Updated June 25, 2024
6 min read
Quoted Experts
Francisco Depusoir,
David Folsom Ph.D.
An accounts receivable specialist manages and tracks the payments owed to a company by its clients or customers. They maintain accurate records of all transactions, communicate with customers regarding outstanding balances, and ensure timely payment of invoices. Accounts receivable specialists may also be involved in resolving payment disputes and negotiating payment plans. They must have strong attention to detail, excellent communication skills, and be proficient in accounting software.
How long does it takes to become an accounts receivable specialist?
It typically takes 1-2 years to become an accounts receivable specialist:
- First 6-12 months: Gain experience in relevant duties such as handling billing and account collection processes, preparing invoices and statements, and maintaining records of accounts, payments, and adjustments.
- Next 1-3 months: Complete on-site training to learn about specific company procedures and software systems used.
- Additional 1-3 months: Engage in on-the-job training to further enhance skills in customer service, communication, and problem-solving related to accounts receivable.
ScoreAccounts Receivable SpecialistUS Average
Salary
3.1
Avg. Salary $39,873
Avg. Salary $59,228
Stability Level
7.9
Growth Rate -8%
Growth Rate 0.3%
Diversity
6.0
Race
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.49%
Asian 3.87%
Black or African American 12.89%
Hispanic or Latino 18.98%
Unknown 4.18%
White 59.59%
Gender
female 81.76%
male 18.24%
Age - 46
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 - 46
Stress Level
7.9
Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity Level
4.9
Complexity Level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work Life Balance
7.6
Work Life balance is good
6.4 - fair
What are the pros and cons of being an Accounts Receivable Specialist?
Pros
Develops skills in finance and accounting
Chance to work with a diverse group of clients
Opportunity to collaborate with other departments
Provides job security due to the importance of managing finances
Exposure to different software systems and programs
Cons
Often requires working with difficult or unresponsive clients
Can lead to long hours during peak periods, such as month-end close
May require working outside regular business hours, including weekends or holidays
May require constant communication with clients, which can be time-consuming
Workload can be cyclical, leading to periods of high stress followed by lulls in activity
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Accounts Receivable Specialist career paths
An accounts receivable specialist can move on to a variety of roles. Many become staff accountants, accountants, or senior accountants. Others move into finance, taking positions as finance analysts, senior finance analysts, or finance managers. Some move into management, becoming accounting managers, office managers, or practice managers.
Key steps to become an accounts receivable specialist
Explore accounts receivable specialist education requirements
The educational requirements for an accounts receivable specialist typically include a high school diploma or an associate's degree. According to David Folsom Ph.D., Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at El Paso, "the CPA certification is still the 'gold standard' for the accounting profession." He recommends new graduates to have a clear plan on how they will achieve this certification post-graduation. Other helpful certifications for accounts receivable specialists include the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and any accounting-based certifications such as internal audit or forensic accounting.
Most common accounts receivable specialist degrees
Bachelor's
44.9
%
Associate
27.8
%
High School Diploma
12.9
%
Start to develop specific accounts receivable specialist skills
An accounts receivable specialist should have strong analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as excellent written and oral communication abilities. They need to be able to manage time effectively and have strong organizational skills with attention to detail. As Francisco Depusoir, Associate Professor of Accounting at the University of the Virgin Islands, puts it, "They need -Analytical and problem-solving skills -Strong written and oral communication -Critical thinking -Time Management -Active learning -Organization and attention to detail"
Skills Percentages Customer Service 15.49% Patients 8.90% Data Entry 5.39% Credit Card Payments 4.32% Reconciliations 3.98% Show more
Complete relevant accounts receivable specialist training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New accounts receivable specialists 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 receivable specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real accounts receivable specialist resumes.
Research accounts receivable specialist duties and responsibilities
An accounts receivable specialist's main responsibilities include managing and analyzing client accounts receivables, processing and collecting insurance claims, and resolving payment discrepancies. They prioritize assigned accounts to maximize aged AR resolution and review explanation of benefit documentation to perform account resolution. As Frank Longo, Assistant Professor of Business at Centenary University, notes, "the ability to solve problems and to lead a team are the top requirements" for an accounts receivable specialist.
- Manage profitable accounts receivable ledgers for existing and new clientele maintaining accuracy of monies enter to appropriate relate account.
- Perform accounts reconciliations, complex invoice research, statement reconciliations, complex invoice research, statement reconciliation and journal entries.
- Follow company's standard operating procedures in cooperation with Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance providers to resolve billing issues.
- Cash and credit allocation of customer payments in ROSS ERP system.
Prepare your accounts receivable specialist resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your accounts receivable specialist 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 receivable specialist 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 Receivable Specialist Resume templates
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Accounts Receivable Specialist
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Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Accounts Receivable Specialist resume.Apply for accounts receivable specialist jobs
Now it's time to start searching for an accounts receivable specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How Did You Land Your First Accounts Receivable Specialist Job
Marianella Benutto
Accounts Receivable Specialist
My whole career has been in accounting and it started as a collector in Accounts Receivable. I got really good at it and did it for 3 years. Then I moved, and my same company had a position in the Air Export Department that needed someone with finance experience. They basically created my job position and I handled all Air Export accounting. Therefore, learning the product which I had to become an Air Export Operations agent as well as an Air Export Customer Service Agent, to learn everything that had to do with the product. Once I knew how to move around in that product, I became an Air Export Analyst. Then I handled accounting for the biggest and fastest product in our branch. That meant I handled everything from A/R, A/P, trained my agents to not make accounting errors. Was called in to interviews to ask basic accounting questions for new hires. Worked with payment centers to get our money in. Worked with vendors for lower rates. Working with airlines, work with all the departments of our branch in making them understand our product as well how Air Export was involved with all the different departments. I became very knowledgeable, therefore a trainer, and I worked globally with our branches to resolve accounting issues to make sure we got our money in at my branch, as well all other branches with accounting issues which were connected with my branch. I learned to work with a lot of different people and learned a lot working globally with different countries.
Average accounts receivable specialist salary
The average Accounts Receivable Specialist salary in the United States is $39,873 per year or $19 per hour. Accounts receivable specialist salaries range between $31,000 and $50,000 per year.
Average
Accounts Receivable Specialist
Salary
$39,873Yearly
$19.17
hourly
More accounts receivable specialist salary info
What Am I Worth?
How do accounts receivable specialists rate their job?
4.5/5
Based On 2 Ratings
5 Stars
4 Stars
3 Stars
2 Stars
1 Star
Accounts Receivable Specialist reviews
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.
5.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2019
Pros
Investigating claims of denials and getting claims pain in a timely manner
Cons
Nothing
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2019
Pros
Being able to work with a variety of people of different aptitudes with different focuses. Learning the ins and outs of the financial world, as well as networking for the future. Able to stay on top of technological advances and stay competitive for future advancement.
Cons
Inefficient flow of information from top to bottom.
Accounts Receivable Specialist FAQs
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Accounts Receivable Specialist jobs by state
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Updated June 25, 2024
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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Updated June 25, 2024
