Accounts Payable Clerk Career Guide and Counseling

Question: Do I have to go back to school to be an accounts payable clerk? I am interested in being an accounts payable clerk, but I don't know anything about accounting.Is there any training involved or do I have to go back to school to learn accounting?

Answer: If you have zero accounting experience, you might find it helpful to at least take one class. Employers will also like to see that you have some experience or training in the area. Is it possible that you can just request training with your current employer?

Question: Can anyone give me a detailed description of what an accounts payable clerk does? Can you also explain the difference between accounts payable and accounts receivable?

Answer: Generally an AP clerk processes invoices (bills) a business receives; that is makes sure the goods/services were received; the agreed price was charged and the bill is legitimate. Then pays the bill (usually processes a check) at the agreed upon date/time (usually 30 days) and mails the payment; AP can not sign checks.

Question: what does an accounts payable clerk do? Can you please give me a detailed description of what an accounts payable person does? is it considered as a good job?

Answer: You must be a stickler for detail. Usually you match up the purchase order that someone else has completed within the company to the packing list from the company which proves receipt of the item(s) ordered. This information is usually put together to await an invoice from the company that the item was ordered and received from. When the invoice comes in it is matched to the purchase order and the packing list. You should check to make certain that the pricing, quantity, terms, etc. that is on the purchase order is the same as what you were invoiced. If not then you will have to contact the company that your ordered/received it from and if so then you may enter this into a payable system to track when the bill is due so you know when to write th check. This could be done by a computer system such as Money Counts, Quicken, Quickbooks, etc. or by hand in a folder that has 1-31 designated (for the days of the month) so you know when the bill is to be paid. You then rotate the monthly bills due, by their due date, and write the check appropriately to the correct company, with the correct amount, etc. making sure to either attach a copy of the check and/or stub to the payable packette for your records or at the very least write the check #, amount and date the check was written in hand on the packet to be filed in a filing system by vendor. The check then gets mailed to the vendor with either an invoice stub or a copy of the invoice so you can assure that it will be applied correctly. You may or may not have to pay taxes and do payroll - dependent upon how large the company is. It could be good job - depending again, on what you like to do and what you are looking for. I, myself, was a corporate compliance officer in my hay-day, but now that I work part-time, due to the kids, I love my A/P job! Good Luck!

Question: What class do i need to take to be an accounts payable clerk? I hear the money is good. What exactly are the duties?

Answer: Accounts payable is paying out the cash. You need to take basic business accounting courses and I would think some more advanced applications of accounting. The money may be decent, but the jobs are frustrating.

Question: Is an accounts payable clerk job good for acquiring experiences in accounting? I am graduating this quarter with BS in Accounting. My GPA is 2.6 overall and not really interested in working for the Big 4 firms because I don't like "very" competitive environments. I know The Big 4 wouldn't even accept me because my gpa is 2.6 but my point is that I don't want to work in a very competitive environment with bunch of back stabbings. =)

Answer: JUST A ACCOUNT PAYABLE IS A VERY GOOD JOB TO GAIN EXPERIENCE IN ACCOUNTING. YOU WOULD LEARN HOW TO DEVELOP IN AN OFFICE SETTING, WITH PEOPLE WITH THE SAME INTEREST THAN YOU. GET AND KNOW PEOPLE THAT COULD BE OF HELP AND GOOD REFERENCE IN THE FUTURE

Question: Can you describe the daily tasks of an accounts payable clerk? Everything from opening invoices to ??? I need to know every detail. I just took a job with a company that does staffing for accounting. Allthough my background is in HR, my accounting knowledge is lacking. All the books I've read have just given me the basics. I need to know in detail what duties an accounts payable clerk will need to preform on a daily basis.

Answer: Tasks may vary from company to company. It depends upon the size of the company and the organizational structure His daily tasks include Preparation of cheques Preparation of payment vouchers Ensuring that the payment is as per the terms and conditions Ensuring that the company has sufficient funds Recieving bills and invoices Recording bills and invoices Verifing bills and invoices with GRN's etc Obtaining approval on all documents etc

Question: How do one become an account reciv or accounts payable clerk? I was wondering how does one become a/r or a/p clerk, I remembered doing this job in the navy, but was under a supervisor 18 years ago, my title was storekeeper, but worked in the purchasing department. Do u have to go to school ? or will the company train u??

Answer: I am an accounts payable clerk and you depending on where you work, you do not have to have formal training to do either one of the jobs. In my last job, I actually did accounts receivable but I'd rather pay the bills than collect money. Don't get me wrong, an education wouldn't hurt but in all truth, all you need to be able to do is learn the job quickly (including their accounting system and procedures) and have a good knowledge of Microsoft Office and computers in general

Question: What does an Accounts Payable Clerk in Australia do?

Answer: As invoices (bills) are received, you remit them in system - check usually for authority to pay and arrange payment.

Question: What are the functions of an Accounts payable clerk?

Answer: Here are some AP job openings. The job descriptions listed should give you a good idea of the functions expected.

Question: How do I get started as an account payable clerk? I am currently in school to get my accounting degree but I want some work experience before I graduate. I been searching online for accounting jobs that don't require an accounting degree but I was wondering what I need to get started on something like an accounting clerk.

Answer: Talk to your professors or adviser and talk to the school's career office about getting a summer internship. An internship with an accounting firm would be best, but with any other company it would help also.