Oracle
- Accounting Software: QuickBooks, Sage 50, Xero
- Document Management: DocuWare, FileHold
- MS Office Suite (advanced Excel skills including VLOOKUP, pivot tables)
- Electronic Payment Systems: ACH, EFT, Bill.com
- Data Analysis & Reporting Tools
- Three-way matching techniques
- Vendor management & negotiation
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Bilingual: English and Spanish (conversational)
Volunteer: Treasurer, San Diego Animal Rescue (2019-Present)
Senior / Experienced Accounts Payable Clerk Resume Example
Monica Lyn Peterson
Denver, CO 80202 | (303) 555-8472 | mpeterson.ap@gmail.com | linkedin.com/in/monicapeterson
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Meticulous Accounts Payable Specialist with 8+ years of progressive experience managing invoice processing, vendor relationships, and payment disbursements. Proven track record of implementing process improvements that reduced payment errors by 42% while enhancing department efficiency. Excel in high-volume environments with expertise in multiple accounting systems including QuickBooks, SAP, and Oracle Financials.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Senior Accounts Payable Specialist | Meridian Construction Group | Denver, CO | 03/2019 – Present
- Manage full-cycle accounts payable processes for construction firm with $87M annual revenue, processing 750+ monthly invoices across 23 active project sites
- Reduced invoice processing time from 12 days to 4 days by redesigning approval workflows and training 17 project managers on digital submission protocols
- Reconcile subcontractor payments against project budgets, flagging 31 billing errors in 2022 that saved the company $143,500
- Lead month-end close procedures for A/P department, consistently meeting tight 3-day deadlines while maintaining 99.7% accuracy
- Implemented electronic payment system that eliminated $27,600 in annual check processing costs while improving vendor satisfaction
Accounts Payable Analyst | Colorado Regional Healthcare | Boulder, CO | 06/2016 – 02/2019
- Processed and verified invoices for 4 regional medical facilities with combined annual purchasing volume of $34M
- Managed vendor master file with 1,200+ active suppliers, performing quarterly audits to eliminate duplicate accounts and outdated information
- Trained and supervised 2 A/P clerks, developing standard operating procedures that improved productivity by 28%
- Collaborated with Purchasing team to implement 3-way matching system that reduced payment errors by 37%
- Researched and resolved complex vendor disputes and payment discrepancies, maintaining positive vendor relationships
Accounts Payable Clerk | Westfield Manufacturing | Lakewood, CO | 08/2015 – 05/2016
- Processed 200+ weekly invoices, verified accuracy against purchase orders, and prepared payment batches
- Maintained digital and physical filing systems for all payment documentation and vendor communications
- Reconciled vendor statements to internal records and investigated discrepancies
- Assisted with preparation of weekly check runs and ACH payment processing
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS
Associate of Applied Science, Accounting | Front Range Community College | Westminster, CO | 2015
Accounts Payable Specialist Certification | Institute of Finance & Management | 2018
QuickBooks ProAdvisor Certification | Intuit | 2020
TECHNICAL SKILLS
- ERP Systems: SAP, Oracle Financials, QuickBooks Enterprise
- Microsoft Office Suite (Advanced Excel – VLOOKUPS, PivotTables, macros)
- Document Management: DocuWare, FileHold
- Payment Processing: AvidXchange, Bill.com
- Data Analysis & Reporting: Crystal Reports, Power BI (basic)
CORE COMPETENCIES
- Invoice Processing & Verification
- Vendor Management & Negotiations
- Payment Disbursement & Reconciliation
- Month-End Close Procedures
- Process Improvement & Documentation
- Team Training & Leadership
- Tax Compliance (1099 preparation)
How to Write an Accounts Payable Clerk Resume
Introduction
Landing that perfect Accounts Payable (AP) Clerk job starts with a resume that showcases your financial accuracy, attention to detail, and organizational skills. I've worked with hundreds of finance professionals over the years, and I can tell you firsthand – AP Clerk resumes need to strike a balance between technical prowess and soft skills. Most hiring managers spend less than 30 seconds scanning your resume initially, so making those seconds count is critical!
