14 Accounts Receivable Clerk Interview Questions (With Example Answers)
It's important to prepare for an interview in order to improve your chances of getting the job. Researching questions beforehand can help you give better answers during the interview. Most interviews will include questions about your personality, qualifications, experience and how well you would fit the job. In this article, we review examples of various accounts receivable clerk interview questions and sample answers to some of the most common questions.
Common Accounts Receivable Clerk Interview Questions
- How have you managed Accounts Receivable in your previous role?
- What is your experience with double-entry bookkeeping?
- What accounting software are you most familiar with?
- How would you handle a customer who is behind on their payments?
- What is your experience with collections?
- How do you handle customer inquiries regarding their invoices?
- What is your experience with reconciling accounts?
- How do you handle discrepancies on customer invoices?
- What is your experience with managing payment terms?
- How do you stay organized when managing Accounts Receivable?
- What strategies do you use to reduce outstanding receivables?
- How do you handle customers who dispute their invoices?
- What is your experience with applying payments to invoices?
- How do you manage customer account balances?
How have you managed Accounts Receivable in your previous role?
An interviewer might ask "How have you managed Accounts Receivable in your previous role?" to a/an Accounts Receivable Clerk to get a sense of the candidate's experience and expertise in managing accounts receivable. This question is important because it can help the interviewer understand how the candidate would manage accounts receivable if hired for the position.
Example: “In my previous role, I was responsible for managing the Accounts Receivable department. I oversaw a team of 4 accountants and was responsible for ensuring that all invoices were processed accurately and in a timely manner. I also worked closely with the Sales and Customer Service teams to resolve any billing issues that arose. In addition, I prepared monthly reports detailing the department's performance and made recommendations on ways to improve efficiency and reduce outstanding receivables.”
What is your experience with double-entry bookkeeping?
The interviewer is asking about the candidate's experience with double-entry bookkeeping because it is an important skill for an accounts receivable clerk. Double-entry bookkeeping is a system of bookkeeping that uses two entries for each transaction. This system provides a more accurate record of financial transactions than a single-entry system.
Example: “I have experience with double-entry bookkeeping from my previous job as an accountant. In double-entry bookkeeping, each transaction is recorded in at least two accounts. This ensures that the books are balanced and provides a clear record of where the money is coming from and going to. I am confident in my ability to keep accurate records using this method.”
What accounting software are you most familiar with?
There are many reasons why an interviewer would ask this question to an accounts receivable clerk. The most important reason is because it allows the interviewer to gauge the level of experience and knowledge the accounts receivable clerk has with different accounting software programs. This question also allows the interviewer to determine if the accounts receivable clerk is familiar with the specific accounting software program that the company uses. If the accounts receivable clerk is not familiar with the company's accounting software program, it may be difficult for them to perform their job duties effectively.
Example: “I am most familiar with QuickBooks and Microsoft Dynamics GP.”
How would you handle a customer who is behind on their payments?
An interviewer would ask "How would you handle a customer who is behind on their payments?" to a/an Accounts Receivable Clerk because it is important to know how the Accounts Receivable Clerk would handle the situation. The interviewer wants to know if the Accounts Receivable Clerk would be able to handle the customer in a professional manner and if they would be able to negotiate a payment plan that is beneficial for both parties.
Example: “If a customer is behind on their payments, the first step would be to contact them and try to work out a payment plan. If the customer is unable or unwilling to do this, then the next step would be to send them a final notice. If they still do not pay, then the account would be turned over to collections.”
What is your experience with collections?
There are a few reasons why an interviewer might ask this question to an accounts receivable clerk. One reason is to see if the clerk has experience in dealing with customers who are behind on their payments. This is important because it can be a difficult and delicate task to collect payments from customers, and it requires a certain amount of skill and experience to do it successfully.
Another reason why the interviewer might ask this question is to see if the clerk has experience in using collection software or tools. This is important because it shows that the clerk is familiar with the latest technology and knows how to use it to help with the collections process.
