Accounts Payable Analyst Resume Guide
Accounts payable analysts are responsible for managing and processing payments to vendors. They review invoices, verify accuracy of calculations, process payments in a timely manner, and maintain records of financial transactions. Additionally, they monitor accounts to ensure that payment terms are met and recommend changes or improvements when necessary.
You’re an expert at accounts payable, with a knack for finding errors and optimizing processes. But unless you create a resume that highlights your financial acumen, the hiring manager won’t know what they’re missing out on.
This guide will walk you through the entire process of creating a top-notch resume. We first show you a complete example and then break down what each resume section should look like.
Table of Contents
The guide is divided into sections for your convenience. You can read it from beginning to end or use the table of contents below to jump to a specific part.
Accounts Payable Analyst Resume Sample
Curtis Stark
Accounts Payable Analyst
[email protected]
690-221-4400
linkedin.com/in/curtis-stark
Summary
Seasoned Accounts Payable Analyst with 8+ years of experience in financial accounting and accounts payable. Proficient in reviewing, reconciling, coding and processing invoices while ensuring accuracy and compliance with company policies. Highly organized individual who has been successful at streamlining processes to improve efficiency by 25%. Seeking to join ABC Company as an Accounts Payable Analyst where I can use my skills to optimize the invoice process.
Experience
Accounts Payable Analyst, Employer A
Pasadena, Jan 2018 – Present
- Streamlined accounts payable processes and procedures, resulting in a 20% reduction of invoice processing time.
- Formulated timely payments to vendors by reconciling discrepancies between actual invoices and purchase orders; saved $15K in potential mispayments over the course of one year.
- Presented weekly reports on accounts receivable status to management, enabling better decision making for cash flow management policies.
- Revised accounting practices for improved accuracy by updating account information and resolving errors within 24 hours or less; reduced manual reconciliation efforts by 50%.
- Reliably monitored payment deadlines while maintaining accurate records of all transactions with zero audit findings reported over 3 years’ tenure as Accounts Payable Analyst.
Accounts Payable Analyst, Employer B
Overland Park, Mar 2012 – Dec 2017
- Spearheaded the timely and accurate processing of over 500 invoices per month, reducing accounts payable backlog by 30%.
- Prepared monthly payments to vendors and suppliers totaling $500K+, ensuring that all transactions were accurately coded in the general ledger system.
- Proficiently used accounting software to generate detailed reports on outstanding payables; enabled management to track financial performance more effectively.
- Audited vendor statements for accuracy and completeness, successfully identifying discrepancies worth +$10K in savings for the company through proactive investigation of discrepancies/errors in records.
- Resolved invoice queries from vendors within 24 hours using effective communication skills, resulting in improved customer satisfaction ratings with our supplier base by 20%.
Skills
- Accounts Payable
- Accounting
- Account Reconciliation
- Time Management
- Accounts Receivable
- Teamwork
- Invoicing
- Data Entry
- Financial Reporting
Education
Bachelor of Science in Accounting
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011
Certifications
Certified Accounts Payable Professional (CAPP)
American Association of
May 2017
1. Summary / Objective
A resume summary/objective is your chance to make a great first impression on the hiring manager. As an accounts payable analyst, you can use this section of your resume to highlight your expertise in financial analysis and accounting principles. For example, you could mention how many years of experience you have working with accounts payable systems, any certifications or qualifications that are relevant to the role, and how quickly you process invoices for payment.
Below are some resume summary examples:
Detail-oriented Accounts Payable Analyst with 5+ years of experience in financial and accounting processes. Established a quick pay process at XYZ, reducing average payment time by 10%. At ABC, created an automated system to handle accounts payable invoices, resulting in a 25% reduction in invoice processing costs. Highly knowledgeable about US GAAP standards and taxation regulations; experienced with ERP systems such as Oracle Financials and SAP.
Talented accounts payable analyst with 5+ years of experience in the field. Skilled at managing complex accounts and reconciling payments, while meeting tight deadlines and maintaining a high level of accuracy. At XYZ Company, reduced aged receivables by 30% within 6 months through accurate data entry and analysis. Recognized for consistently exceeding expectations in terms of service delivery to internal customers as well as vendors/suppliers.
