How Do You Describe Accounts Payable and Receivable on a Resume?

Are you pursuing a career in accounting, finance, or administration? You should know how to describe your accounts payable and accounts receivable experience. Putting that on your resume can make all the difference. These functions are essential to a company’s financial health. Hiring managers want to see clear, results-driven descriptions of your skills.

There’s a catch though. You can’t write “responsible for accounts payable and receivable.” That won’t grab anyone’s attention. To be different, you need to show off your accomplishments and show how accurate you are. You should also show the value you’ve brought to past employers.

How do you describe accounts payable and receivable on a resume? This post explores ways for describing AP and AR.

Understanding the Difference Between AP and AR

Do you know the difference between AP and AR? Before you put these functions on your resume, you should know how recruiters look at them.

• Accounts Payable (AP): This means keeping track of the money a business owes. AP covers processing invoices, scheduling vendor payments, and reconciling expenses.
• Accounts Receivable (AR): This is about handling the money owed to the company. It entails creating invoices, tracking payments, and following up with clients.

Both AP and AR need attention to detail and financial accuracy. These jobs also need strong organizational skills. Employers value candidates who can manage these responsibilities with efficiency and professionalism.

How to Describe AP and AR on a Resume

If you have experience in both AP and AR, it’s a good idea to highlight them together. 

This is critical if the role you’re applying for involves full-cycle accounting. Here are tips for a good accounts payable and receivable job description.

• Use Action-Oriented Language

Hiring managers skim resumes. Instead of passive descriptions, use strong action verbs to show initiative. Action verbs like processed, reconciled, or implemented would look good on your resume.

Don’t write “Handled vendor invoices.” Put “Processed and reconciled 400+ vendor invoices monthly with 99% accuracy” instead.

• Quantify Your Achievements

Numbers speak louder than words when it comes to AP and AR. When you use measurements, you show that you did make a difference.

Some good metrics are:

• “Consistent follow-ups and payment plans cut down on overdue accounts by 20%.”
• “Handled weekly payment runs of $500,000, making sure all vendor payments were on time.”

Adding information helps employers see how big your job is. It also shows how much value you added to the group.

• Tailor Your Resume to the Job Description

Every AP/AR role is different. Some may focus more on collections, while others emphasize vendor relations. Always read the job description carefully. Focus on the talents and accomplishments that are most important for that job.

For example, the job ad can specify that you need to know how to use QuickBooks, SAP, or Oracle. You should list your skills with those tools. Employers want to know you can adapt to their systems.

• Show Off Both Your Hard and Soft Skills

AP/AR jobs require more than technical talents. They also need excellent people skills. Demonstrating that on your resume will set you apart from other candidates.

Skills to Show Off:

• Processing invoices
• Reconciliation of accounts
• Reports about money
• Keeping track of expenses
• Billing and collections

Important Soft Skills to Show:

• Paying attention to the little things
• Managing your time
• Finding solutions
• Managing relationships between vendors and clients

Where to Put Your AP/AR Experience

You can show off your AP/AR talents and experience in three primary areas:

• Professional Summary: This is a short sentence that shows off your accounting skills.
• Work Experience: Use bullet points to list your duties and accomplishments.
• Skills Section: Provide a concise summary of relevant technical and soft skills.  You may write things like Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, QuickBooks, and SAP.

To Conclude

How do you describe accounts payable and receivable on a resume? The key is to move beyond basic job duties. Instead, focus on data and accomplishments. Focus on talents that prove you can really help. Customize your resume for the job. You want to present yourself as a strong candidate in this competitive job market.

Before You Go

Parker Beth understands what employers are looking for when it comes to AP/AR. Our hiring team is good at aiding those who work in accounting and finance. We know how to showcase your skills. We can connect you with companies that value accuracy, reliability, and financial expertise. Contact us here if you want to partner up. We’ll help you take the next step in your career.