The natural progression for an accounts receivable officer is to become an accounts receivable supervisor. People who are ambitious, detail-oriented, and have excellent accounting skills are ideal candidates for this type of position. Accounts receivable is the accounting department responsible for collecting revenue from clients.
When goods or services are sold to a customer with credit, the invoice is added to the client's file. It is the responsibility of the accounts receivable department to keep track of the invoices and apply payments received to the outstanding invoices. If bills remain unpaid, this department follows up with the client to receive payment and determines when a debt becomes noncollectable.
Anyone who wants to become an accounts receivable supervisor must have completed a post-secondary training program in business or accounting. This is typically a college diploma or university degree. Large firms often require accounting supervisors to have a minimum of five years of experience in an accounting setting.
Accounting staff career progression typically follows a fairly linear path. Upon completion of accounting training, he or she is hired into an accounting clerk position. Further training is completed while gaining experience in the workplace. People who want to become an accounts receivable supervisor can gain valuable supervisory or management experience by filling in for the supervisor, taking on new projects, or volunteering for additional duties.
In a small company, it can be very difficult to gain the supervisory experience required to become an accounts receivable supervisor. Volunteering in this role for a charitable organization is a great way to gain the required skills. Try to select a large organization that would have sufficient financial activity to require this type of position. A great example would the the Red Cross® or United Way®.
Both these organizations are so large that they would have a significant amount of invoices and accounts receivable staff. A successful accounts receivable supervisor is able to monitor staff activity levels, motivate the team, and define business procedures to increase the effectiveness of the department. It is important to note that an efficient accounts receivable department increases cash flow and ensures the company receives payment for work completed or goods sold.
Accounting skills are obtained through a combination of formal education and experience that is readily available in most organizations. Soft skills, such as conflict management, interpersonal skills, and providing constructive criticism, are harder to obtain. All these skills are very important once you become an accounts receivable supervisor.
