Finance & Accounting
An accounts payable lead runs the day-to-day vendor payment process and guides a small team of AP clerks and specialists. The role keeps invoices accurate, payments on time and vendor relationships steady, which protects cash flow and the month-end close.
Median pay
$50,670a year
Bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks, U.S. BLS, May 2025
The role
Companies usually hire one when invoice volume outgrows a single processor or when AP errors, late payments and duplicate payments start to appear.
Typical responsibilities
Core skills
Tools and systems
Related titles
Typical background
Typically five or more years in accounts payable, including some lead or review duty; an associate or bachelor's degree is common.
At a glance
The essentials for planning the hire: level, background, how you can hire and what the role typically pays.
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FAQ
Straight answers to the questions employers and candidates ask about this role.
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An accounts payable lead runs the day-to-day vendor payment process and guides a small team of AP clerks and specialists. The role keeps invoices accurate, payments on time and vendor relationships steady, which protects cash flow and the month-end close. Typical responsibilities include: review and approve invoice coding before payment runs; schedule and release weekly check, ACH and wire payment batches; resolve vendor disputes and past-due payment inquiries.
Look for three-way matching, vendor management, AP subledger reconciliation, internal controls, team leadership and month-end close. Experience with NetSuite, Bill.com, Coupa, SAP and Excel is common in this role.
Yes. Employers hire an accounts payable lead on contract for projects, peak periods and cover, and contract-to-hire is a good way to confirm fit before a permanent offer. For long-term needs, most choose full-time placement.
A lead suits a team of a few processors where hands-on work still fills most of the day. A manager fits larger departments that need process design, audit support and policy ownership. If you are unsure, the size of the team and the volume of invoices usually decide it.
Not always. Core AP skills such as matching, coding and payment controls transfer well between industries. Industry experience matters more when invoices are complex, for example construction pay applications or healthcare vendor contracts, so mention those specifics in the brief to a specialist recruiter.
Related roles
Every role in the practice is recruited by the same specialist team.