Amicable and detail-oriented accounts payable analyst with 5+ years of experience in the financial sector. Proficient in analyzing invoices and payments, reconciling accounts, maintaining records, and preparing financial reports while ensuring accuracy. At ABC Corporation saved over $200K by streamlining payment processes through automation. Seeking to leverage strong accounting skills to join XYZ’s team as an Accounts Payable Analyst.
Dependable accounts payable analyst with 5+ years of experience in financial operations. Adept at ensuring timely and accurate payment processing for clients, vendors, and suppliers. At XYZ Corporation, managed accounts payable processes from invoice approval to vendor payments while maintaining account balances below 1%. Received recognition awards for reducing the company’s annual spend by 10% over a period of two years.
Hard-working and detail-oriented accounts payable analyst with 3+ years of experience in processing payments, reconciling bank statements, and managing supplier contracts. At XYZ company achieved a 10% reduction in outstanding invoices through process improvements and automation implementation. Demonstrated strong problem-solving skills when investigating incorrect or missing data to ensure accuracy for financial records.
Skilled accounts payable analyst with 5+ years of experience in financial reconciliation, auditing and controlling accounts. Experienced in providing timely responses to customer inquiries and identifying discrepancies for reconciling account balances. Achieved a 98% accuracy rate when processing invoices at XYZ Company, setting the standard for other analysts. Seeking an opportunity to apply my expertise at ABC Company.
Accomplished accounts payable analyst with 8+ years of experience in accounts receivable and general ledger analysis. Looking to join ABC Company as an Accounts Payable Analyst where I can utilize my knowledge of financial processes, performance metrics, and reporting systems to ensure accurate accounting practices. Achieved over 90% accuracy rate on all AP audits and reduced late payments by 10%.
Proficient accounts payable analyst with 8+ years of experience streamlining and managing payment processes for a wide range of business clients. Seeking to join ABC, Inc., to provide efficient accounts payable services that drive the company’s growth while protecting its financial assets. At XYZ Ltd. , identified $1 million in overpayments by implementing an innovative reconciliation strategy.
2. Experience / Employment
In the experience section, you should provide details on your employment history. This section should be written in reverse chronological order, meaning the most recent job is listed first.
When writing about what you did for each role, try to stick to bullet points as much as possible; this makes it easier for the reader to digest your information quickly and efficiently. When describing what you did, also include quantifiable results that show how effective or successful your work was. For example, instead of saying “Processed invoices,” say “Processed 200+ vendor invoices per week with a 98% accuracy rate.”
To write effective bullet points, begin with a strong verb or adverb. Industry specific verbs to use are:
- Reconciled
- Audited
- Processed
- Analyzed
- Monitored
- Resolved
- Generated
- Reported
- Documented
- Investigated
- Updated
- Calculated
- Reviewed
- Adjusted
Other general verbs you can use are:
- Achieved
- Advised
- Assessed
- Compiled
- Coordinated
- Demonstrated
- Developed
- Expedited
- Facilitated
- Formulated
- Improved
- Introduced
- Mentored
- Optimized
- Participated
- Prepared
- Presented
- Reduced
- Reorganized
- Represented
- Revised
- Spearheaded
- Streamlined
- Structured
- Utilized
Below are some example bullet points:
- Improved accounts payable process efficiency by 15% through streamlining invoice submission and approval processes.
- Optimized vendor management system, resulting in a reduction of 20% in overdue invoices.
- Successfully reconciled over 3,000 accounts on a quarterly basis to ensure accuracy of the company’s financial records and compliance with GAAP standards.
- Investigated discrepancies between purchase orders and supplier invoices; identified $25,000 worth of errors within 4 weeks leading to cost savings for the organization.
- Advised senior staff members on complex accounting matters related to payment processing activities as needed while ensuring internal controls were always maintained throughout all transactions.
- Facilitated the payment of over 500 invoices and supplier accounts on a timely basis, resulting in an average cost savings of 5% per quarter.
- Analyzed financial data to identify discrepancies between vendor statements, contracts and payments; identified $62K worth of erroneous payments that were promptly reversed or adjusted.
