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The differences between account processors and accounts receivable specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an account processor, becoming an accounts receivable specialist takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an accounts receivable specialist has an average salary of $39,873, which is higher than the $37,924 average annual salary of an account processor.
The top three skills for an account processor include customer service, customer accounts and data entry. The most important skills for an accounts receivable specialist are customer service, patients, and data entry.
| Account Processor | Accounts Receivable Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $37,924 | $39,873 |
| Hourly rate | $18.23 | $19.17 |
| Growth rate | -5% | -8% |
| Number of jobs | 81,434 | 61,988 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 51 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 12 |
Account processors are professionals who are responsible for performing various tasks that are related to the processing of client accounts. These processors specialize in maintaining complex customer accounts while working with their clients to update any changes of information in their accounts. They are required to prepare contracts for bank customers and input all the needed data and credit limitations into the bank's systems. Account processors must also perform accounting duties such as preparing financial statements and reconciling general ledger balances.
Accounts receivable specialists are members of the organization's finance or accounting department. They are responsible for managing the collection of payments for the company. They prepare official receipts and coordinate with account payable specialists from other companies with pending payables. They ensure that clients pay on time, and they also follow up on payments when necessary. They are responsible for checking whether the clients have already paid in full. Accounts receivable specialists are in charge of updating accounting records as well to ensure that client records are up to date.
Account processors and accounts receivable specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Account Processor | Accounts Receivable Specialist | |
| Average salary | $37,924 | $39,873 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $50,000 | Between $31,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | Binghamton, NY | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New York | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Republic Services | InfosysPublicService |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Technology |
There are a few differences between an account processor and an accounts receivable specialist in terms of educational background:
| Account Processor | Accounts Receivable Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 43% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | - |
Here are the differences between account processors' and accounts receivable specialists' demographics:
| Account Processor | Accounts Receivable Specialist | |
| Average age | 51 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 25.0% Female, 75.0% | Male, 18.2% Female, 81.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.9% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 6.6% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 12.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 3.9% White, 59.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 8% |