17 Accounts Payable Supervisor Interview Questions and Answers

The accounts payable supervisor oversees the accounts payable department, which is responsible for handling the financial transactions of a company. This includes paying bills, recording payments, and issuing invoices.

In order to be successful in this role, you need to have strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and knowledge of accounting procedures. You also need to be able to effectively manage and motivate a team of employees.

If you’re interviewing for a position as an accounts payable supervisor, you can expect to be asked a range of questions about your experience and skills. In this guide, we’ll provide you with sample questions and answers that will help you prepare for your interview.

Are you familiar with the accounts payable process?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you have the skills and knowledge necessary for this role. If you are not familiar with accounts payable, consider asking a few questions about what it entails so you can learn more before your interview.

Example: “I am very familiar with the accounts payable process because I’ve been working in accounts payable for over five years now. In my last position, I was responsible for reviewing invoices, entering data into our system and making sure all payments were made on time. I also worked closely with vendors to ensure they received their payment within 30 days of receiving their invoice.”

What are some of the most important qualities for an accounts payable supervisor to have?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you possess the skills and abilities necessary to succeed in this role. When answering, it can be helpful to mention qualities that are important for any accounting position, such as attention to detail, organization and communication skills.

Example: “Accounting is a very detail-oriented profession, so I think it’s essential for an accounts payable supervisor to have strong organizational and time management skills. In my previous role, I was responsible for managing several employees, which required me to delegate tasks effectively and communicate with my team regularly. I also believe that empathy is an important quality for an accounts payable supervisor because they may need to work with other departments or individuals who may not always agree with their decisions.”

How would you handle a situation where a team member is not completing their work in a timely manner?

Interviewers may ask this question to see how you handle conflict and motivate your team. In your answer, try to show that you can be empathetic while also holding employees accountable for their work.

Example: “I would first talk with the employee about why they are not completing their work in a timely manner. I would make sure to listen to what they have to say and understand their perspective. If it’s an issue of time management or prioritization, I might offer some suggestions on how they could better manage their workload. However, if it is something more serious like consistently missing deadlines or being late often, I would need to address the situation more seriously. I would hold a meeting with them where we discuss the consequences of their actions and outline steps they can take to improve.”

What is your experience with using accounting software?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience with using accounting software and how you use it in your daily work. Use your answer to highlight the specific accounting software you’ve used in the past, including which ones you’re most comfortable using and why.

Example: “In my previous role as an accounts payable supervisor, I was responsible for managing our company’s finances through Intuit QuickBooks Pro. This software helped me manage all of our financial transactions, including invoices, payments and expenses. I also regularly used Microsoft Excel to create reports that tracked our spending and revenue.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to research a question about a vendor’s invoice.

Interviewers may ask this question to see how you apply your research skills and problem-solving abilities in the workplace. Use examples from previous jobs where you had to look up information about a vendor’s invoice or other financial document.

Example: “At my last job, I was responsible for researching questions about vendors’ invoices on a regular basis. One time, I noticed that one of our vendors sent us an invoice with incorrect pricing. I called them to discuss the issue, and they told me it was due to a recent price change. They were able to send us a new invoice with the correct pricing within two days. This helped ensure we paid the right amount for their services.”

If you were in charge of a team that was underperforming, what strategies would you use to improve their performance?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you would motivate your team to perform well. Use examples from past experiences where you helped a team improve their performance and achieve goals.

Example: “In my current role, I have been in charge of managing the accounts payable team for over two years now. In that time, we’ve had some employees who were underperforming or not meeting deadlines. When this happens, I first try to meet with them one-on-one to see if there is anything going on in their personal life that may be affecting their work. If it’s something they can fix, then I give them advice on what they need to do to improve. If it’s something they can’t change, then I will either reassign them to another position or let them go.”

What would you do if you noticed that one of your team members was accessing confidential information without authorization?

This question can help the interviewer assess your leadership skills and ability to maintain confidentiality. In your answer, explain how you would handle this situation while maintaining a positive relationship with your team member.

Example: “If I noticed that one of my team members was accessing confidential information without authorization, I would first speak with them about it privately. If they continued to access confidential information without authorization, I would document their actions in our HR system so we could take appropriate action. I would also ensure that all other employees were aware of what happened so they could be more careful when accessing confidential information.”

How well do you understand the legal requirements for paying vendors?

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your knowledge of accounting regulations and compliance. Your answer should include a brief description of the legal requirements for paying vendors, as well as how you ensure that your team follows these guidelines.

Example: “I understand the importance of following all vendor payment regulations because I have had to deal with late payments in the past. In my previous role, we were audited by the IRS due to some mistakes we made when paying our vendors. We ended up having to pay back thousands of dollars in fines, which could have been avoided if we followed the rules more closely. Now, I make sure that my team understands the rules for paying vendors so they can avoid making similar mistakes.”

Do you have any experience training new accounts payable employees?