Finally, the interviewer might ask this question to see if the clerk is familiar with the legal aspects of collections. This is important because there are certain laws that govern collections, and it is important for the clerk to be familiar with these laws in order to protect the company from any legal problems.
Example: “I have experience working in collections for a medical office. I am familiar with the process of contacting patients who have outstanding balances and working with them to set up payment plans. I am also familiar with the process of sending accounts to collections agencies.”
How do you handle customer inquiries regarding their invoices?
An interviewer would ask this question to a potential Accounts Receivable Clerk in order to gauge their customer service skills and ability to handle difficult customer inquiries. This is important because the Accounts Receivable Clerk will be responsible for interacting with customers on a daily basis, often times regarding their invoices. Therefore, it is important that the Accounts Receivable Clerk is able to handle customer inquiries in a professional and efficient manner.
Example: “I would start by asking the customer for their account number and invoice number so that I can pull up their account and invoice in our system. I would then review the account and invoice with the customer to see what their specific inquiry is. If they have a question about the charges on the invoice, I would explain the charges and how they were calculated. If they are questioning the payment terms, I would explain our payment terms and policies. If they are having difficulty making a payment, I would work with them to come up with a payment plan or arrange for a different method of payment. Ultimately, my goal is to resolve the customer's inquiry to their satisfaction.”
What is your experience with reconciling accounts?
The interviewer is trying to gauge the candidate's experience and expertise in reconciling accounts. This is important because it is a key responsibility of an accounts receivable clerk to reconcile accounts on a regular basis in order to ensure that the books are accurate and up-to-date.
Example: “I have experience reconciling accounts in both an automated system and manually. I am familiar with the process of matching invoices to payments and researching any discrepancies. I am able to work independently and efficiently to resolve any outstanding issues in a timely manner.”
How do you handle discrepancies on customer invoices?
An interviewer may ask this question to an accounts receivable clerk to gauge their ability to identify errors on customer invoices and take appropriate action to resolve the discrepancy. This is important because it is a key part of the accounts receivable clerk's job to ensure that customer invoices are accurate and paid in a timely manner.
Example: “There are a few different ways that discrepancies on customer invoices can be handled. The first thing that you would want to do is reach out to the customer and try to resolve the issue directly with them. If you are unable to come to a resolution, you may need to involve your supervisor or another member of management. Another option would be to create a credit memo for the customer which would adjust the invoice accordingly.”
What is your experience with managing payment terms?
The interviewer is trying to gauge the Accounts Receivable Clerk's experience with managing payment terms in order to determine if they are qualified for the position. It is important for the Accounts Receivable Clerk to have experience managing payment terms because they will be responsible for ensuring that invoices are paid on time and that any late payments are properly documented.
Example: “I have experience with managing payment terms in a number of ways. I am familiar with setting up payment plans, negotiating payment terms, and working with collections. I have also worked with a number of accounting software programs that handle accounts receivable, so I am familiar with how to manage and track payments.”
How do you stay organized when managing Accounts Receivable?
An interviewer would ask "How do you stay organized when managing Accounts Receivable?" to a/an Accounts Receivable Clerk in order to gauge the level of organization and detail-orientation the Accounts Receivable Clerk possesses. This is important because the Accounts Receivable Clerk will need to have a high level of organization in order to keep track of all the accounts receivable and ensure that they are all paid on time.
Example: “There are a few key things that I do to stay organized when managing Accounts Receivable.
First, I keep a close eye on our aging report and make sure that all invoices are being paid in a timely manner. I follow up with customers as needed to ensure that payments are being made and keep track of any outstanding invoices.
Second, I maintain clear and concise records for each customer account. This includes all invoices, payments, and correspondence. This helps me to quickly identify any issues that may arise and makes it easy to track payments.
