How to hire a senior accounting clerk

How to hire a senior accounting clerk, step by step

Here's a step-by-step senior accounting clerk hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a senior accounting clerk job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new senior accounting clerk
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a senior accounting clerk do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a senior accounting clerk, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect senior accounting clerk also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of senior accounting clerks.

   Type of Senior Accounting Clerk	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior Accounting Clerk	Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks produce financial records for organizations. They record financial transactions, update statements, and check financial records for accuracy.	$15-30
   Accounts Payable Supervisor	An accounts payable supervisor is an executive who is responsible for the timely payments of expense vouchers and vendor invoices. Accounts payable supervisors maintain the accuracy of the organization's financial records... Show more	$20-37
   Accounts Payable Lead	Accounts payable leads are accounting professionals who are responsible for leading a team of professionals that manage the company's accounts payable, a short-term debt payment that needs to be paid to avoid default. These professionals are required to evaluate vendor invoices and prepare payments to pay vendors while preparing the daily expense reports... Show more	$19-37

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Data Entry
   • General Ledger Accounts
   • Reconciliations
   • Senior Accounting
   • Purchase Orders
   • Credit Card Payments
   • Vendor Invoices
   • Account Reconciliations
   • Expense Reports
   • ACH
   • Bank Accounts
   • Bank Statements
   • Bank Reconciliations
   • Financial Data

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage payroll general ledger accounts including account reconciliations and monthly accruals.
   • Implement premium accounting statistical reports of all monies collect, including return items and general accounting from bank reconciliations.
   • Process ACH payments in accordance with company deadlines.
   • Cross train on many functions within the ACH department.
   • Monitor and clear holding accounts daily using PeopleSoft; prepare journals as necessary.
   • Assist with monthly, quarterly, and yearly closing processes, including accruals.

   More senior accounting clerk duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the senior accounting clerk job description is a good way to get more applicants. A senior accounting clerk salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a senior accounting clerk in Mississippi may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level senior accounting clerk. Additionally, a senior accounting clerk with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average senior accounting clerk salary

   $46,531yearly

   $22.37 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior accounting clerk salary

   $33,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average senior accounting clerk salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$63,875	$31
   2	Delaware	$57,398	$28
   3	Arizona	$57,392	$28
   4	New Jersey	$53,463	$26
   5	New York	$49,319	$24
   6	Washington	$47,473	$23
   7	Texas	$47,337	$23
   8	Minnesota	$44,904	$22
   9	Maryland	$44,162	$21
   10	Tennessee	$44,106	$21
   11	Oregon	$44,075	$21
   12	Illinois	$42,384	$20
   13	Idaho	$39,834	$19
   14	Florida	$38,652	$19
   15	Ohio	$37,506	$18
   16	Kansas	$36,352	$17

   Average senior accounting clerk salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Encore Capital Group	$67,325	$32.37
   2	Montefiore Mount Vernon Hospital	$62,728	$30.16	2
   3	UnitedHealth Group	$60,853	$29.26	18
   4	Sanofi US	$59,425	$28.57
   5	Freeport-McMoRan	$57,783	$27.78	2
   6	Zurich	$56,197	$27.02	1
   7	Vanderbilt University Medical Center	$54,821	$26.36	1
   8	Precision Castparts	$54,019	$25.97	5
   9	Buena Vista University	$51,148	$24.59
   10	Scentsy	$46,861	$22.53
   11	Rush Street	$44,486	$21.39
   12	Randstad North America, Inc.	$44,473	$21.38	34
   13	Midland Credit Management	$43,472	$20.90
   14	Vinebrook Homes	$42,661	$20.51
   15	Kelly Services	$41,532	$19.97	31
   16	Robert Half	$39,525	$19.00	1,070
   17	GoodTemps	$39,271	$18.88
   18	Universal Health Services	$39,004	$18.75	21
   19	Management & Training	$37,662	$18.11	6

4. Writing a senior accounting clerk job description

   A senior accounting clerk job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a senior accounting clerk job description:

   Senior accounting clerk job description example

   Performs accounting and clerical functions in selecting and applying guidelines and policy, with minimal guidance. Verifies accuracy and records business transactions and updates general ledger, accounts, and databases.
   KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
   
   Prepares journal entries and adjustment documents. Traces transactions and reconcile accounts. Reviews and approves documentation for transactions and the availability of funds. Identifies and corrects errors in documents where discrepancies require corrections. Prepares general financial reports and data. May handle cash and payment transactions. The responsibilities listed are a general overview of the position and additional duties may be assigned.
   
   TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES:
   
   ACCOUNTING REPORTING (NOVICE):- Knowledge of the general financial accounting practices and principles. Able to analyze and interpret financial statements as well as develop reports and present them in a comprehensive and intelligent manner.
   
