Accounts payable associate vs accountable clerk

The differences between accounts payable associates 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 associate and an accountable clerk. Additionally, an accounts payable associate has an average salary of $39,270, which is higher than the $38,120 average annual salary of an accountable clerk.

The top three skills for an accounts payable associate include customer service, data entry and purchase orders. The most important skills for an accountable clerk are data entry, financial reports, and purchase orders.

Accounts payable associate vs accountable clerk overview

	Accounts Payable Associate	Accountable Clerk
Yearly salary	$39,270	$38,120
Hourly rate	$18.88	$18.33
Growth rate	-5%	-5%
Number of jobs	30,845	81,209
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 50%	Bachelor's Degree, 41%
Average age	51	51
Years of experience	6	6

What does an accounts payable associate do?

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.

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 associate vs accountable clerk salary

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

	Accounts Payable Associate	Accountable Clerk
Average salary	$39,270	$38,120
Salary range	Between $31,000 And $49,000	Between $29,000 And $49,000
Highest paying City	Cambridge, MA	New Haven, CT
Highest paying state	Alaska	Massachusetts
Best paying company	Accenture	Wayne County, Michigan
Best paying industry	Construction	Government

Differences between accounts payable associate and accountable clerk education

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

	Accounts Payable Associate	Accountable Clerk
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 50%	Bachelor's Degree, 41%
Most common major	Accounting	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Accounts payable associate vs accountable clerk demographics

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

	Accounts Payable Associate	Accountable Clerk
Average age	51	51
Gender ratio	Male, 20.6% Female, 79.4%	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, 67.6% 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 associate and accountable clerk duties and responsibilities

Accounts payable associate example responsibilities.

Manage the PeopleSoft PO/Voucher/Receiver matching process for all business units.
Prepare A/R reports for BCBSM, Medicare, Medicaid and multiple HMO's.
Complete various seminars on Medicare and Medicaid.
Process and verify employees' expense reports to ensure compliance with GAAP and company policy.
Perform GL coding for expense invoices along with processing both ACH payments and check payments on a daily basis.
Verify which vendors need W9 to be mail to them at the beginning of the year for tax purposes.

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 associate vs accountable clerk skills

Common accounts payable associate skills

Customer Service, 11%
Data Entry, 9%
Purchase Orders, 8%
Vendor Statements, 6%
Vendor Invoices, 6%
Expense Reports, 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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Office and Administrative Industry
Accounts Payable Associate
Accounts Payable Associate vs Accountable Clerk

Updated January 8, 2025

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