Accounts Payable/Accounts Receivable Specialist job description.
An AP/AR Specialist manages both incoming and outgoing payment processes for an organization, processing vendor invoices while also billing and collecting from customers. This combined role suits small and mid-sized businesses that need one person to own the full cash-flow cycle rather than separate AP and AR teams.
The Accounts Payable/Accounts 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/Accounts Receivable Specialist Reports to: Accounting Manager or Controller
An AP/AR Specialist manages both incoming and outgoing payment processes for an organization, processing vendor invoices while also billing and collecting from customers. This combined role suits small and mid-sized businesses that need one person to own the full cash-flow cycle rather than separate AP and AR teams.
- Process vendor invoices and schedule payments within agreed terms
- Generate and send customer invoices and statements
- Reconcile AP and AR sub-ledgers against the general ledger
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.
Accounting 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 vendor invoices and schedule payments within agreed terms
- Generate and send customer invoices and statements
- Reconcile AP and AR sub-ledgers against the general ledger
- Follow up on overdue customer accounts and resolve payment discrepancies
- Match purchase orders, receipts, and invoices before approving payment
- Maintain vendor and customer records in the accounting system
- Prepare AP/AR aging reports for management review
- Respond to vendor and customer billing inquiries
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- 2+ years of experience in accounts payable and/or receivable
- Proficiency with accounting software (e.g. QuickBooks, NetSuite, SAP)
- Strong attention to detail and numerical accuracy
- Solid understanding of basic bookkeeping and reconciliation
- Associate degree in accounting or related field
- Experience with ERP systems and automated invoicing tools
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Accounts Payable/Accounts 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/Accounts Receivable Specialist 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 (Accounting 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.
- When does it make sense to hire a combined AP/AR role instead of two specialists?
- Combined roles work well for smaller organizations with lower transaction volume; higher-volume businesses typically split AP and AR into dedicated positions.
- What accounting software experience should be required?
- List your specific platform (e.g. QuickBooks or NetSuite) as required, and treat experience with other major systems as a transferable plus.
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/Accounts 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.