Lifestyle Benefits of a Career in AP

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• Satisfying - If you enjoy the instant gratification of placing a puzzle piece in the perfect spot, this will be an enjoyable job. Many AP professionals describe AP as solving mini puzzles all day and get a lot of satisfaction from it.

• Rewarding - Helping others with their specific payment needs is a significant part of the role. Money can stress people out, but having all the answers calms them down. The people we help are often very grateful and it feels good to help others. People love getting paid!

• Affordable - With the high price tag of college, certifications and trade schools can be an affordable way to start your career without going into debt first. We believe you should have to pay to work. AP is a smart way to start your career debt free.

• Salary - AP roles typically pay well, especially for an entry level job without the cost of college. Salaries are usually based on the size of the company and can be quickly increased as you gain experience.

• Work Life Balance - Leave your work and your worries at the office. AP is not typically a job you will be stressing about when you're done for the day.

• Remote - It is typical to have remote options when working in AP. This is great for everyone, but especially parents. Plus, less cost of commute!

• Opportunities for Career Growth - Becoming an AP Technician will just be the start. During the program you will learn more about all the opportunities for career advancement and directions you could go.

• Access to the Finance Industry - If you are interested in working in other areas of finance, like purchasing, budgeting, analysis, operations, management, etc., AP is an easy point of entry for finance departments. Once they see how clever and dedicated you are, they will let you do whatever role you want.

 

What is AP?

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AP = Paying Bills. Accounts Payable (AP) are the funds owed to suppliers. AP Professionals are the humans that pay the bills for the company. This means keeping track of the bills received by the company, preparing them for payment in the financial system and initiating the payments. That's it!

 

What does an AP Professional do?

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AP duties typically include a combination of the following tasks, depending on the size of the company.

• Data entry or data review when getting invoices into the company's financial system.

• Correct and research issues. This is often the fun part for many AP professionals because it feels like solving a puzzle or mystery. This will quickly become second nature and a satisfying part of your work.

• Track expenses by deciding how a bill should be categorized. Is this bill for supplies or contracted services?

• Track required approvals. Your company may require approval from specific individuals before invoices are paid. Tracking pending approvals is a common task in AP.

• Organize and track special handling requests. Some payments may need to be made by check, direct deposit or held until further notice. AP professionals are accountable for tracking special requests like these.

• Create payments typically in the form of checks and electronic payments (ACH) to supplier bank accounts.

• Provide payment information to suppliers and internal departments as they have questions.

 

Personality Traits of an AP Professional

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• Curious and clever individuals make great AP professionals. This is the #1 quality that will make you successful and satisfied with your work.

• Good with numbers. You don’t have to be a mathematician, but if numbers scare you, you may not enjoy this work as much as others. Overall, it's rare to need to perform any math in AP. When math is needed, it won't be beyond adding and subtracting.

• Enjoy solving puzzles and mysteries. Having an interest in how things work behind the scenes can be helpful in this position. Understanding how the puzzle pieces of AP fit together will allow you to solve any AP mystery.

• Enjoy helping others. You will often be working with others who know nothing about how payments are processed, may also be technology challenged or struggle with the numbers. You will be a source of much relief when you tell them their payment is taken care of and problems solved.

• Attention to detail. We are dealing with money here, so of course, possessing the ability to pickup on the details will be needed.

• Accountability and accuracy. You won't be expected to know everything, but you will be expected to speak up when something seems off or you have any questions. The more questions the better, it shows you care about getting it right and you are responsible for your own growth.

• ADHD? An ADHD diagnosis is not required, of course, but if you happen to have ADHD tendencies, it will most likely be an asset to you in this position than a hinderance. A common positive trait of an ADHD mind, is the ability to hyper focus on a puzzle or subject that interests you. In our experience, AP is ADHD friendly.

 

About the Program

 

They basics of AP are fairly simple, so it's common to catch on quickly. This certification teaches the basics with hands-on practice and provides the concepts that make AP Professionals exceptional by following a specialized method created just for this course.

 

Virtual & Convenient - This certification program includes four (1-hour) live virtual sessions, scheduled at mutually agreed-upon times for your convenience. All sessions must be completed within three (3) months of purchase in order to maintain training continuity and retention.

 

Engaging Training Materials - Follow along with engaging training materials covering the basics. In addition to mastering foundational concepts, we will dive into practicing the basics of using financial systems and creating invoices to pay together. The hands-on practice program will make utilizing a financial system second nature to you.

 

Evaluation - There will be mini quizzes along the way to help you retain the important stuff.

 

Mentorship & Job Offers - When your certification is complete, if desired, we will meet to answer any questions and discuss your employment goals.

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Extras

• Bloomstudy Payments Cheat Sheet to keep at your desk in your future role

• Emergency AP hotline included in case you get stuck

 

The Cost

 

This certification program is currently free. Our goal is to place you in an AP role after you earn your certification, and the company that hires you will cover your training cost. In other words, Bloomstudy doesn't get paid unless you get a job. That’s how much we believe in our training program and how much businesses trust our certification.

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If you don't require a job through Bloomstudy, feel free to still use us as a reference and put your certification on your resume.