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What is an accounts payable administrator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Experts
Dr. Benjamin Hoffman Ph.D.,
Jodi Olson
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Do you want to be an Accounts, Payable Administrator? If so, you will be responsible for the daily management of staff in your accounting department. Staff will include accounts payable clerks, bookkeepers, and other clerks. You will make sure the accuracy and timeliness of payments and processes are implemented.

An Accounts Payable Administrator must have meticulous attention to detail and accuracy, strong planning and organization skills, know how to collect information, and manage a team. You will be asked to identify problems and have good written and verbal communication skills.

To be an Accounts Payable Administrator, you need to have a bachelor's degree in business, accounting, or finance. You need to know how to handle purchase orders and understand general ledgers. Experience as an administrative assistant or office manager is good. You can make an average salary of $38,000 per year.

What general advice would you give to an Accounts Payable Administrator?

Dr. Benjamin Hoffman Ph.D.Dr. Benjamin Hoffman Ph.D. LinkedIn Profile

Assistant Professor, Cleveland State University

I think it's essential for accounting majors to make sure they have worked hard to acquire soft skills (writing, public speaking, etc.) to couple with the technical accounting skills they learned in college.
ScoreAccounts Payable AdministratorUS Average
Salary
3.3

Avg. Salary $41,860

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
6.0

Growth Rate -5%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
2.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.63%

Asian 6.57%

Black or African American 6.82%

Hispanic or Latino 14.48%

Unknown 3.97%

White 67.54%

Gender

female 87.26%

male 12.74%

Age - 53
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 53
Stress Level
6.0

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
6.4

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
7.3

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Accounts Payable Administrator career paths

Key steps to become an accounts payable administrator

  1. Explore accounts payable administrator education requirements

    Most common accounts payable administrator degrees

    Bachelor's

    46.1 %

    Associate

    30.9 %

    High School Diploma

    11.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific accounts payable administrator skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Purchase Orders11.79%
    Data Entry8.97%
    Vendor Invoices8.18%
    Expense Reports6.21%
    Credit Card5.03%
  3. Complete relevant accounts payable administrator training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New accounts payable administrators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an accounts payable administrator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real accounts payable administrator resumes.
  4. Gain additional accounts payable administrator certifications

    Accounts payable administrator certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific accounts payable administrator certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for accounts payable administrators include Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and International Accredited Business Accountant (IABA).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research accounts payable administrator duties and responsibilities

    • Manage payroll transactions utilizing ADP payroll software.
    • Maintain a cash flow chart of checks issue and clear, ACH payments, incoming collections, and wire transfers.
    • Solve complex general accounting functions, including preparation of journal entries, account analysis and balance sheet reconciliations.
    • Set up new vendors, maintain new supplier forms and proper W8 and W9 reporting.
  6. Prepare your accounts payable administrator resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your accounts payable administrator resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an accounts payable administrator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Accounts Payable Administrator Resume templates

    Build a professional Accounts Payable Administrator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Accounts Payable Administrator resume.
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    Accounts Payable Administrator Resume
  7. Apply for accounts payable administrator jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an accounts payable administrator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Accounts Payable Administrator Job

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Average accounts payable administrator salary

The average Accounts Payable Administrator salary in the United States is $41,860 per year or $20 per hour. Accounts payable administrator salaries range between $32,000 and $54,000 per year.

Average Accounts Payable Administrator Salary
$41,860 Yearly
$20.12 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do accounts payable administrators rate their job?

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Accounts Payable Administrator reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2022
Pros

Helping companies grow their business.

Cons

Working with companies that do not follow the GAAP guidelines.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2020
Cons

Business owners that do not know or understand compliance and GAAP, or the patience to follow the rules... generally common in small companies.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2019
Pros

learn about more about the company projects and what are the costs on these projects.

Cons

The process is still too manual, not efficient.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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