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Working in accounts receivable can be an interesting and
rewarding profession. While accounting work often gets
a bad rap, often stereotyped with the introverted, bean
counter type personality, there is plenty of room in accounts
receivable work for those who enjoy human interaction.
While crunching numbers is certainly an important aspect
in accounts receivable work, there is much more to it
than just working with numbers. If you are considering
work in accounts receivable, here are answers to a few
questions you might be asking yourself.
WHAT IS ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE WORK?
In a nutshell, the work in accounts receivable is largely
centered around the sending of bills and invoices to customers
and the collection of money owed from those clients. While
this might sound easy, there are plenty of related duties
and skills necessary to be successful in accounts receivable
work.
Great communications skills, being able to stay organized
and on task, and the ability to maintain a strong and
healthy attitude in the face of stressful situations and
adversity can all be helpful attributes in being successful
in accounts receivable work. A large portion of your time
in accounts receivable work is often spent contacting
clients regarding payment, or more often, non-payment
of invoices, and documenting these communications. You
often have to be able to think on your feet and problem
solve quickly when it comes to finding solutions to payment
issues.
WHAT WILL A TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE?
Well, don’t be expecting to work many second or
third shifts in accounts receivable. While some late hours
here and there aren’t unheard of, work in accounts
receivable is largely limited to typical business hours,
Monday through Friday, give or take an extra weekend day
here or there if you happen to fall behind a bit in your
duties.
Accounts receivable related duties can certainly vary
from employer to employer and depend on the particular
industry in which you work. There are however, certain
responsibilities that are common to a role in accounts
receivable that span most employers and industries. As
mentioned previously, when you aren’t calling outstanding
accounts regarding payment, a large portion of your day
will be spent creating and sending invoices to customers,
updating customer billing files, and relaying information
to the controller, manager or supervisor regarding payment
updates. There will likely also be smaller administrative
duties related to the running of the accounting office,
cash deposits, bank deposits, bank counts, etc.
WHAT KIND OF EDUCATION IS NEEDED?
While a college education may not be necessary in all
roles required of AR work, it can be helpful in preparing
you for furthering your career in accounting related roles.
Whether you need a college education or not will often
depend on a particular employer’s work standards
and requirements. Since competition for jobs out there
is fierce at the moment, it may be pertinent to get a
college education or at least an associate’s degree
in order to make you more attractive to employers. Often
a bachelor’s or associate’s degree in business,
accounting, finance or related area will be most attractive,
although some employers will accept a degree in other
areas or lesser educational requirements if they feel
you are trainable to their standards and needs. You might
even receive educational assistance from an employer to
further your career once you have accepted a position
in an accounts receivable related role.
WHAT ABOUT CAREER ADVANCEMENT?
Beginning your career in accounts receivable can set you
up for a variety of advancement opportunities both in
finance and accounting related work and in other fields
as well. You might find yourself moving into a role as
an accounts receivable supervisor or manager, a controller,
accountant, director of finance, or similar business related
title. The organizational and interpersonal skills often
needed to succeed in accounts receivable work may also
prepare you for work in other customer service roles,
managerial work, and a number of other jobs both related
and unrelated to accounting and finance. Accounts receivable
work often requires a certain amount of trustworthiness
and professional demeanor from the employees who work
within its ranks, and these attributes can be attractive
to employers in a wide array of industries.
For more information regarding accounting degree programs,
check out the Accounting
Schools directory. Too busy with work
and family? You can now get a degree online. Here's a
complete list of schools offering an Online
Accounting Degree
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