Positions we recruit: Accounts Payable and Expense

Clerks process high-volume invoices with simple coding. Specialists handle full-cycle duties including reconciliation and 1099 compliance. Construction specialists focus on pay apps and lien waivers. T&E auditors verify expense reports against corporate policy. Vendor specialists maintain master data to prevent fraud.

Choose an entry-level clerk for high-volume, repetitive tasks. Use a specialist for complex ERP workflows and month-end closing cycles. Require construction expertise only if managing retainage and compliance documents for subcontractors.

Define the precise scope of the role before searching. Ask yourself if this position requires full-cycle ownership or strictly clerical data entry. Candidates often inflate their experience during initial screenings. Probe for concrete evidence of their previous work output. Ask how many invoices they processed daily and what percentage contained errors requiring manual correction. Request specific examples of how they handled discrepancies between a purchase order and an actual invoice. Do not accept vague descriptions of their process. If the role involves construction billing, demand a clear explanation of how they managed lien waivers and conditional release forms for subcontractors. A skilled specialist understands the regulatory risks involved in these documents. If they cannot explain the difference between conditional and unconditional waivers, they lack the necessary depth for your specific requirements. Focus your inquiry on how they maintained data integrity during periods of high volume. Ask what software tools they used for reconciliation and why they chose those specific functions over manual alternatives. If they describe a systematic approach to troubleshooting rather than simply blaming the system or the vendor, consider them for further assessment. Accuracy is the primary metric you must verify through targeted questioning.

The Institute of Financial Operations and Management offers the Accredited Payables Specialist credential. It verifies understanding of accounting principles, tax compliance, and process flow. It does not measure performance volume. No upfront fee. You pay only if you hire.

Verify credentials by checking the issuing body registry. Note that registration is often active for a limited time and requires continuing education. A certification proves a baseline of knowledge, not a history of flawless performance in your specific ERP.