General ledger bookkeeper vs accountable clerk

The differences between general ledger bookkeepers 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 a general ledger bookkeeper and an accountable clerk. Additionally, a general ledger bookkeeper has an average salary of $44,940, which is higher than the $38,120 average annual salary of an accountable clerk.

The top three skills for a general ledger bookkeeper include reconciliations, general ledger accounts and CPA. The most important skills for an accountable clerk are data entry, financial reports, and purchase orders.

General ledger bookkeeper vs accountable clerk overview

	General Ledger Bookkeeper	Accountable Clerk
Yearly salary	$44,940	$38,120
Hourly rate	$21.61	$18.33
Growth rate	-5%	-5%
Number of jobs	56,765	81,209
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 61%	Bachelor's Degree, 41%
Average age	51	51
Years of experience	6	6

What does a general ledger bookkeeper do?

A general ledger bookkeeper conducts daily recording and maintenance of all of a business' financial transactions. These transactions include purchases, expenses, invoices, sales revenue, and payments, all of which are summarized in the general ledger. They are expected to prepare journal entries and ensure data is accurate. Furthermore, at the end of a specific period, they are expected to transfer the entries to the ledger. They ensure that the transactions reported meet accounting standards.

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.

General ledger bookkeeper vs accountable clerk salary

General ledger bookkeepers and accountable clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.

	General Ledger Bookkeeper	Accountable Clerk
Average salary	$44,940	$38,120
Salary range	Between $34,000 And $59,000	Between $29,000 And $49,000
Highest paying City	-	New Haven, CT
Highest paying state	-	Massachusetts
Best paying company	-	Wayne County, Michigan
Best paying industry	-	Government

Differences between general ledger bookkeeper and accountable clerk education

There are a few differences between a general ledger bookkeeper and an accountable clerk in terms of educational background:

	General Ledger Bookkeeper	Accountable Clerk
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 61%	Bachelor's Degree, 41%
Most common major	Accounting	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

General ledger bookkeeper vs accountable clerk demographics

Here are the differences between general ledger bookkeepers' and accountable clerks' demographics:

	General Ledger Bookkeeper	Accountable Clerk
Average age	51	51
Gender ratio	Male, 28.3% Female, 71.7%	Male, 19.1% Female, 80.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.9% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 6.6% White, 67.1% 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 general ledger bookkeeper and accountable clerk duties and responsibilities

General ledger bookkeeper example responsibilities.

Manage AR, prepare deposits and perform basic receptionist/customer service tasks in office.
Report to owner and outside CPA.
Prepare cross reference work papers to substantiate journal entries according to GAAP.
Organize and maintain bills, receipts, and vehicle logs to send to CPA.
Ensure accuracy of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and compliance to internal policies.
Prepare investment funds roll forward schedule for annual audit, and reconcile investment relate general ledgers for annual audit.

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.

General ledger bookkeeper vs accountable clerk skills

Common general ledger bookkeeper skills

Reconciliations, 16%
General Ledger Accounts, 12%
CPA, 6%
Bank Statements, 4%
Payroll Taxes, 4%
Credit Card, 4%

Common accountable clerk skills

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

General Ledger Bookkeeper vs. similar jobs

General Ledger Bookkeeper related careers

General Ledger Bookkeeper related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Office and Administrative Industry
General Ledger Bookkeeper
General Ledger Bookkeeper vs Accountable Clerk

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse office and administrative jobs