Accounts Payable and Receivable Specialist job description.
An Accounts Payable and Receivable Specialist manages both incoming and outgoing payment processes, ensuring vendors are paid accurately and customer invoices are collected on time. They process invoices, reconcile accounts, follow up on outstanding balances, and maintain accurate financial records, supporting the accounting team with day-to-day cash-flow and ledger accuracy. This combined role is common in smaller organizations that handle both payables and receivables functions under a single position.
The Accounts Payable and Receivable Specialist 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 and Receivable Specialist Reports to: Accounting Manager
An Accounts Payable and Receivable Specialist manages both incoming and outgoing payment processes, ensuring vendors are paid accurately and customer invoices are collected on time. They process invoices, reconcile accounts, follow up on outstanding balances, and maintain accurate financial records, supporting the accounting team with day-to-day cash-flow and ledger accuracy. This combined role is common in smaller organizations that handle both payables and receivables functions under a single position.
- Process vendor invoices and prepare payments in accordance with terms
- Generate and send customer invoices and track outstanding balances
- Reconcile accounts payable and receivable ledgers on a regular basis
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.
5 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.
Accounting Manager
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 prepare payments in accordance with terms
- Generate and send customer invoices and track outstanding balances
- Reconcile accounts payable and receivable ledgers on a regular basis
- Follow up with customers on overdue payments and resolve billing disputes
- Match purchase orders, receipts, and invoices before payment approval
- Maintain accurate vendor and customer records in the accounting system
- Prepare aging reports for payables and receivables
- Assist with month-end close and account reconciliations
- Respond to vendor and customer inquiries regarding payments and invoices
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- High school diploma or equivalent; associate degree in accounting preferred
- Experience with accounts payable and/or receivable processes
- Proficiency with accounting software and spreadsheets
- Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
- Ability to manage competing deadlines and multiple accounts
- Experience with ERP or accounting platforms (e.g., QuickBooks, NetSuite, SAP)
- Associate or bachelor's degree in accounting or finance
- Experience in a small business or multi-entity accounting environment
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Accounts Payable and 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 and 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) 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 this role and separate AP or AR specialist positions?
- This combined role handles both payables and receivables, which is common in smaller companies, while larger organizations often split the functions into dedicated AP and AR specialist roles.
- What software should an accounts payable and receivable specialist know?
- Familiarity with accounting platforms such as QuickBooks, NetSuite, or SAP is commonly expected.
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 and 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.