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Accounts Receivable Specialist Vs Clerk

The differences between accounts receivable specialists and clerks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become an accounts receivable specialist, becoming a clerk takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an accounts receivable specialist has an average salary of $39,873, which is higher than the $31,163 average annual salary of a clerk.

The top three skills for an accounts receivable specialist include customer service, patients and data entry. The most important skills for a clerk are basic math, math, and data entry.

Accounts receivable specialist vs clerk overview

Accounts Receivable SpecialistClerk
Yearly Salary$39,873$31,163
Hourly rate$19.17$14.98
Growth Rate-8%-5%
Number Of Jobs61,98880,311
Job Satisfaction4.5-
Most Common DegreeBachelor's Degree, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 33%
Average Age4647
Years Of Experience122

What does an Accounts Receivable Specialist do?

Accounts receivable specialists are members of the organization's finance or accounting department. They are responsible for managing the collection of payments for the company. They prepare official receipts and coordinate with account payable specialists from other companies with pending payables. They ensure that clients pay on time, and they also follow up on payments when necessary. They are responsible for checking whether the clients have already paid in full. Accounts receivable specialists are in charge of updating accounting records as well to ensure that client records are up to date.

What does a clerk do?

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.

Accounts receivable specialist vs clerk salary

Accounts receivable specialists and clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.

Accounts Receivable SpecialistClerk
Average Salary$39,873$31,163
Salary RangeBetween $31,000 And $50,000Between $24,000 And $39,000
Highest Paying CityWashington, DCWashington, DC
Highest Paying StateConnecticutNew Hampshire
Best Paying CompanyInfosysPublicServiceUniversity of Massachusetts Boston
Best Paying IndustryTechnologyHealth Care

Differences between accounts receivable specialist and clerk education

There are a few differences between an accounts receivable specialist and a clerk in terms of educational background:

Accounts Receivable SpecialistClerk
Most Common DegreeBachelor's Degree, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 33%
Most Common MajorBusinessBusiness
Most Common College-Western Carolina University

Accounts receivable specialist vs clerk demographics

Here are the differences between accounts receivable specialists' and clerks' demographics:

Accounts Receivable SpecialistClerk
Average Age4647
Gender RatioMale, 18.2% Female, 81.8%Male, 34.1% Female, 65.9%
Race RatioBlack or African American, 12.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 3.9% White, 59.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 21.1% Asian, 7.7% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage8%6%

Differences between accounts receivable specialist and clerk duties and responsibilities

Accounts Receivable Specialist Example Responsibilities.

  • Manage profitable accounts receivable ledgers for existing and new clientele maintaining accuracy of monies enter to appropriate relate account.
  • Perform accounts reconciliations, complex invoice research, statement reconciliations, complex invoice research, statement reconciliation and journal entries.
  • Follow company's standard operating procedures in cooperation with Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance providers to resolve billing issues.
  • Cash and credit allocation of customer payments in ROSS ERP system.
  • Prepare PowerPoint presentations, word documents, letters and spreadsheets while meeting deadlines.
  • Reconcile direct billing accounts and adjust product pricing utilizing JD Edwards EnterpriseONE ERP system.
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Clerk Example Responsibilities.

  • Demonstrate strong math skills in managing inmate s accounts and calmly and effectively deescalating outbursts of belligerent inmates.
  • Manage orthopedic accounts regarding payment posting through IDX medical systems.
  • Administer financial bookkeeping by way of QuickBooks.
  • Bank reconciliation in QuickBooks and assist bookkeeper when need.
  • Maintain a high level of confidentiality as required by HIPAA.
  • Call DMV's and dealerships when liens are not perfect.
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Accounts receivable specialist vs clerk skills

Common Accounts Receivable Specialist Skills
  • Customer Service, 15%
  • Patients, 9%
  • Data Entry, 5%
  • Credit Card Payments, 4%
  • Reconciliations, 4%
  • Accounts Receivables, 3%
Common Clerk Skills
  • Basic Math, 18%
  • Math, 10%
  • Data Entry, 10%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Cleanliness, 8%
  • POS, 5%

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