What does an accounting assistant do?

Bookkeepers are employees who are in charge of the company's general ledger. They are well-versed in basic accounting principles, and they apply these in their work. Bookkeepers manage the entry of items in the general ledger, assign items into their proper categories, and ensure that the entries are balanced. They also act as auditors by checking the accuracy and veracity of the receipts or vouchers in their possession before entering them into the system. Bookkeepers ensure that their files are up to date and free of errors.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of an accounting assistant are more likely to require skills like "credit card payments," "quickbooks," "account reconciliations," and "tax returns." On the other hand, a job as a bookkeeper requires skills like "payroll tax returns," "journal entries," "credit card accounts," and "quickbooks pro." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

An assistant account executive is responsible for managing customer accounts, under the supervision of an account executive. Assistant account executives develop processes and techniques to execute projects based on clients' specifications. They assist account executives with clients' presentations for project updates and status reports. They also manage client requests to increase brand awareness, including maximizing sales strategies and resources and advertising promotions within the budget goals. They must have excellent communication and critical-thinking skills, especially when managing the clients' expectations and marketing the clients' brands to all available platforms for customers' recognition.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that accounting assistant responsibilities requires skills like "data entry," "reconciliations," "credit card payments," and "general ledger accounts." But an assistant account executive might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "press releases," "account management," "account executives," and "journal entries."

An accounts payable clerk is responsible for supporting the accounting department by performing clerical duties to file financial reports timely and accurately. Accounts payable clerks manage and verify invoices documents, reconcile balance spreadsheets, process payments for suppliers and vendors, resolve billing discrepancies, confirm and post account statements, record outstanding credits, and maintain an organized record of transactions. An accounts payable clerk must have excellent knowledge of the accounting principles to deliver high-quality services and help the business minimize excessive financial loss.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, accounting assistants are more likely to have skills like "credit card payments," "accounts receivables," "balance sheet," and "powerpoint." But a accounts payable clerk is more likely to have skills like "payroll," "credit card," "journal entries," and "vendor inquiries."

The duties of an accountable clerk vary in one's industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around overseeing the financial aspects of a company, including revenue and budget. They mostly process payments and income, ensuring accuracy in every detail and transaction. An accountable clerk may also have clerical tasks such as producing progress reports, answering calls and correspondence, coordinating with various department personnel, and maintaining a database of information. Should there be any issues, it is essential to report to a manager right away.