Accounts payable administrator vs accountable clerk

The differences between accounts payable administrators 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 accounts payable administrator and an accountable clerk. Additionally, an accounts payable administrator has an average salary of $41,860, which is higher than the $38,120 average annual salary of an accountable clerk.

The top three skills for an accounts payable administrator include purchase orders, data entry and vendor invoices. The most important skills for an accountable clerk are data entry, financial reports, and purchase orders.

Accounts payable administrator vs accountable clerk overview

	Accounts Payable Administrator	Accountable Clerk
Yearly salary	$41,860	$38,120
Hourly rate	$20.12	$18.33
Growth rate	-5%	-5%
Number of jobs	79,272	81,209
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 46%	Bachelor's Degree, 41%
Average age	51	51
Years of experience	6	6

What does an accounts payable administrator do?

An accounts payable administrator is an individual who reviews and verifies the invoices of suppliers and grants payment requests. Accounts payable administrators must prepare invoice batches and input them in the accounts payable module of the financial information system every day to ensure that payments meet weekly and monthly deadlines. When warranted, they seek clarifications or explanations from submitters and responds to inquiries from suppliers, consultants, and clients regarding the status of their payments. Accounts payable administrators must also ensure that reimbursements are properly approved.

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.

Accounts payable administrator vs accountable clerk salary

Accounts payable administrators and accountable clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Accounts Payable Administrator	Accountable Clerk
Average salary	$41,860	$38,120
Salary range	Between $32,000 And $54,000	Between $29,000 And $49,000
Highest paying City	New York, NY	New Haven, CT
Highest paying state	New York	Massachusetts
Best paying company	Ducommun	Wayne County, Michigan
Best paying industry	Finance	Government

Differences between accounts payable administrator and accountable clerk education

There are a few differences between an accounts payable administrator and an accountable clerk in terms of educational background:

	Accounts Payable Administrator	Accountable Clerk
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 46%	Bachelor's Degree, 41%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Accounts payable administrator vs accountable clerk demographics

Here are the differences between accounts payable administrators' and accountable clerks' demographics:

	Accounts Payable Administrator	Accountable Clerk
Average age	51	51
Gender ratio	Male, 12.7% Female, 87.3%	Male, 19.1% Female, 80.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 6.6% White, 67.5% 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 accounts payable administrator and accountable clerk duties and responsibilities

Accounts payable administrator example responsibilities.

Manage payroll transactions utilizing ADP payroll software.
Maintain a cash flow chart of checks issue and clear, ACH payments, incoming collections, and wire transfers.
Solve complex general accounting functions, including preparation of journal entries, account analysis and balance sheet reconciliations.
Set up new vendors, maintain new supplier forms and proper W8 and W9 reporting.
Implement standard form to vendors to complete and return along with W9 and a sample invoice.
Review and record vendor bills utilizing QuickBooks.

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.

Accounts payable administrator vs accountable clerk skills

Common accounts payable administrator skills

Purchase Orders, 12%
Data Entry, 9%
Vendor Invoices, 8%
Expense Reports, 6%
Credit Card, 5%
Vendor Statements, 5%

Common accountable clerk skills

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

Accounts Payable Administrator vs. similar jobs

Accounts Payable Administrator related careers

Accounts Payable Administrator related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Office and Administrative Industry
Accounts Payable Administrator
Accounts Payable Administrator vs Accountable Clerk

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse office and administrative jobs