   PROBLEM SOLVING (NOVICE):- Uses critical thinking and process improvement i.e. coaches and mentors development of problem statement, describes current state, identifies root causes, creates future state, coaches and mentors development of solutions and action plans with a sustainability plan. Applies appropriate tools to address issues.
   
   REGULATORY COMPLIANCE (FUNDAMENTAL AWARENESS):- Demonstrates knowledge of the appropriate rules and regulations and apply them in difficult, stressful and complex situations. Able to interpret and explain rules and regulations that are ambiguous or unclear. Directs others in interpreting rules and regulations on the job and trains others in them.
   
   DATA ENTRY (INTERMEDIATE):- The ability to transcribe information from the original source into an electronic system according to written and verbal instructions efficiently and accurately.
   
   CORE ACCOUNTABILITIES:
   
   Organizational Impact: Performs non-routine tasks that significantly impact team's performance with minimal guidance. Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Conducts research and analysis to solve some non-routine problems. Breadth of Knowledge: Applies broad job knowledge and has basic job skills in other areas. Team Interaction: Provides informal guidance and support to less experienced team members.
   
   CORE CAPABILITIES:
   
   SUPPORTING COLLEAGUES (S3):
   
   - Develops Self and Others: Continuously improves own skills by identifying development opportunities. - Builds and Maintains Relationships : Seeks to understand colleagues' priorities, working styles and develops relationships across areas. - Communicates Effectively: Openly shares information with others and communicates in a clear and courteous manner.
   
   DELIVERING EXCELLENT SERVICES (S3):
   
   - Serves Others with Compassion: Invests time to understand the problems, needs of others and how to provide excellent service. - Solves Complex Problems: Seeks to understand issues, solves routine problems, and raises proper concerns to supervisors in a timely manner. - Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Listens carefully to understand the issues and provides accurate information and support.
   
   ENSURING HIGH QUALITY (S3):
   
   - Performs Excellent Work: Checks work quality before delivery and asks relevant questions to meet quality standards . - Ensures Continuous Improvement: Shows eagerness to learn new knowledge, technologies, tools or systems and displays willingness to go above and beyond. - Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Demonstrates basic knowledge of conditions that affect safety and reports unsafe conditions to the appropriate person or department.
   
   MANAGING RESOURCES EFFECTIVELY (S3):
   
   - Demonstrates Accountability: Takes responsibility for completing assigned activities and thinks beyond standard approaches to provide high-quality work/service. - Stewards Organizational Resources: Displays understanding of how personal actions will impact departmental resources. - Makes Data Driven Decisions: Uses accurate information and good decision making to consistently achieve results on time and without error.
   
   FOSTERING INNOVATION (S3):
   
   - Generates New Ideas: Willingly proposes/accepts ideas or initiatives that will impact day-to-day operations by offering suggestions to enhance them. - Applies Technology: Absorbs new technology quickly; understands when to utilize the appropriate tools and procedures to ensure proper course of action. - Adapts to Change: Embraces change by keeping an open mind to changing plans and incorporates change instructions into own area of work.
   
   Basic Qualifications
   
   High School Diploma or GED (or equivalent experience) and4 years relevant experience
   
   Licensure, Certification, and/or Registration (LCR):
   
   Physical Requirements/Strengths needed & Physical Demands:
   
   Sedentary category requiring exertion up to 10 lbs. of force occasionally and uses negligible amounts of force to move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.
   
   Movement
   
   Occasional: Standing: Remaining on one's feet without moving. Occasional: Walking: Moving about on foot. Occasional: Lifting under 35 lbs: Raising and lowering objects under 35 lbs from one level to another Occasional: Carrying under 35 lbs: Transporting an object holding in hands, arms or shoulders, with help of coworkers or assistive device. Occasional: Push/Pull: Exerting force to move objects away from or toward. Occasional: Bending/Stooping: Trunk bending downward and forward by bending spine at waist requiring full use of lower extremities and back muscles Occasional: Reaching above shoulders: Extending arms in any direction above shoulders. Occasional: Reaching below shoulders: Extending arms in any direction below shoulders. Occasional: Handling: Seizing, holding, grasping, turning or otherwise working with hand or hands. Occasional: Bimanual Dexterity: Requiring the use of both hands. Frequent: Sitting: Remaining in seated position Frequent: Fingering: Picking, pinching, gripping, working primarily with fingers requiring fine manipulation.
   
   Sensory
   
   Continuous: Communication: Expressing or exchanging written/verbal/electronic information. Continuous: Auditory: Perceiving the variances of sounds, tones and pitches and able to focus on single source of auditory information Continuous: Vision: Clarity of near vision at 20 inches or less and far vision at 20 feet or more with depth perception, peripheral vision, color vision.
   
   Environmental Conditions

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5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find senior accounting clerks for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your senior accounting clerk job on Zippia to find and recruit senior accounting clerk candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit senior accounting clerks, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new senior accounting clerk

   Once you have selected a candidate for the senior accounting clerk position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new senior accounting clerk. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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