Accounting bookkeeper vs accountable clerk

The differences between accounting bookkeepers and accountable clerks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an accounting bookkeeper and an accountable clerk. Additionally, an accounting bookkeeper has an average salary of $51,406, which is higher than the $38,120 average annual salary of an accountable clerk.

The top three skills for an accounting bookkeeper include data entry, reconciliations and payroll taxes. The most important skills for an accountable clerk are data entry, financial reports, and purchase orders.

Accounting bookkeeper vs accountable clerk overview

	Accounting Bookkeeper	Accountable Clerk
Yearly salary	$51,406	$38,120
Hourly rate	$24.71	$18.33
Growth rate	-5%	-5%
Number of jobs	40,579	81,209
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 48%	Bachelor's Degree, 41%
Average age	51	51
Years of experience	6	6

What does an accounting bookkeeper do?

An Accounting Bookkeeper supervises the financial data and compliance of a company. Accounting Bookkeepers maintain accurate books on accounts receivable and payable, daily financial reconciliations and entries, and payroll. They are in charge of recording various transactions like income and outgoings and posting these transactions to different accounts.

What does an accountable clerk do?

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.

Accounting bookkeeper vs accountable clerk salary

Accounting bookkeepers and accountable clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Accounting Bookkeeper	Accountable Clerk
Average salary	$51,406	$38,120
Salary range	Between $39,000 And $66,000	Between $29,000 And $49,000
Highest paying City	Vallejo, CA	New Haven, CT
Highest paying state	Delaware	Massachusetts
Best paying company	GrowthForce	Wayne County, Michigan
Best paying industry	Professional	Government

Differences between accounting bookkeeper and accountable clerk education

There are a few differences between an accounting bookkeeper and an accountable clerk in terms of educational background:

	Accounting Bookkeeper	Accountable Clerk
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 48%	Bachelor's Degree, 41%
Most common major	Accounting	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Accounting bookkeeper vs accountable clerk demographics

Here are the differences between accounting bookkeepers' and accountable clerks' demographics:

	Accounting Bookkeeper	Accountable Clerk
Average age	51	51
Gender ratio	Male, 15.5% Female, 84.5%	Male, 19.1% Female, 80.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.9% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 6.6% White, 67.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%	Black or African American, 6.7% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 6.5% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between accounting bookkeeper and accountable clerk duties and responsibilities

Accounting bookkeeper example responsibilities.

Process bi-weekly payroll through ADP on-line system; manage distribution of live checks.
Manage revenue ledger including other subsidiary ledgers and responsible for the reconciliation of various income accounts to ensure accuracy of postings.
General ledger entries for AR and AP, parts and sales of power equipment.
Prepare and print AP checks.
Report payroll to ADP system and reconcile payroll account.
Work with client's CPA firm for reporting and tax preparation.

Accountable clerk example responsibilities.

Manage the accurate and timely processing of AP invoices for multiple companies.
Manage resident's private information for insurance verification, billing, and eligibility to apply for Medicaid.
Scan incoming A/P, A/R, bank statements, mail, etc.
Review AR aging to ensure compliance.
Process, distribute, and maintain AR invoices.
Review and handle in-clearing reject items (ACH and checks) and process check adjustments.

Accounting bookkeeper vs accountable clerk skills

Common accounting bookkeeper skills

Data Entry, 8%
Reconciliations, 8%
Payroll Taxes, 8%
Journal Entries, 7%
Vendor Invoices, 5%
General Ledger Accounts, 5%

Common accountable clerk skills

Data Entry, 11%
Financial Reports, 10%
Purchase Orders, 8%
Customer Service, 8%
Process Payroll, 8%
Office Equipment, 4%

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Accounting Bookkeeper
Accounting Bookkeeper vs Accountable Clerk

Updated January 8, 2025

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