Accounts Receivable Resume Keywords (2026): 50+ Skills to Get Paid & Hired
ResumeAdapter TeamShare this post
Send this to a friend who’s also job searching.
🚨 Not getting Accounts Receivable interviews? Your resume is missing critical keywords.
In 2026, 97% of finance teams use ATS to filter candidates before a human controller ever sees a resume. If your resume doesn't verify you can handle "Reconciliations," "DSO," and "Aging Reports," you're invisible.
Why These Keywords Matter
Accounts Receivable (AR) is the lifeblood of a company's cash flow. It's not just about sending invoices; it's about ensuring revenue is actually collected.
Because this role is so metric-driven (Days Sales Outstanding, Collection Effectiveness Index), recruiters and ATS algorithms search for very specific terminology. If you write "called customers for payment" instead of "executed B2B collections reducing DSO by 15%," you will be rejected.
This guide gives you the exact 50+ keywords you need to prove you can manage the money coming in.
Table of Contents
- What Are Accounts Receivable Resume Keywords?
- Top Accounts Receivable Skills (The "Must-Haves")
- Technical Skills & Software
- Soft Skills for AR (Collections & Communication)
- Resume Examples: Before vs. After
- FAQ
What Are Accounts Receivable Resume Keywords?
Accounts Receivable resume keywords are the industry-standard terms, software names, and financial processes that define the AR cycle. They tell the ATS that you understand the end-to-end process from Order to Cash (O2C).
These typically include:
- Core processes: Billing, Cash Application, Credit Analysis.
- Metrics: DSO, Aging Buckets, Bad Debt Provision.
- Tools: ERP systems and Excel functions.
When you use these precise terms, you signal competence and match the recruiter's search query.
Top Accounts Receivable Skills (The "Must-Haves")
These are the high-frequency keywords found in AR Clerk, Billing Specialist, and AR Manager job descriptions.
| Category | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Invoicing & Billing | Invoicing, Billing Accuracy, Credit Memos, Debit Memos, Progress Billing, EDI Invoicing, Complex Billing |
| Collections | Commercial Collections, B2B Collections, B2C Collections, Past Due Accounts, Aging Reports, Dunning Letters, Payment Plans |
| Cash Application | Cash Application, Payment Posting, Lockbox Processing, Wire Transfers, ACH Payments, Stripe/PayPal Reconciliation |
| Reconciliation & Ledger | Account Reconciliation, General Ledger (GL) Coding, Variance Analysis, Month-End Close, Journal Entries |
| Credit Risk | Credit Analysis, Credit Limits, Dun & Bradstreet, Credit Holds, Risk Assessment, Bad Debt Write-offs |
Technical Skills & Software
Finance is becoming increasingly automated. Listing "Computer Skills" is no longer enough. You need to name the specific tools.
ERP & Accounting Systems
ATS scanners often look for specific ERP experience. If you know one, listing it can sometimes qualify you for others.
| Keyword | Context |
|---|---|
| SAP / Oracle | "Managed high-volume receipts in SAP S/4HANA." |
| NetSuite | "Streamlined billing workflows in Oracle NetSuite." |
| QuickBooks / Xero | "Handled full-cycle AR for SMB clients using QuickBooks Online." |
| Microsoft Dynamics 365 | "Processed 500+ weekly invoices via Dynamics 365 Business Central." |
| FreshBooks / Zoho | "Automated recurring invoices using FreshBooks." |
Excel & Data Skills
For AR roles, Excel is non-negotiable.
- VLOOKUP / XLOOKUP: Used to match payments to invoices.
- Pivot Tables: Used to analyze aging reports.
- Macros / VBA: Used to automate daily reporting (Advanced).
- Power BI / Tableau: Visualizing cash flow trends (Senior/Manager roles).
👉 Want to instantly check your missing keywords? Try the ResumeAdapter free ATS scan — upload your resume + job description and get your missing keywords in seconds.
Leadership & Management (For AR Managers)
If you are applying for a Senior or Manager role, you need to prove you can lead the team, not just do the work.
| Keyword | Context |
|---|---|
| DSO Reduction | "Led a team initiative that reduced DSO by 15% in Q4." |
| Process Improvement | "Implemented automated dunning letters to streamline collections." |
| Cash Forecasting | "Provided weekly cash flow forecasts to the CFO." |
| Team Training | "Mentored 3 junior billing specialists." |
| Audit Support | "Managed the annual external audit process for receivables." |
Soft Skills for AR (Collections & Communication)
AR requires a delicate balance: you must be firm enough to get paid, but polite enough to keep the customer.
| Skill | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Negotiation | Establishing payment plans for struggling clients without losing the relationship. |
| Conflict Resolution | Handling disputes over invoice discrepancies or shipping errors calmly. |
| Attention to Detail | Posting cash to the wrong account causes major reconciliation headaches alongside customer dissatisfaction. |
| Cross-Functional Collaboration | Working with Sales (to resolve disputes) and Customer Service. |
| Confidentiality | Handling sensitive banking and credit card information (PCI Compliance). |
Resume Examples: Before vs. After
See how changing generic phrasing to keyword-rich achievements transforms your resume.
Example 1: Collections Specialist
❌ Weak / Generic:
"Called customers who were late on payments and asked them to pay. Kept track of who paid and who didn't."
✅ Optimized for ATS:
"Managed a high-volume collections portfolio of 400+ active accounts, reducing Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) from 45 to 32 days. Negotiated payment plans for delinquent accounts, recovering $150k in aged debt."
Example 2: Billing Coordinator
❌ Weak / Generic:
"Made invoices for clients and sent them out. Fixed mistakes when clients complained."
✅ Optimized for ATS:
"Processed monthly progress billing for key accounts totaling $2M/month with 99.8% billing accuracy. Resolved complex invoice discrepancies through collaboration with Sales, ensuring timely cash application."
FAQ
What is the difference between AR and AP keywords?
Accounts Receivable (AR) keywords focus on incoming money (Collections, Invoicing, Receipts, DSO). Accounts Payable (AP) keywords focus on outgoing money (Vendor Management, 3-Way Match, Purchase Orders). Do not mix them up unless the role is a general "Bookkeeper" role covering both.
Should I put 'Collections' on my resume if I hate making calls?
If the job description asks for it, yes. However, if you are applying for a Billing or Cash Application role that involves less phone time, emphasize keywords like "Billing Accuracy," "Payment Posting," and "Reconciliation" instead of "Dunning" or "Collections."
How do I show I'm good at Excel?
Don't just list "Excel." Write: "Analyzed weekly aging reports using Pivot Tables and VLOOKUP to prioritize collection efforts." This shows how you use the tool to drive results.
How do I check which keywords I'm missing?
Upload your resume + the job description to ResumeAdapter. Our AI analyzes your resume against the job description and shows exactly what's missing so you can fix it in seconds.
Related Articles
- Finance Resume Keywords
- Financial Analyst Resume Keywords
- Accounts Payable Resume Keywords
- Resume Keywords List (Master Hub)
Don't guess which keywords you're missing.
👉 Scan Your Resume for Missing Keywords — Free
Get your ATS score, missing keywords, and improvement guidance in seconds. Or rewrite your resume in 8 seconds with our AI-powered resume rewrite engine.