Accounts Payable/Receivable Specialist job description.
An Accounts Payable/Receivable Specialist manages both incoming and outgoing payments for an organization, processing vendor invoices while also billing customers and collecting on outstanding balances. Common in small and mid-sized businesses that combine both functions into one role, they maintain accurate ledgers, reconcile accounts, and support month-end close, giving finance leadership a single point of contact for cash flow activity.
The Accounts Payable/Receivable Specialist job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 8 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Accounts Payable/Receivable Specialist Reports to: Accounts Payable Manager or Controller
An Accounts Payable/Receivable Specialist manages both incoming and outgoing payments for an organization, processing vendor invoices while also billing customers and collecting on outstanding balances. Common in small and mid-sized businesses that combine both functions into one role, they maintain accurate ledgers, reconcile accounts, and support month-end close, giving finance leadership a single point of contact for cash flow activity.
- Process and code vendor invoices for approval and payment
- Generate and send customer invoices and monitor outstanding balances
- Follow up on overdue accounts and resolve billing disputes
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
8 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
4 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
2 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
5 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Accounts Payable Manager or Controller
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.
- Process and code vendor invoices for approval and payment
- Generate and send customer invoices and monitor outstanding balances
- Follow up on overdue accounts and resolve billing disputes
- Reconcile accounts payable and receivable ledgers monthly
- Prepare payment batches and process outgoing payments
- Apply customer payments and post cash receipts accurately
- Maintain vendor and customer records in the accounting system
- Support month-end and year-end close with AP/AR reports
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- 1-2 years of accounts payable or receivable experience
- Associate's degree in accounting or equivalent experience
- Proficiency with accounting software and spreadsheets
- Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
- Experience with QuickBooks, NetSuite, or similar ERP systems
- Familiarity with collections best practices
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Accounts Payable/Receivable Specialist 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/Receivable Specialist job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The entry 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 (Accounts Payable Manager or Controller) 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.
- Is this role suitable for someone new to accounting?
- Yes, many employers hire candidates with one to two years of general bookkeeping or clerical accounting experience and train them on both AP and AR processes.
- Does this role require a degree?
- An associate's degree in accounting is common but not always required; relevant hands-on experience with invoicing and collections can substitute.
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.
Bookkeeper
A Bookkeeper maintains accurate financial records for a business, recording daily transactions, reconciling accounts, and preparing basic financial statements.
This Accounts Payable/Receivable Specialist 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.