Some of the skills we found on accounts payable clerk resumes included "customer service," "data entry," and "purchase orders." We have detailed the most important accounts payable clerk responsibilities below.
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What Does an Accounts Payable Clerk Do?
An accounts payable clerk is responsible for supporting the accounting department by performing clerical duties to file financial reports timely and accurately. Accounts payable clerks manage and verify invoices documents, reconcile balance spreadsheets, process payments for suppliers and vendors, resolve billing discrepancies, confirm and post account statements, record outstanding credits, and maintain an organized record of transactions. An accounts payable clerk must have excellent knowledge of the accounting principles to deliver high-quality services and help the business minimize excessive financial loss.
Accounts Payable Clerk Responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real accounts payable clerk resumes representing typical tasks they are likely to perform in their roles.
- Manage revenue ledger including other subsidiary ledgers and responsible for the reconciliation of various income accounts to ensure accuracy of postings.
- Match, code, and process vendor payments via MAS90 accounting system - including check runs and ACH payments.
- Perform duties in compliance with GAAP, company and department policies and procedures, internal controls, and Sarbanes-Oxley requirements.
- Process division payroll in coordination with ADP payroll systems for semi-monthly and weekly union contract employees.
- Scan and store documents daily, retrieve W2 and W9 information along with service provider agreements when or if need.
- Print, review, research, edit, code and batch invoices for processing via the various ERP financial systems.
- Play a key role in developing the current procedures and processes used to set up vendors in their ERP system.
- Recognize for improving the process of cutting checks and preparing ACH payment journals by including credit information taken on check stubs.
- Scan and archive vendor W9's with invoices including filing all checks with backups for auditing purposes according to establish policies.
- Process monthly accruals for upper management.
- Establish a QuickBooks accounting system to reflect accurate financial records.
- Enter information into QuickBooks accounting system to reflect accurate financial records.
- Participate in month-end closings by preparing month-end accruals for assign business entities
- Process payroll, finalize office services budget and negotiate purchasing price reductions.
- Develop and maintain internal control and processes for payroll and other important documents.
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Accounts Payable Clerk Skills and Personality Traits
We calculated that 13% of Accounts Payable Clerks are proficient in Customer Service, Data Entry, and Purchase Orders. They’re also known for soft skills such as Computer skills, Detail oriented, and Integrity.
We break down the percentage of Accounts Payable Clerks that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 13%
Perform register sales transactions quickly and accurately in accordance with established cash control procedures and Customer Service guidelines.
- Data Entry, 10%
Provided administrative support to upper management via drafting all official company correspondence, typing, filing and performing data entry.
- Purchase Orders, 8%
Prepared documentation for manager approval issuing stop-payments or purchase order amendments.
- Expense Reports, 6%
Prepare expense reports and ensure appropriate reimbursement, review and process travel expense vouchers for accountability and proper authorization.
- Vendor Invoices, 6%
Verify vendor invoices with corresponding purchase orders and receiving records or by obtaining other supporting documents as necessary.
- Vendor Statements, 5%
Developed exceptional skills in reconciling vendor statements and worked diligently with minimal direction while able to take on additional projects.
The three companies that hire the most prestigious accounts payable clerks are:
- Robert Half736 Accounts Payable Clerks Jobs
- Randstad North America, Inc.71 Accounts Payable Clerks Jobs
- AppleOne Employment Services52 Accounts Payable Clerks Jobs
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What Bookkeepers Do
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.
In this section, we take a look at the annual salaries of other professions. Take bookkeeper for example. On average, the bookkeepers annual salary is $2,004 higher than what accounts payable clerks make on average every year.
Even though accounts payable clerks and bookkeepers have vast differences in their careers, a few of the skills required to do both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require customer service, data entry, and purchase orders in the day-to-day roles.
There are some key differences in responsibilities as well. For example, an accounts payable clerk responsibilities require skills like "vendor statements," "payroll," "credit card," and "vendor inquiries." Meanwhile a typical bookkeeper has skills in areas such as "payroll tax returns," "financial transactions," "credit card accounts," and "sales tax." This difference in skills reveals how truly different these two careers really are.
Bookkeepers really shine in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $42,063. Whereas accounts payable clerks tend to make the most money in the technology industry with an average salary of $41,570.
The education levels that bookkeepers earn is a bit different than that of accounts payable clerks. In particular, bookkeepers are 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an accounts payable clerk. Additionally, they're 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.
What Are The Duties Of a 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.
Next up, we have the clerk profession to look over. This career brings along a lower average salary when compared to an accounts payable clerk annual salary. In fact, clerks salary difference is $7,170 lower than the salary of accounts payable clerks per year.
A similarity between the two careers of accounts payable clerks and clerks are a few of the skills associated with both roles. We used resumes from both professions to find that both use skills like "customer service," "data entry," and "payroll. "
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, several resumes showed us that accounts payable clerk responsibilities requires skills like "purchase orders," "expense reports," "vendor invoices," and "vendor statements." But a clerk might use skills, such as, "basic math," "math," "cleanliness," and "pos."