- Diligently tracked all refunds due to clients for returned goods/services with 100% accuracy rate; ensured prompt repayment within 1-2 days after verification process was completed.
- Participated in monthly meetings with finance team members to review AP aging reports, analyze trends and develop strategies for improving cash flow management practices companywide.
- Reviewed expense report documentation submitted by employees prior to processing reimbursement checks; reduced unauthorized spending incidents by 24%.
- Utilized multiple software systems to process and audit payments, resulting in a 10% increase in accounts payable efficiency.
- Demonstrated expertise in reconciling vendor statements with purchase orders and invoices; resolved any discrepancies quickly by contacting vendors directly or adjusting entries as needed.
- Reported on accounts payables weekly for the organization’s executive team, providing them detailed reports of all outstanding payments and helping to identify cost-saving opportunities within the payment cycle.
- Substantially reduced disputes between vendors and suppliers through effective negotiations that saved $5K annually over two years without compromising relationships or quality of services received from partners/suppliers.
- Reorganized entire AP system into an automated workflow format which successfully improved overall accuracy levels while cutting processing time by 25%.
- Represented the accounts payable department in cross-functional meetings, ensuring that all concerns and issues were addressed promptly.
- Achieved an average of 97% accuracy rate when validating invoices against purchase orders and contracts; maintained a zero error track record over the past 12 months.
- Meticulously tracked vendor payments, recorded all journal entries to the general ledger system and managed company’s bank reconciliations on daily basis; reduced payment discrepancies by 9%.
- Documented financial transactions using QuickBooks Pro software program, reconciled supplier statements accurately each month and monitored account balances for any irregularities or fraud attempts.
- Reduced outstanding debt by 25% within 3 months through efficient reconciliation of supplier accounts while also providing support to other members of finance team as needed.
- Reconciled over $2 million in accounts payable invoices per month and identified discrepancies to ensure accuracy of financial records; reduced payment errors by 12%.
- Generated weekly payments for over 500 vendors, managing the full cycle of invoice processing efficiently and reducing overdue accounts by 20%.
- Calculated taxes on all vendor invoices accurately and entered data into accounting software system, streamlining end-of-month closing procedures significantly.
- Expedited resolution of outstanding issues with suppliers through proactive communication and accurate recordkeeping, increasing average collection time from 45 days to 30 days.
- Effectively trained 10 new employees on AP processes within 3 months period; improved departmental efficiency by 35% during that time frame alone.
- Developed and implemented a streamlined accounts payable system, resulting in an increase of productivity by 25% and reduction of processing time by 4 hours per week.
- Mentored junior accounting staff on proper procedures for reconciliation and payment processes; successfully trained 3 new employees within 2 months.
- Adjusted vendor account balances to correct errors and overpayments, boosting accuracy rate from 87% to 99%.
- Introduced several innovative automation techniques that simplified the payments process while ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations; saved $1,000 per month in costs associated with manual data entry activities.
- Actively monitored changes in banking regulations to ensure accurate reporting requirements were met; reduced potential audit issues by 90%.
- Efficiently managed accounts payable functions for a large corporation, ensuring accuracy of over 2,500 invoices and payment transactions worth $800,000 per month.
- Compiled data from multiple sources to accurately reconcile vendor statements; reduced outstanding balances by 30% within 6 months of joining the company.
- Structured efficient processes that enabled payments to be made on time while decreasing overhead costs by 20%.
- Updated accounting system with accurate financial information relating to all accounts payable activities on a daily basis; implemented streamlined procedures that improved productivity by 16%.
- Coordinated with vendors in resolving invoice discrepancies and payment issues promptly; maintained excellent client relations through effective communication strategies resulting in 90% customer satisfaction ratings for service quality.
- Processed an average of 110 invoices and vendor payments per day, resulting in a 10% reduction in accounts payable backlog.
- Accurately entered supplier invoice details into the company’s financial system to ensure accurate payment processing; reduced data entry errors by 15%.
- Assessed all incoming invoices for accuracy and completeness before submitting them for approval; identified discrepancies worth $8,000 that had been previously overlooked by other team members.
