Accounts Payable Manager job description.
An Accounts Payable Manager leads the team responsible for processing vendor invoices, employee expense reimbursements, and outgoing payments accurately and on time. They set up and enforce AP controls, manage vendor relationships, reconcile accounts, and ensure the organization meets payment terms while safeguarding against fraud and duplicate or erroneous payments across the accounts payable function.
The Accounts Payable Manager job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 9 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Accounts Payable Manager Reports to: Controller or Finance Director
An Accounts Payable Manager leads the team responsible for processing vendor invoices, employee expense reimbursements, and outgoing payments accurately and on time. They set up and enforce AP controls, manage vendor relationships, reconcile accounts, and ensure the organization meets payment terms while safeguarding against fraud and duplicate or erroneous payments across the accounts payable function.
- Oversee the end-to-end accounts payable process, from invoice receipt to payment
- Supervise, train, and evaluate accounts payable staff
- Establish and enforce internal controls to prevent duplicate or fraudulent payments
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
9 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
4 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
3 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
6 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Controller or Finance Director
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Oversee the end-to-end accounts payable process, from invoice receipt to payment
- Supervise, train, and evaluate accounts payable staff
- Establish and enforce internal controls to prevent duplicate or fraudulent payments
- Reconcile vendor statements and resolve payment discrepancies
- Manage payment runs and cash disbursement schedules
- Negotiate and maintain favorable payment terms with key vendors
- Ensure compliance with tax reporting requirements (e.g., 1099s)
- Partner with procurement and finance on budget and spend visibility
- Prepare AP aging reports and metrics for finance leadership
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or related field
- 4+ years of accounts payable experience, including supervisory experience
- Strong knowledge of accounting principles and internal controls
- Proficiency with accounting/ERP software (e.g., NetSuite, SAP, QuickBooks)
- CPA or CMA certification
- Experience with AP automation or invoice-processing platforms
- Multi-entity or multi-currency AP experience
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Accounts Payable Manager job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Accounts Payable Manager job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The mid band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Controller or Finance Director) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- What's the difference between an Accounts Payable Manager and a Controller?
- The AP Manager focuses specifically on the payables process and team, while the Controller oversees the entire accounting function, including AP, AR, payroll, and financial reporting.
- How many years of experience should candidates have?
- Most employers look for at least four years of AP or general accounting experience, including at least a year in a lead or supervisory capacity.
Other documents in this neighbourhood.
Accounts Payable Specialist
An Accounts Payable Specialist processes and tracks outgoing payments to vendors and suppliers, ensuring invoices are accurate and paid on time.
Accounts Receivable Specialist
An Accounts Receivable Specialist manages incoming customer payments, invoicing, and collections to support healthy company cash flow.
Accounting Manager
An accounting manager oversees the day-to-day operations of an organization's accounting function, including general ledger, reconciliations, and month-end close.
This Accounts Payable Manager job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.