Are you thinking of expanding your accounting team? Are you wondering what the salary expectations might be for different roles in the accounting field?
In this blog post, we’ll explain the difference between different types of accounting roles and each role’s salary, across the United States and Canada.
What does an Accounts Payable (AP) Clerk do?
An AP clerk is responsible for a range of accounting and clerical tasks, including receiving, processing, and verifying invoices, tracking and recording purchase orders, and processing payments. Many AP clerks have an associate's degree in accounting that gives them a background in accounting best practices. Some of the key skills a successful AP clerk should have are attention to detail, time management, and communication.
AP Clerk Salary Averages
United States
According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for an AP Clerk in the United States is $43,362 a year. The city offering the highest salary is Federal Way, Washington, offering $52,302 per year.
Canada
According to Indeed, the average salary for an AP Clerk in Canada is $41,638 per year. The city offering the highest salary is Calgary, Alberta, offering $50,321 per year.
What does an AP Specialist do?
AP Specialists take care of the AP process from purchase order to payment, including proper recording of each step for easy referencing in the future. An AP Specialist requires a fundamental understanding of how to file invoices, make payments, and manage tax filings for companies. Specific responsibilities for this role include:
- Fielding vendor and employee inquiries
- Solving any AP discrepancies (missing purchase orders, mismatched invoices, etc.)
- Completing payments in a timely manner and recording them using the company’s preferred payment tracking methods
- Reconciling financial statements and forecasts
AP Specialist Salary Averages
United States
According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for an AP Specialist in the United States ranges between $30,500 to $66,000 per year. The city reporting the highest salary is Federal Way, Washington, offering $59,989 per year.
Canada
According to Talent.com, the average salary for an AP Specialist in Canada ranges between $46,800 to $59,121 per year.
What does an AP Manager do?
Most large enterprises with a dedicated AP department typically need an AP Manager. An AP Manager’s responsibilities include maintaining accurate records about payments to suppliers, processing payments from clients, enforcing GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) and industry standards, and training staff members. In some cases, AP Managers will also be asked to maintain ledgers and databases, oversee tax-related processes, and find innovative ways to align their team members with specific business goals.
AP Manager Salary Averages
United States
According to Indeed, the average salary for an AP Manager in the United States ranges between $55,428 to $106,104 per year. The city reporting the highest salary is San Francisco, California, offering $95,563 per year.
Canada
According to Indeed, the average salary for an AP Manager in Canada is $79,842 per year. The city reporting the highest salary is Mississauga, Ontario, offering $100,588 per year.
How an AP Automation Solution Can Help You
If you’re looking to expand your accounts payable team, it could be time to hire some additional talent. It could also be time to explore an AP automation solution, like Quadient AP by Beanworks.
Book a demo today with an AP specialist to see how Quadient can help you!