- Monitored aging reports on a weekly basis to ensure timely resolution of any outstanding or disputed items with vendors and suppliers; achieved an overall 97% compliance rate with contractual payment terms & conditions within 3 months of joining the team.
3. Skills
Even though two organizations are hiring for the same role, the skillset they want an ideal candidate to possess could differ significantly. For instance, one may be on the lookout for an individual with a strong background in accounts payable and the other may be more interested in someone with expertise on accounting software.
Therefore, it is important to tailor your skills section according to each job you are applying for. This will help ensure that applicant tracking systems (which employers use to scan resumes) pick up the relevant keywords associated with that particular role.
You should also discuss these abilities further throughout your resume; this could be done either by expanding upon them within the summary or experience sections of your document.
Below is a list of common skills & terms:
- Access
- Account Management
- Account Reconciliation
- Accounting
- Accounts Payable
- Accounts Receivable
- Accruals
- Analysis
- Auditing
- Bank Reconciliation
- Bookkeeping
- Communication
- Customer Satisfaction
- Data Analysis
- Data Entry
- English
- Finance
- Financial Accounting
- Financial Analysis
- Financial Reporting
- Financial Statements
- Forecasting
- General Ledger
- Invoicing
- Journal Entries
- Microsoft Outlook
- Payroll
- PeopleSoft
- Problem Solving
- Process Improvement
- QuickBooks
- SAP
- Spreadsheets
- Team Leadership
- Teamwork
- Time Management
4. Education
Including an education section on your resume will depend on how far along you are in your career. If you just graduated and have no prior experience, mention your education below the objective statement. However, if you have significant work experience that is relevant to the accounts payable analyst role, it might be best to omit an education section altogether.
If including an education section is necessary for this job application, try mentioning courses and subjects related to accounting or finance that could help demonstrate a deeper understanding of the position’s requirements.
Bachelor of Science in Accounting
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011
5. Certifications
Certifications are an excellent way to demonstrate your proficiency in a certain field. They show potential employers that you have taken the time and effort to hone your skills, as well as keeping up-to-date with industry knowledge.
If you are applying for a job which requires specific certifications or qualifications, make sure these are included on your resume so that hiring managers can see them at first glance. This will help give you an edge over other applicants who may not possess such credentials.
Certified Accounts Payable Professional (CAPP)
American Association of
May 2017
6. Contact Info
Your name should be the first thing a reader sees when viewing your resume, so ensure its positioning is prominent. Your phone number should be written in the most commonly used format in your country/city/state, and your email address should be professional.
You can also choose to include a link to your LinkedIn profile, personal website, or other online platforms relevant to your industry.
Finally, name your resume file appropriately to help hiring managers; for Curtis Stark, this would be Curtis-Stark-resume.pdf or Curtis-Stark-resume.docx.
7. Cover Letter
Cover letters are an essential part of the job application process. They provide a way for you to introduce yourself and explain why you are perfect for the role at hand.
A cover letter is usually made up of 2-4 paragraphs, separate from your resume or CV. It should focus on your unique strengths, experiences, and education that make you qualified for this particular position. Writing a cover letter can give employers more insight into who you are as an individual and demonstrate why they should hire you over other candidates.
Below is an example cover letter:
Dear Eriberto,
I am excited to apply for the Accounts Payable Analyst position at XYZ Corporation. With more than five years of experience in accounts payable and a strong focus on accuracy and efficiency, I am confident I can make a positive contribution to your organization.
In my current role as an Accounts Payable Analyst at ABC Company, I manage a team of three analysts and process approximately 3,000 invoices per month. I have developed strong organizational skills and a keen eye for detail that enable me to maintain a high level of accuracy in my work. In addition, I have implemented several process improvements that have resulted in increased efficiency and productivity in the accounts payable department.
I am knowledgeable about Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance requirements, and I have experience preparing audited financial statements. I am confident that I can provide accurate and timely reports that meet all regulatory requirements.
I am eager to put my skills and experience to work for XYZ Corporation and contribute to the success of your organization. Thank you for your time and consideration; I look forward to speaking with you soon.
Sincerely,
Curtis