Resume Structure and Format
Keep your resume clean and scannable – just like a well-organized financial ledger. Most AP Clerk resumes should be 1-2 pages, with 1 page being ideal for those with under 5 years of experience.
- Use a professional, readable font (Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman) in 10-12pt size
- Include clear section headers to guide the reader's eye
- Use bullet points rather than dense paragraphs for your job duties
- Create ample white space – cramped resumes look unprofessional
- Save as a PDF to preserve formatting (unless specifically asked for a Word doc)
When listing your experience, put your most impressive achievements first in each section. Many hiring managers only read the first 2-3 bullets for each position!
Profile/Summary Section
Your summary sits at the top and acts as your "hook." I recommend 3-5 sentences that highlight your AP experience, technical skills, and one standout quality. For example:
Detail-oriented Accounts Payable Clerk with 4+ years managing vendor relationships and processing 200+ weekly invoices. Experienced with SAP and QuickBooks, with a track record of reducing processing errors by 27%. Known for resolving vendor payment issues quickly while maintaining positive working relationships.
Professional Experience
This is where you'll spend most of your resume real estate. For each position, include:
- Company name, location, your title, and dates employed
- 5-7 bullet points describing responsibilities and achievements
- Quantifiable results ($ amounts processed, error reduction percentages, time savings)
- Action verbs like "reconciled," "processed," "managed," "verified," or "implemented"
For example, rather than saying "Responsible for invoice processing," try "Processed 150+ weekly invoices within 48-hour turnaround, maintaining 99.6% accuracy rate."
Education and Certifications
List your education in reverse chronological order. Include:
- Degree/diploma and major/concentration
- School name and location
- Graduation year (optional if it was 10+ years ago)
- Relevant coursework (optional, especially for recent grads)
- Certifications like Certified Accounts Payable Professional (CAPP) or bookkeeping certifications
Keywords and ATS Tips
Nearly all mid-to-large companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). To get past these digital gatekeepers:
- Include keywords from the job posting (invoice processing, vendor management, etc.)
- List software proficiencies explicitly (SAP, QuickBooks, MS Excel, etc.)
- Don't use text boxes, headers/footers, or tables that might confuse the ATS
- Spell out acronyms at least once, then use the acronym (e.g., "Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)")
Industry-specific Terms
Sprinkle these terms throughout your resume (where truthful and relevant):
- Three-way matching
- Vendor master file maintenance
- Payment batching
- Month-end close
- Accruals
- Purchase orders (POs)
- T&E processing
- General ledger reconciliation
Common Mistakes to Avoid
I've seen thousands of AP Clerk resumes, and these mistakes keep popping up:
- Focusing only on duties without showing achievements
- Vague statements like "good with numbers" (be specific!)
- Typos and inconsistent formatting (ironic for a detail-oriented role)
- Failing to mention specific AP software experience
- Including personal information like age or marital status
Before/After Example
Before: "Responsible for processing invoices and dealing with vendors."
After: "Processed 75+ daily invoices in SAP with 99.8% accuracy, resolving vendor discrepancies within 24 hours and implementing a new filing system that reduced retrieval time by 43%."
Remember, your AP Clerk resume should show you're not just good with numbers, but also efficient, accurate, and great at problem-solving. Those qualities make you valuable beyond just processing invoices – they make you someone who can improve the entire accounts payable function!
Related Resume Examples
Soft skills for your Accounts Payable Clerk resume
- Cross-functional communication (translating finance jargon for non-AP departments)
- Conflict resolution when handling vendor payment disputes
- Stress management during month-end closing periods
- Detail orientation without getting lost in minutiae
- Relationship building with both vendors and internal stakeholders
- Time management while juggling multiple payment deadlines
Hard skills for your Accounts Payable Clerk resume
- Oracle NetSuite AP module management with batch processing expertise
- Microsoft Dynamics GP for vendor invoice coding and reconciliation
- ACH payment processing through Chase Payment Hub for 150+ vendors
- Excel pivot tables and VLOOKUP for payment validation (intermediate level)
- QuickBooks Desktop for small vendor account maintenance
- Document management using FileHold with custom tagging protocols
- SAP S/4HANA accounts payable transaction processing
- T-account reconciliation for month-end close procedures
- 1099 form preparation and IRS filing compliance