This question can help the interviewer understand your experience as a leader and how you might approach training new employees. Use examples from previous work experiences to highlight your leadership skills, communication skills and ability to train others.

Example: “In my current role, I have had the opportunity to train two new accounts payable employees. In our department, we have weekly meetings where we discuss any challenges or questions that arise during the week. During these meetings, I provide guidance on how to complete tasks efficiently and effectively. I also hold one-on-one meetings with each employee once a month to review their progress and offer additional support if needed.”

When reviewing a vendor’s invoice, how do you determine if the amount is correct?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you apply your accounting knowledge to ensure that payments are accurate. Use examples from past experiences where you used your critical thinking skills and attention to detail to review invoices for accuracy before submitting them to the accounts payable department manager or supervisor.

Example: “When reviewing a vendor invoice, I first look at the total amount due on the invoice. If this is correct, then I check the line-by-line breakdown of the invoice to make sure all charges are accounted for. For example, if the vendor was providing services, I would check to see if they were charging for the hours worked by their employees. If they were, I would verify that the number of hours billed matches the number of hours worked by each employee.”

We want to improve our response time to vendors. How would you implement a strategy to do this?

This question is an opportunity to show your leadership skills and ability to implement change. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a specific strategy you used in the past that helped improve response time for vendors or other departments within your organization.

Example: “In my previous role as accounts payable supervisor, I noticed our vendor payment processing was taking longer than usual. After speaking with my team, we discovered that some of our employees were working overtime to meet their deadlines. We decided to hire more employees to help process payments faster. This allowed us to reduce our response time to vendors by 50%.”

Describe your experience working with other departments to facilitate payments.

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your ability to collaborate with other departments and work as part of a team. Use examples from past experience to highlight your communication skills, teamwork abilities and willingness to help others.

Example: “In my current role, I regularly communicate with the accounting department about payments that need to be processed. For example, if we receive an invoice for services that haven’t been approved by our marketing department, I’ll contact them to ensure they’ve received it and are working on approving it. This helps me avoid any late payments or issues with invoices. In addition, I also regularly meet with the human resources department to discuss new hires who will need access to accounts payable.”

What makes you an ideal candidate for this role?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications for the role. They want someone who is passionate about accounting and has experience working in a team environment. When you answer, make sure to highlight your relevant skills and how they can benefit the company.

Example: “I have been an accountant for five years now, and I am ready to take on a new challenge. In my previous position, I worked as part of a team that managed accounts payable for a large corporation. I learned how to work with different types of people and manage their expectations. I also developed strong communication skills that allow me to collaborate with others effectively. These skills make me an ideal candidate for this role.”

Which accounts payable processes have you worked on in previous roles?

This question can help the interviewer understand your experience level and how you’ve applied it to your work. Use examples from your previous job to highlight your skills, knowledge and abilities in accounts payable processes.

Example: “In my last role as an accounts payable supervisor, I worked on all aspects of accounts payable including vendor onboarding, invoice processing, payment processing and reconciliation. I also managed a team of five employees who helped me with these tasks. In my previous position as an accounts payable specialist, I worked on vendor onboarding, invoice processing and payment processing.”

What do you think is the most challenging part of the accounts payable job?

Employers ask this question to see if you are aware of the challenges that come with working in accounts payable. They want to make sure you know what to expect and how to overcome any difficulties you may face on the job. When answering, think about a time when you faced a challenge in your previous role and how you overcame it.

Example: “The most challenging part of my last position was having to work within tight deadlines. I had to ensure all invoices were processed by the end of each day, which meant sometimes I would have to stay late or come in early to get everything done. To help me meet these deadlines, I developed a system where I could process multiple invoices at once. This helped me save time and complete my tasks more efficiently.”

How often do you review your team’s work?

This question can help the interviewer determine how much you trust your team members to do their jobs. It can also show them whether you’re willing to take on more responsibility and delegate tasks to others. In your answer, try to explain that you review work often enough to ensure it meets company standards but not so frequently that it becomes a burden for your employees.

Example: “I usually check my team’s work at least once per week. I find this is often enough time to catch any mistakes or issues before they become major problems. However, if I notice something amiss in one of our checks, I will contact the employee directly to discuss what needs to be changed. This allows me to give feedback while still allowing my team members to learn from their mistakes.”

There is a discrepancy in a team member’s work. What is your reaction?

This question is an opportunity to show your leadership skills and ability to resolve conflicts. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation where you had to make a decision about how to handle a conflict in the workplace.

Example: “I would first meet with the team member who made the mistake and discuss what happened. I would then speak with the team member who noticed the discrepancy and thank them for bringing it to my attention. After these two conversations, I would decide whether or not to adjust the employee’s work record. If there was no malicious intent behind the error, I would likely leave their record as-is. However, if I felt that adjusting the record was necessary, I would do so while also providing feedback on how they could improve their work performance.”