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Bookkeeping clerk skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Curtis Nicholls Ph.D.,

Dr. Nicholas Robinson

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical bookkeeping clerk skills. We ranked the top skills for bookkeeping clerks based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 17.9% of bookkeeping clerk resumes contained customer service as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a bookkeeping clerk needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 bookkeeping clerk skills for your resume and career

1. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how bookkeeping clerks use customer service:

Manage Inventory, order all parts and supplies*Bookkeeping-accounts receivable /payable, invoices and statements*Cashier and customer service*Prepare Rental Contracts for equipment
Prepared invoices for accounts payable and receivables Responsibilities include data entry, payroll, and delivering excellent customer service

2. Data Entry

Data entry means entering data into a company's system with the help of a keyboard. A person responsible for entering data may also be asked to verify the authenticity of the data being entered. A person doing data entry must pay great attention to tiny details.

Here's how bookkeeping clerks use data entry:

Performed accurate data entry and shipping/receiving functions.
General accounting payroll and taxes, data entry, invoicing, and daily office duties like filing and answering phones.

3. Check Deposits

Here's how bookkeeping clerks use check deposits:

Prepare cash and check deposits.

4. Vendor Invoices

Here's how bookkeeping clerks use vendor invoices:

Prepared vendor invoices and processed incoming payments using a bookkeeping posting machine.
Posted vendor invoices, submitting for payment at weekly, monthly and quarterly intervals per vendor-specific payment schedules.

5. Computer System

Here's how bookkeeping clerks use computer system:

Converted bookkeeping procedures from written documents to in-house computer system using Excel.
Checked over stop payments and address file maintenance on the computer system on a daily basis.

6. General Ledger

Here's how bookkeeping clerks use general ledger:

Executed and maintained daily general ledger of banking activities.
Account Reconciliations - Reconciled general ledger accounts.

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7. Bank Deposits

Any money that a customer chooses to leave with their bank account is a deposit. Deposits can vary in amounts and different banks have limits on the deposits their customers can have as a minimum. Banks charge customers for deposits especially when a teller is used by the customer to deposit money into their account.

Here's how bookkeeping clerks use bank deposits:

Processed accounts receivable; documented and recorded bank deposits.
Reconciled bank statements by comparing statements with bank deposits.

8. Financial Data

Here's how bookkeeping clerks use financial data:

Entered daily financial data and balanced ledgers for preparation of financial statements.
Performed various calculations and verified duties to obtain primary financial data for use in business transactions recorded by other employees.

9. Office Machines

An office machine is a mechanical and electronic device that is used to get work done in an organization or establishment, to finish multiple works in a short time, and to enhance productivity. Office machines are essential in running a modern office and range from calculators to printers to computers.

Here's how bookkeeping clerks use office machines:

Performed basic bookkeeping duties.Operate office machines, such as photocopiers and scanners, fax machines, personal computers.
Operate office machines, such as photocopiers and scanners, facsimile machines, voice mail systems, and personal computers.

10. Financial Reports

Here's how bookkeeping clerks use financial reports:

Processed bank reconciliations and financial reports, handled cash and deposits using the proper accounting procedures and documentation.
Generated and distributed daily and monthly financial reports.

11. Bank Accounts

Here's how bookkeeping clerks use bank accounts:

Set up Cashier Drawers*Reconcile drawers and bank accounts*Assist with payroll*Invoice management, A/P & A/R
Balance all official bank accounts on a daily basis.

12. Financial Statements

A financial statement is a report of an individual or a company that includes all the information about the declared assets, the use of money, income, and also the contribution of shareholders over a certain period.

Here's how bookkeeping clerks use financial statements:

Assisted Certified Public Accountants with tax returns and financial statements for individuals, partnerships, and corporations.
Job Duties - Draft financial statements, journals, ledgers and perform bank reconciliations.

13. Wire Transfers

A wire transfer is an electronic bank transaction where funds are transferred from one person to another. The transfer can be within the same bank or from one bank to another. Wire transfer makes it possible to transfer money to anyone anywhere in the world and to also transfer money to multiple accounts seamlessly regardless of location.

Here's how bookkeeping clerks use wire transfers:

Filed checks for statements, completed wire transfers, and handled cash as teller
Process wire transfer requests, both incoming and outgoing.

14. Accounts Receivables

Here's how bookkeeping clerks use accounts receivables:

Reconciled bank statements, handled accounts payable and accounts receivables assist in month end reporting procedures.
Cash Receipts, Invoicing, Accounts Receivables, Accounts Payable

15. Journal Entries

Journal entries can be defined as an act of keeping or making records of any transactions either economic or non-economic. The journal entries are made in the accounting systems of an organization. The entries are filled with two main fields; debit and credit. The debit and credit must be equal at the end of a journal entry else it is not considered correct. The journal entries also keep the date of transactions and the names of the accounts that were affected by the transactions.

