What is an accounting clerk and how to become one

Q: How long does it take to become an Accounting Clerk?

It takes 4 years of professional experience to become an accounting clerk. That is the time it takes to learn specific accounting clerk skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 7 to 9 years years to become an accounting clerk.

Q: How much does an accounting clerk make a year?

An accounting clerk makes an average of $40,000 in a year. However, an accounting clerk's salary often varies depending on their personal, professional experience, education level, and industry.

Q: Is an accounting clerk a good job?

Yes, being an accounting clerk is a good job. This job is a good fit for people who want to gain experience in accounting. This position pays fairly well, and for people who also possess a bachelor's degree, good entry-level experience in becoming an accountant.

Q: Is an accounting clerk an accountant?

No, an accounting clerk is not an accountant. An accounting clerk is an administrative support person to accountants and other more senior accounting staff members. Entry-level accounting clerks work as junior members of an accounting department and report to accountants or senior bookkeepers. Their responsibilities include entering financial information into databases, filing documents, and verifying the accuracy of invoice information and monthly statements.

Q: What are the skills required for an accounting clerk?

The top skills required for an accounting clerk are attention to detail and proficiency in Excel and QuickBooks. Hiring managers typically seek candidates who have previous experience in bookkeeping, customer service, and record-keeping.

Q: What is the difference between an accounting clerk and a bookkeeper?

The difference between accounting clerks and bookkeepers is typically in their level within the organization, with a bookkeeper generally being a higher-level position. Bookkeepers and accounting clerks both help manage a company's financial records.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Stephen Moehrle Ph.D.,

Jodi Olson

An accounting clerk supports an organizationâ€™s accounting department by performing clerical tasks. Their responsibilities typically include processing accounts payable and receivable, maintaining financial records, reconciling bank statements, and preparing financial reports. Accounting clerks may also assist with payroll processing and administrative duties. They have strong organizational and communication skills, attention to detail, and proficiency in accounting software. An accounting clerk ensures accurate financial records and promotes the overall financial success of a business.

What general advice would you give to an accounting clerk?

Stephen Moehrle Ph.D.

Professor and Chairman of Accounting, University of Missouri - St. Louis

It was a great time to be entering the accounting industry, before the pandemic. Our students were serving in internships in huge numbers and our graduates were enjoying 100% placement, usually with multiple offers. The entry-level professionals were entering a profession marked by emerging and evolving technologies that made even the entry-level duties especially interesting. Further, our tech-comfortable young professionals were experiencing quick advancement because of their ability to employ the new technologies.

Most of the above remains true so the only open question is job availability. It would be unrealistic to say things are great. However, it seems that job prospects for accounting majors will be better than for those of virtually every other entry-level profession during difficult times. I have been speaking with firm leaders across the spectrum of firms and most do intend to be on campus in the fall recruiting season. Of course, they have a lot of time to learn more about the economy over the next few months, but we are cautiously optimistic. Again, I am confident that whatever the state of job availability for young CPAs-to-be, prospects will be better for accounting graduates than virtually any other profession.

They will be entering the profession at a fascinating moment in time. Of course, the technological advances assure this regardless of economic conditions. However, there are business disruption-related issues that will provide rich opportunities for making a difference. For example, audit staff will be working with clients to see them through these troubling times. Lamentably, I fear that these young professionals will learn more about the going concern determination than they desire to know. Tax staff will help clients to optimally use the tax loss carrybacks and carryforwards that are arising by the day. Entry level professionals in corporate accounting will get a day-to-day front row seat in business management through crisis. While lamentable times, these are times when young professionals can make a difference that saves jobs.

ScoreAccounting ClerkUS Average

Salary

3.0

Avg. Salary $38,683

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.0

Growth rate -5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.63%

Asian 6.62%

Black or African American 6.90%

Hispanic or Latino 14.65%

Unknown 3.97%

White 67.23%

Gender

female 80.00%

male 20.00%

Age - 53

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 53

Stress level

6.0

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.4

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.3

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an accounting clerk?

Pros

Regular working hours with limited overtime
High job security and stability
Steady income and benefits
Chance to interact with clients and build relationships
Ability to work from home or remotely

Cons

Repetitive tasks can lead to boredom and burnout
Can be isolating, with limited interaction with colleagues and clients
Opportunities for training and professional development may be limited
Requires long periods of sitting at a desk, which can lead to health issues
Tight deadlines and pressure from management can lead to high stress levels

Key steps to become an accounting clerk

Explore accounting clerk education requirements

Most common accounting clerk degrees

Bachelor's

49.2 %

Associate

28.6 %

High School Diploma

10.7 %

Start to develop specific accounting clerk skills

Skills	Percentages
Data Entry	15.34%
Customer Service	9.67%
Purchase Orders	9.45%
Reconciliations	6.08%
Vendor Invoices	5.97%

Complete relevant accounting clerk training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New accounting clerks learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an accounting clerk based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real accounting clerk resumes.

Gain additional accounting clerk certifications

Accounting clerk certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific accounting clerk certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for accounting clerks include Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and International Accredited Business Accountant (IABA).

More About Certifications

Research accounting clerk duties and responsibilities

Manage revenue ledger including other subsidiary ledgers and responsible for the reconciliation of various income accounts to ensure accuracy of postings.
Perform balance sheet reconciliations and resolve open items by notifying employees and vendors of transaction discrepancies.
Assist in monthly financial close process by analyzing preliminary departmental expense reports and making necessary adjustments and accruals.
Develop a spreadsheet that pulls all data relate to project hours by operation from the ERP system.

Prepare your accounting clerk resume

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