Accounting manager vs senior accounting clerk

The differences between accounting managers and senior accounting clerks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become an accounting manager, becoming a senior accounting clerk takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an accounting manager has an average salary of $84,451, which is higher than the $46,531 average annual salary of a senior accounting clerk.

The top three skills for an accounting manager include reconciliations, CPA and GAAP. The most important skills for a senior accounting clerk are data entry, general ledger accounts, and reconciliations.

Accounting manager vs senior accounting clerk overview

	Accounting Manager	Senior Accounting Clerk
Yearly salary	$84,451	$46,531
Hourly rate	$40.60	$22.37
Growth rate	17%	-5%
Number of jobs	92,089	82,627
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 73%	Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Average age	46	51
Years of experience	8	6

What does an accounting manager do?

An accounting manager is responsible for supervising and monitoring the overall accounting department operations. Duties of an accounting manager include reviewing account information and account statements, processing invoices, analyzing financial data, performing account reconciliations, assisting with tax processing and audit reports, and generating financial reports for presentation with the board. An accounting manager must have excellent knowledge of the accounting principles and legislation to assist the team with the company's financial goals. Accounting managers must have the outstanding analytical, critical thinking, and decision-making skills to develop the best competitive financial strategies.

What does a senior accounting clerk do?

Senior Accounting Clerks lead in a complex set of work staff and are responsible for performing governmental fund accounting that involves reporting and financial record keeping. They are responsible for resolving discrepancies, verifying and auditing financial reports, and inputting data into their financial accounting system. They must know methods of verifying and reconciling accounting records, accounts payable and receivable, and how to familiarize themselves with their firm's financial accounting software. They must also be skilled in handling large sums of cash with integrity and making manual arithmetical calculations with speed and accuracy.

Accounting manager vs senior accounting clerk salary

Accounting managers and senior accounting clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Accounting Manager	Senior Accounting Clerk
Average salary	$84,451	$46,531
Salary range	Between $60,000 And $117,000	Between $33,000 And $64,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	San Jose, CA
Highest paying state	Vermont	California
Best paying company	Morgan Lewis	Encore Capital Group
Best paying industry	Finance	Finance

Differences between accounting manager and senior accounting clerk education

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

	Accounting Manager	Senior Accounting Clerk
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 73%	Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Most common major	Accounting	Accounting
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Accounting manager vs senior accounting clerk demographics

Here are the differences between accounting managers' and senior accounting clerks' demographics:

	Accounting Manager	Senior Accounting Clerk
Average age	46	51
Gender ratio	Male, 40.4% Female, 59.6%	Male, 18.0% Female, 82.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.8% Asian, 10.0% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%	Black or African American, 6.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 6.6% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage	11%	7%

Differences between accounting manager and senior accounting clerk duties and responsibilities

Accounting manager example responsibilities.

Refine the 'pro forma invoice' system process to manage prepayments of client invoices enhancing efficiency and adding value.
Work independently on line of business projects to automate derivative processes and system enhancement testing.
Manage payroll and all taxation matters, coordinate independent audit; communicate with outside organizations and agencies.
Lead team that develop templates and procedure documentation of key controls within general accounting to comply with Sarbanes-Oxley.
Lead successful international enterprise wide ERP migration and experience in analysis, testing, documentation, design and implementation.
Conduct corporate treasury management planning and analysis, manages controls for inventory and cost accumulation for all products sell.

Senior accounting clerk example responsibilities.

Manage payroll general ledger accounts including account reconciliations and monthly accruals.
Implement premium accounting statistical reports of all monies collect, including return items and general accounting from bank reconciliations.
Process ACH payments in accordance with company deadlines.
Cross train on many functions within the ACH department.
Monitor and clear holding accounts daily using PeopleSoft; prepare journals as necessary.
Assist with monthly, quarterly, and yearly closing processes, including accruals.

Accounting manager vs senior accounting clerk skills

Common accounting manager skills

Reconciliations, 10%
CPA, 9%
GAAP, 7%
Customer Service, 5%
Payroll Processing, 4%
Internal Controls, 4%

Common senior accounting clerk skills

Data Entry, 10%
General Ledger Accounts, 9%
Reconciliations, 8%
Senior Accounting, 7%
Purchase Orders, 7%
Credit Card Payments, 5%

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Accounting Manager vs Senior Accounting Clerk

Updated January 8, 2025

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