Finally, I make sure to stay in communication with our sales team and other departments within the company. This way I can keep everyone updated on the status of customer accounts and address any concerns that may come up.”
What strategies do you use to reduce outstanding receivables?
The interviewer is asking this question to gauge the Accounts Receivable Clerk's experience and knowledge in accounts receivable and collections. This is important because it shows whether or not the Accounts Receivable Clerk is able to effectively manage the receivables and collections process.
The Accounts Receivable Clerk should be able to provide a few strategies that they use to reduce outstanding receivables. Some common strategies include:
- Reviewing invoices and account balances regularly to identify which accounts are past due
- Contacting customers with past due balances to request payment
- Offering payment plans or discounts for customers who are struggling to pay their balance in full
- Working with the sales team to ensure that invoices are accurate and sent out in a timely manner
By demonstrating their experience and knowledge in accounts receivable and collections, the Accounts Receivable Clerk will show that they are capable of effectively managing this important process.
Example: “There are a number of strategies that can be used to reduce outstanding receivables, including:
1. Reviewing customer creditworthiness: This involves assessing the creditworthiness of new and existing customers to ensure that only those with a good chance of paying are extended credit.
2. Offering discounts for early payment: This can incentivize customers to pay their invoices sooner.
3. Implementing a strict collections policy: This can involve setting up clear procedures for following up on late payments and taking appropriate action if payments are not received in a timely manner.
4. Working with a collection agency: This can be an effective way to recover outstanding receivables from customers who are unwilling or unable to pay.
5. Selling receivables to a factoring company: This can provide immediate cash while still allowing the company to ultimately receive payment from the customer.”
How do you handle customers who dispute their invoices?
One of the main responsibilities of an accounts receivable clerk is to handle customer invoices and payments. This includes dealing with customers who dispute their invoices. It is important for the interviewer to know how the candidate would handle such a situation.
There are a few different ways that an accounts receivable clerk could handle customers who dispute their invoices. They could try to negotiate a payment plan with the customer, or they could offer a discount for prompt payment. They could also contact the customer's supervisor or manager to resolve the issue. Whichever way the candidate chooses to handle the situation, it is important that they are able to effectively communicate with the customer and come to a resolution that is satisfactory for both parties.
Example: “If a customer disputes an invoice, the first step is to try to resolve the issue with them directly. If that is not possible, then the next step is to reach out to their accounting department and see if they can provide any clarification. If the dispute cannot be resolved, then the final step is to write off the invoice as uncollectible.”
What is your experience with applying payments to invoices?
An interviewer would ask "What is your experience with applying payments to invoices?" to a/an Accounts Receivable Clerk to determine if the candidate has experience with the Accounts Receivable process. Accounts Receivable Clerks are responsible for ensuring that customer payments are applied correctly to the corresponding invoices. This is important because it ensures that customers are properly billed and that the company is able to track payments.
Example: “I have experience with applying payments to invoices in both manual and electronic systems. In the manual system, I would match the payment to the invoice and enter the amount paid. In the electronic system, I would apply the payment to the invoice by entering the payment information and selecting the invoices that it should be applied to.”
How do you manage customer account balances?
The interviewer is trying to gauge the Accounts Receivable Clerk's understanding of accounting principles and whether they are able to apply them in a practical way. This is important because it shows whether the Accounts Receivable Clerk is able to perform their job duties effectively.
Customer account balances need to be managed carefully in order to ensure that customers are being billed correctly and that payments are being received in a timely manner. If account balances are not managed properly, it can lead to customer dissatisfaction and financial losses for the company.
Example: “There are a few key things that I do in order to manage customer account balances. First, I keep close track of all invoices and payments that come in. I enter this information into our accounting software so that I can see at a glance what the current balance is for each customer. I also send out monthly statements to customers, so they can see what they owe and make payments accordingly. Finally, I am always available to answer questions from customers about their account balances and help them make payment arrangements if necessary.”