Here's how bookkeeping clerks use journal entries:

Prepared journal entries after reconciliation of monthly bank statements.
Record journal entries for business and prepare reports.

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What skills help Bookkeeping Clerks find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on bookkeeping clerk resumes?

Curtis Nicholls Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Accounting, Co-director of the Student Managed Investment Fund, Bucknell University

The obvious trends are going to become more pronounced: coding and technology-related skills. I think we are going to see an elevation in the coding expectations. In the future, I expect employers to begin providing coding assessments to potential candidates. This is a common feature of engineering and finance jobs, and I think we will see it with respect to claims about coding prowess.

Data skills will also continue to become more prevalent across all business disciplines. Employers are looking for experience with large data sets, data visualization software (e.g. Tableau, PowerBI, Alteryx, etc.) and statistical analysis. Data has become a major currency, and employees' ability to utilize data for decision making will be critical to success in the employment marketplace.

Beyond the obvious, I think the pandemic has also shifted focus to skills surrounding resilience and motivation. I've heard employers during the pandemic express surprise at the disparity of responses to the pandemic: some employees made the pivot to remote work seamlessly, others required significantly more support. Skills that demonstrate resilience, such as group work, honors programs, etc. will become more important.
I would encourage job seekers to highlight skills learned during the pandemic. I would anticipate a regular interview question inquiring about how the job seeker used their extra time during the pandemic. The most common answers will likely include lots of Queen's Gambit and Tiger King, but employers will look for answers surrounding the development of new skills or acquired certifications. Imagine the employer's thoughts when you suggest that you used the extra time to pursue a lifelong dream such as learning to play the piano or guitar. If you missed the early pandemic window of opportunity, take advantage now!

This line of questions may precede a dangerous trend for employers to look for indications of mental strength. I find this possibility disheartening as we could see employers screening employees with mental health challenges at a time when the solidarity of a job could provide much needed structure.

What soft skills should all bookkeeping clerks possess?

Dr. Nicholas Robinson

Director of Accountancy, Eastern Illinois University

Thinking of the less than the obvious answer would be the ability to ask questions the right way. If something is unclear or you just cannot figure it out, ask a question. The key part to this is TRYING to figure it out first and understanding when you are wasting your own time not getting anywhere. People will respect that you tried before coming to them for help. Another aspect of asking questions is listening to the answer. Make sure the answer is clear, and you know where or what you are supposed to do from there. Carry a notebook or something like that to both write down the questions you have on your project and their answers. I always find it impressive when people take notes and pay attention to the answer because it happens far too often that people ask questions but never listen to the response.

What hard/technical skills are most important for bookkeeping clerks?

Dr. Nicholas Robinson

Director of Accountancy, Eastern Illinois University

Excel, excel, excel. It does not matter how much you know in Excel. There is always something more to learn, improve upon, or make more efficient. If you are coming straight out of school, you may have had a lot of exposure to Excel, but if you are not using it every day in a work-like setting, you can get slow and forget how things work. Know how to look up techniques and tools. You will spend much of your working life dealing with Excel spreadsheets, so be sure you are comfortable with them.

What technical skills for a bookkeeping clerk stand out to employers?

Jodi Olson

Assistant Accounting Professor, Winona State University

Accountants serve many industries and sectors, so a broad range of technical skills is required to be ready to meet the needs of employers. Graduates must be technically competent in areas such as accounting information systems, tax preparation, auditing, managerial/cost accounting, financial reporting, and financial statement analysis. Also, graduates are expected to have general business acumen in areas such as management information systems, business law, operations, strategic management, and ethics. All these skills are important for graduates, but the pandemic has made the accounting systems and management information systems skills operative in allowing graduates to deliver their other areas of technical expertise.

Do you want to know more?

List of bookkeeping clerk skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a bookkeeping clerk resume and required skills for a bookkeeping clerk to have include:

Customer Service
Data Entry
Check Deposits
Vendor Invoices
Computer System
General Ledger
Bank Deposits
Financial Data
Office Machines
Financial Reports
Bank Accounts
Financial Statements
Wire Transfers
Accounts Receivables
Journal Entries
Business Transactions
Mathematical Accuracy

Customer Accounts
A/P
Computer Spreadsheets
Account Statements
Sales Tax
Quickbooks Pro
Financial Transactions
Copy Machines
Credit Card Transactions
Telephone Calls
Office Equipment
Sales Reports
Routine Correspondence
Payroll Taxes
Balance Sheet
Customer Complaints
Expense Reports

ATM
Bank Reconciliations
Telephone Inquiries
Word Processing
Payment Processing
Tax Reports
Cash Drawers
Database Systems
PowerPoint
Customer Inquiries
Trial Balance
Typewriters
W-2
CPA
Collection Calls
Peachtree

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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