Prepare for your Accounts Payable interview. Understand the required skills and qualifications, anticipate the questions you may be asked, and study well-prepared answers using our sample responses.
This question can help the interviewer get to know you better and understand why you are interested in this role. It’s important to show that you are passionate about accounting and finance, so try to answer this question honestly.
Answer Example: "I’ve always been interested in how businesses operate financially. I used to help my dad with his accounting business when I was younger, and I enjoyed learning about how different transactions affected our bank account. Working in Accounts Payable allows me to use my knowledge of accounting to ensure that our company has the correct funds available when they need them."
This question is a great way for the interviewer to assess your knowledge of the role and how you might fit in. Use your answer to highlight any skills or experience you have with the Accounts Payable process, and explain what it is and why it’s important.
Answer Example: "I am familiar with the Accounts Payable process because I have worked in an AP department for the last five years. During that time, I’ve learned how important it is to be organized and efficient when processing payments. For example, I always make sure to check for any errors or discrepancies in invoices before sending them to the finance department. This helps ensure that we don’t send out any incorrect invoices."
Interviewers ask this question to see how you handle conflict. They want to know that you can communicate effectively with all types of people, even those who are challenging. In your answer, try to show that you are willing to stand up for yourself and others when needed.
Answer Example: "I once had a customer who was very demanding when it came to their invoices. They would call me several times a week to ask me questions about their bills, even though I had already answered them. Eventually, I had to have a meeting with them where I explained that their constant inquiries were making my job more difficult. They apologized and agreed to only call me if they had new questions."
This question can help the interviewer determine your ability to negotiate with vendors and suppliers. Use examples from past experiences where you successfully negotiated prices or terms with vendors or suppliers.
Answer Example: "I would rate my negotiation skills as excellent. I have extensive experience in negotiating contracts and agreements with vendors and suppliers, and I’m confident in my ability to get the best possible rates and terms. In my last role as an accounts payable clerk, I negotiated a reduced rate with one of our vendors by calling them directly and asking if they would be willing to lower their prices. They agreed, and we continued to use their services."
The PCI is a set of security standards that businesses must follow when handling credit card information. Employers ask this question to make sure you understand the importance of following PCI regulations and how they apply to the role. In your answer, explain that you know how to ensure that the company’s systems are secure enough to handle credit card information.
Answer Example: "I am very familiar with PCI regulations because I worked at my previous job as an accounts payable clerk. We had to follow these security standards very closely, so I learned a lot about them. For example, I know that we had to use encryption software on our computers when handling customer data. We also had to regularly audit our systems to make sure they were secure."
This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle emergencies and last-minute changes. Use examples from previous roles to explain what happened, how you handled it and what results you achieved.
Answer Example: "In my last role as an accounts payable clerk, I had to make a last-minute payment for $5,000 to a vendor who had forgotten to submit their invoice by the deadline. I called the vendor to let them know about the error and asked if they could submit the invoice as soon as possible. They agreed and submitted the invoice within an hour. I then processed the payment immediately so we could avoid any late fees."
This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and ability to make positive changes in the workplace. When answering this question, it can be helpful to identify a few areas where you think the process could be improved and explain how you would implement those changes.
Answer Example: "I would start by implementing an automated billing system that would allow me to automatically send out invoices when a client places an order. This would eliminate the need for me to manually enter each invoice into our system, which takes up a lot of time. In addition to this, I would create a centralized database where I could store all of the company’s vendors so I don’t have to search for them each time I need to send out an invoice."
This question can help the interviewer understand how you prefer to work and with whom. Your answer should show that you are a team player who enjoys working with others and is willing to collaborate on projects.
Answer Example: "I would rather work as a team when processing payments. I find that working together allows us to process payments faster and more accurately than if we were to do it alone. It also helps us to catch any errors or mistakes before they become too costly. Working together also allows us to share knowledge and learn from each other’s experience, which can help us make better decisions when processing payments."
This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle challenges in your work. Use examples from your experience to show that you are willing to work hard and find solutions to problems.
Answer Example: "In my last role, we had a difficult client who was late on payment for several months. They had a lot of invoices that were hard to track, so I had to spend extra time sorting through all of their records to make sure we were billing them correctly. It was a lot of extra work, but I knew it was important to get it right so we could get paid. In the end, we were able to collect all of the money we were owed."