It's been discovered that clerks earn lower salaries compared to accounts payable clerks, but we wanted to find out where clerks earned the most pay. The answer? The health care industry. The average salary in the industry is $31,380. Additionally, accounts payable clerks earn the highest paychecks in the technology with an average salary of $41,570.
On the topic of education, clerks earn similar levels of education than accounts payable clerks. In general, they're 1.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.
How an Accounting Technician Compares
An accounting technician is responsible for evaluating financial information procedures to support accounting and taxation tasks, verifying the accuracy of account statements for the reference of accountants. Accounting technicians manage the payroll processes, generate invoices, perform account reconciliations, analyze account receivables, prepare budget reports, and monitor the company's financial transactions. Accounting technicians should always adhere to taxation legislation, comply with accounting disciplines, and coordinate with the account management for any findings and concerns, requiring them to have excellent communication and analytical skills.
The accounting technician profession generally makes a higher amount of money when compared to the average salary of accounts payable clerks. The difference in salaries is accounting technicians making $3,004 higher than accounts payable clerks.
While looking through the resumes of several accounts payable clerks and accounting technicians we discovered that both professions have similar skills. These similarities include skills such as "customer service," "data entry," and "purchase orders," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.
Some important key differences between the two careers are a few of the skills necessary to fulfill responsibilities. Some examples from accounts payable clerk resumes include skills like "hr," "vendor inquiries," "invoice processing," and "w-9," whereas an accounting technician might be skilled in "travel vouchers," "financial transactions," "management system," and "ledgers. "
Additionally, accounting technicians earn a higher salary in the government industry compared to other industries. In this industry, they receive an average salary of $39,070. Additionally, accounts payable clerks earn an average salary of $41,570 in the technology industry.
Accounting technicians typically study at similar levels compared with accounts payable clerks. For example, they're 1.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.
Description Of an Accounting Administrator
An accounting administrator is responsible for reviewing and analyzing account statements, managing deposits, and resolving bank discrepancies and financial disputes. Accounting administrators handle the efficient and accurate cash flow within an organization, including payroll release and filing of petty cash. They maintain an organized record of payments and billing statements for reference and audit purposes to generate reports for the management. An accounting administrator must have extensive knowledge of the accounting principles, as well as excellent communication and analytical skills to perform duties effectively, even under minimal supervision.
Now, we'll look at accounting administrators, who generally average a higher pay when compared to accounts payable clerks annual salary. In fact, the difference is about $9,735 per year.
While their salaries may vary, accounts payable clerks and accounting administrators both use similar skills to perform their jobs. Resumes from both professions include skills like "customer service," "data entry," and "purchase orders. "
Each job requires different skills like "payroll," "credit card," "hr," and "vendor inquiries," which might show up on an accounts payable clerk resume. Whereas accounting administrator might include skills like "credit card payments," "office equipment," "balance sheet," and "accounts receivables."
Accounting administrators earn a higher salary in the technology industry with an average of $49,796. Whereas, accounts payable clerks earn the highest salary in the technology industry.
The average resume of accounting administrators showed that they earn similar levels of education to accounts payable clerks. So much so that the likelihood of them earning a Master's Degree is 2.6% more. Additionally, they're more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.1%.
Types Of Accounts Payable Clerk
Clerk
Average Salary: $31,163
Bachelor's Degree
Available Jobs: 171,349
How To Become a Clerk
Bookkeeper
Average Salary: $40,337
Bachelor's Degree
Available Jobs: 101,416
How To Become a Bookkeeper
Accounting Clerk
Average Salary: $38,683
Bachelor's Degree
Available Jobs: 83,359
How To Become an Accounting Clerk
Accounts Receivable Clerk
Average Salary: $36,425
Bachelor's Degree
Available Jobs: 30,138
How To Become an Accounts Receivable Clerk
Accountable Clerk
Average Salary: $38,120
Bachelor's Degree
Available Jobs: 10,206
How To Become an Accountable Clerk
Accounting Technician
Average Salary: $41,337
Bachelor's Degree
Available Jobs: 8,961
How To Become an Accounting Technician
What an Accounts Payable Clerk Does FAQs
How Much Do Accounts Payable Clerks Make?
Accounts payable clerks make about $36,000 annually. However, the top ten percent can earn over $63,000 annually. Generally, salary differences come down to a combination of industry, level of education, and experience. For example, accounts payable clerks with an associate's degree and more work experience earn more money.
Is Accounts Payable A Difficult Job?
Yes, accounts payable can be a difficult job. This role is primarily focused on data entry and management to ensure that all aspects of a company's accounts are maintained correctly which can make the job difficult because minor mistakes can have extreme consequences.
Have more questions? See all answers to common office and administrative questions.