What does an accounting clerk do?
Accounting clerks are employees assigned to manage administrative and clerical tasks in the accounting department. Accounting clerks handle office accounting records and ensure that files are properly labeled and stored. They validate records and check whether these are updated. They also sort through documents to ensure that they are in their proper storage bins. Aside from document handling, they also help with creating and validating financial statements and bookkeeping. As such, accounting clerks should have a strong background in accounting to manage their tasks better.
Accounting clerk responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real accounting clerk resumes:
- 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.
- Process all incoming payments receive via ACH, EFT, or the web; ensure accounts are accurately balance and reconcile.
- Digitize proof of delivery receipts into ERP system (AS400) serving as an easy backup for employees to verify occurrence.
- Devise powerful PowerPoint presentations for business development initiatives.
- Conduct monthly staff meetings and prepare monthly PowerPoint presentations.
- Enter invoices from various carriers into QuickBooks software for immediate reconciliation.
- Apply GAAP fundamentals concerning financial and tax reporting procedures and analysis.
- Plan and perform regularly schedule cycle counts of inventory and reconcile differences in QuickBooks.
- Compile and organize client data for taxation and litigation purposes; reconcile bank statements.
- Gain proficiency in utilization of PeopleSoft accounting software package and supervise two data entry clerks.
- Participate in auditing financial statements and examining documents that support financial statements and GAAP procedures.
- Create general ledger process for inventory receipt and accruals during the implementation of a new inventory management system.
Accounting clerk skills and personality traits
We calculated that 15% of Accounting Clerks are proficient in Data Entry, Customer Service, and Purchase Orders. They’re also known for soft skills such as Computer skills, Detail oriented, and Integrity.
We break down the percentage of Accounting Clerks that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Data Entry, 15%
Analyzed inventory receipts for correct data entry and inventory movements by comparing reports to information that was entered into inventory.
- Customer Service, 10%
Provided excellent customer service and reception, communicated effectively with internal and external clients, managed special projects as assigned.
- Purchase Orders, 9%
Received, identified/matched and Processed purchase orders according to packing receipts received with merchandise.
- Reconciliations, 6%
Performed balance sheet reconciliations and resolved open items by notifying employees and vendors of transaction discrepancies.
- Vendor Invoices, 6%
Analyzed/reconciled vendor invoices/inventory receipts with operating reports.
- QuickBooks, 3%
Reconciled Accounts payable transactions through QuickBooks and organization-specific information systems for non-profit clients with multiple divisions throughout various jurisdictions.
Most accounting clerks use their skills in "data entry," "customer service," and "purchase orders" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential accounting clerk responsibilities here:
Computer skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for an accounting clerk to have is computer skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks need to be comfortable using computer spreadsheets and bookkeeping software." Accounting clerks often use computer skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "reconcile daily cash receipts with computer system, immediately resolving any discrepancies. "
Detail oriented. Many accounting clerk duties rely on detail oriented. "bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks are responsible for producing accurate financial records," so an accounting clerk will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways accounting clerk responsibilities rely on detail oriented: "prepare bank deposits and generate daily deposit tracking report and balance the detail cash receipts into the cash subsidiary record. "
Integrity. accounting clerks are also known for integrity, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to accounting clerk responsibilities, because "bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks have control of an organization’s financial documentation, which they must use properly and keep confidential." An accounting clerk resume example shows how integrity is used in the workplace: "handled inquiries, disputes and reconciliation questions from lawyers and vendors regarding invoices, trust accounts and cash receipts. "
Math skills. For certain accounting clerk responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "math skills." The day-to-day duties of an accounting clerk rely on this skill, as "bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks deal with numbers daily and should be comfortable with basic arithmetic." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what accounting clerks do: "tracked departmental statistics on the volume of the monthly data entry work. "
The three companies that hire the most accounting clerks are:
- Robert Half376 accounting clerks jobs
- Lincoln Financial Group202 accounting clerks jobs
- Paro58 accounting clerks jobs
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Compare different accounting clerks
Accounting clerk vs. Bookkeeper
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.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between accounting clerks and bookkeeper. For instance, accounting clerk responsibilities require skills such as "quickbooks," "credit card payments," "ledgers," and "cash receipts." Whereas a bookkeeper is skilled in "payroll tax returns," "journal entries," "credit card accounts," and "sales tax." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Bookkeepers really shine in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $42,063. Comparatively, accounting clerks tend to make the most money in the government industry with an average salary of $40,064.On average, bookkeepers reach similar levels of education than accounting clerks. Bookkeepers are 0.1% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Accounting clerk vs. Clerk
Clerks are responsible for many of the general administrative tasks in the office. They are in charge of manning office telephone lines, managing incoming and outgoing mails, filing paperwork and other needed records, scheduling and documenting meetings, typing out documents when needed, disseminating memos and other official announcements, and keeping an inventory of office equipment and supplies. Clerks should have good office skills, communication skills, business writing skills, and time management skills. They should also be able to treat any document or paperwork they handle with confidentiality.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, accounting clerk responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "purchase orders," "reconciliations," "vendor invoices," and "quickbooks." Meanwhile, a clerk has duties that require skills in areas such as "basic math," "math," "cleanliness," and "pos." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
On average, clerks earn a lower salary than accounting clerks. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, clerks earn the most pay in the health care industry with an average salary of $31,380. Whereas accounting clerks have higher pay in the government industry, with an average salary of $40,064.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Clerks tend to reach similar levels of education than accounting clerks. In fact, they're 2.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for accounting clerks in the next 3-5 years?
Ryan Torkelson
Assistant Professor of Accounting, Luther College
Accounting clerk vs. Accounts payable associate
An accounts payable associate is primarily responsible for processing bills and payments for a company, ensuring accuracy and timeliness. Moreover, they are also responsible for maintaining records of all transactions, liaising with external agencies, coordinating with different departments to gather data, receiving and monitoring invoices, and obtaining approval from managers or supervisors when it comes to payments as needed. An accounts payable associate may also produce financial reports and statements, create presentations, train new members of the workforce, and assist audits, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from accounting clerk resumes include skills like "hr," "credit card payments," "ledgers," and "cash receipts," whereas an accounts payable associate is more likely to list skills in "journal entries," "vendor inquiries," "payment processing," and "credit card. "
Accounts payable associates earn the best pay in the construction industry, where they command an average salary of $42,366. Accounting clerks earn the highest pay from the government industry, with an average salary of $40,064.Most accounts payable associates achieve a similar degree level compared to accounting clerks. For example, they're 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Accounting clerk vs. Junior accountant
Junior accountants maintain the financial records of companies through the analysis of their general ledger accounts and balance sheets. The accountant's post journal entries, maintain accounts receivable and payable, and update financial statements. They pay payroll every month, reconcile ledgers, and submit payroll taxes. The skills necessary for this job include analytical skills, problem-solving, information confidentiality, and proficiency in accounting software and technology. They are also expected to be detail-oriented.
Types of accounting clerk
Updated January 8, 2025
