Hunter Campbell are invested in the future of the Accounting and Finance profession. Using our technical understanding and specialist expertise we bring you the Hunter Campbell Accounting and Finance Salary and Forecast Series. Profiling roles within the Accounting and Finance sector, including jobs in demand, wages and employment prospects with a feature on how this has been impacted by Covid.
In our sixth article we spotlight the role of the Accounts Payable Administrators or Accounts Payable Officers or Clerks.
Purpose of the role
Accounts Payable Administrators are critical in providing administrative and clerical support to the finance team, with the key responsibility being to complete payments and control expenses by receiving, processing, verifying, and reconciling invoices. It is vital the administrator has a high level of professionalism as they are dealing with a variety of stakeholders on a daily basis.
Skills required
Historically, businesses have looked for a skill set that includes high attention to detail and fast data entry speed with accuracy. As technology continues to evolve in this area, we have seen a large shift in mindset to adapt required skills to these new technologies. We are seeing a continuation of sophisticated scanning systems now being implemented into businesses, which has resulted in increased productivity and efficiency.
This gives Accounts Payable professionals the opportunity to focus on more fulfilling tasks such as process improvement and upskilling, rather than the heavy manual processing required historically. As technology continues to evolve, clients will request that suitable candidates have had exposure to scanning automation, process improvement and critical thinking and look less at data entry speeds. This is something that I continue to see becoming more common in client briefings and I am sure we will see a lot more in 2023 and beyond.
Career advice / prospects
To get into this type of role, you will have previous experience in a similar role within industry. Alternatively, you will have a minimum of 1-3 years’ experience with accounts payable or general accounting experience. Ideally, you will have had exposure to relevant accounting software and are proficient in data entry and management. Once experienced, both in a team environment and a sole charge position, the opportunities to obtain more Senior AP positions are available and doors quickly open to look at earning higher salaries.
The demand for Accounts Payable roles is high and across the last 12 months, Hunter Campbell has recruited across all industries including FMCG, Construction, Manufacturing, Financial Services etc.
Salary guide / trends
The market is currently sitting at $67,000 – $70,000 in permanent roles, with the contractor rate sitting a little higher.
We are increasingly seeing ‘flexibility’ as a priority for candidates in this space, with candidates negotiating and requesting ‘flexibility’, such as work from home days, even before looking at the salary/hourly rate offered for the position. This leaves us asking, what does ‘flexibility’ mean to each client, and equally as important, can the role be done as effectively, achieving the desired outcomes for the business and for the staff member remotely? We also need to consider how the evolving automation supports a flexible and agile working model as we move into the future.
If you would like to find out more about the role of Accounts Payable, please contact Regina Manaf. Regina specialises in accounts payable, accounts receivable, accounts administrators, credit control officers & assistant accountants. Permanent or Temporary – across all commercial industries. For more news and views, visit our website by clicking here, see what opportunities we have available here or follow us on LinkedIn.
