what is an accounting clerk?
As an accounting clerk, you calculate and process bills in a company. In addition to dealing with invoices and accounts payables, you manage accounts receivables and handle other financial records. It is important to be versed with manual and computerized systems to maintain correct financial records. You handle the budget for office stationery and supplies. You also maintain the company's financial records and perform other clerical duties, such as the filing of financial documents. In the United States, an accounting clerk is sometimes called an accounts payable clerk or an accounts receivable clerk.
Aside from processing bills, you gather budget data and documents based on estimated expenses and revenue. You also calculate the cost of materials and overhead expenses spent on a project and prepare the relevant reports. You work closely with customers, answer questions, resolve problems related to their billing and solve any mistakes.
As an accounting clerk, you work in various industries, from retail companies to wholesale distribution centers. In large companies that handle huge payments, you perform basic clerical tasks and leave complex accounting tasks for the accountants. Computer skills and technical knowledge help you excel in your role.
Would working as an accounting clerk suit your aptitude for numbers? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in an accounting clerk role.
view jobs near youaverage accounting clerk salary
Would you like to know what an accounting clerk earns? Where the highest salaries are paid for an accounting clerk? Then check out this accounting clerk salary page and find out all about the salary of an accounting clerk in the USA.
types of accounting clerks
Accounting clerks often specialize in various industries or diverse areas of expertise in accounting. As an accounting clerk, you can specialize in the following areas:
- taxation: When you specialize in taxation, you work in private companies or government offices. You review the tax responsibilities of a company and organize tax account statements. Your duties are mostly entry-level administrative tasks.
- government accounting: An accounting clerk works in government offices and manages various types of budgets, transactions and reports. You work in school districts, government offices and public welfare agencies.
- investment accounting clerks: You work in investment firms to handle personal and real estate investments. You manage clients' investment accounts by tracking transfers, transaction fees and other financial transac
working as an accounting clerk
Accounting clerks perform critical services in the accounting department and assist clients. Learn about accounting clerk duties, job requirements and work schedules.
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accounting clerk job description
Some of the duties of an accounting clerk include:
- organizing financial transactions: As an accounting clerk, your primary role is to process financial transactions in the company. You sort invoices or bills and process accounts receivables and accounts payables. Since you are responsible for processing all of the transactions in the accounting department, your main tasks include keying data, sorting documents and processing cash transactions.
- preparing monthly reports: In your role as an accounting clerk, you are in charge of financial reporting. You reconcile monthly transactions by recording the expenses and receivables in the company. When you prepare expense and revenue reports, you forward them to the accounting team. You also analyze the data before presenting it to other financial professionals in the company.
- maintaining a filing system: Working as an accounting clerk, you manage the company's filing system. If the company uses a manual filing system, you ensure the records are filed according to company policies. In a computerized system, you enter the data into the software application and streamline the financial processes. You also ensure the computer system's data is backed up to avoid loss in case of downtimes or disasters.
- managing the accounts payables: As an accounting clerk, you track the company’s expenses, credit balances and loans that need to be paid monthly. You ensure the payments are made and track the status of each account. You also file invoices and ensure payments are made on time.
- completing clerical and administrative tasks: As an accounting clerk, you perform administrative and office-related duties, such as answering phone calls and ordering office supplies for the accounting department. You speak with clients, answer their questions and help them process their payments.
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accounting clerk work environment
Accounting clerks work in office settings. You work Monday to Friday during traditional office hours and can complete tasks independently or as a team. The work environment may vary depending on the industry you work in. For instance, you may work in government offices, schools, large corporations and non-profit organizations. Whether you have a private office or work in a shared office space depends on the particular company or organization. Your work environment may be quiet or noisy, depending on the company's atmosphere. In large organizations, expect a moderately high level of social interaction and occasional disagreements over finances.
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who are your colleagues?
As an accounting clerk, you work in diverse industries and interact with various professionals. You work alongside customer service representatives, administrative assistants and accounting managers in an office environment. In the accounting department, you work alongside financial analysts, bookkeepers and human resource managers. In a retail environment, you may interact with sales associates and warehouse associates. You communicate with your colleagues in person, through email and over the phone.
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work schedule
The typical work schedule of an accounting clerk ranges from 35 to 40 hours. You work daily on weekdays if you are on a full-time contract. While your typical work hours range from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., you may need to put in some occasional overtime. For example, you work additional hours to cover the workload during the tax season. Part-time positions are also available where you work only a few hours per weekday. Although remote accounting clerk jobs are rare, some companies have work-from-home or hybrid programs for accounting clerks.
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job outlook for accounting clerk
Working as an accounting clerk is an entry-level position in the accounting department. Improve your qualifications to become an accountant or an assistant accountant. Alternatively, specialize in specific accounting areas. For instance, become a tax accountant, management accountant or a financial accountant. You can also progress to a higher role, such as a senior accounting position.
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benefits of working for randstad as an accounting clerk
Working through Randstad offers you a range of benefits:
- being paid weekly
- flexibility
- always a contact person you can fall back on and ask for help from
- many training opportunities
- a range of jobs in your area
Want a permanent contract? But you wonder why it would be interesting for you to work with a staffing company? A temporary job as an accounting clerk is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!
accounting clerk skills and education
Most employers want to see an associate's degree in accounting or finance. A bachelor's degree increases your career opportunities as an accounting clerk. Another way of making yourself more desirable to employers is earning your accounting clerk certification from the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB). As an employed accounting clerk, you qualify for the certification program. Certification requires at least two years or 3,000 hours of experience. After you pass the exam, you have up to three years to finish acquiring the necessary experience for the certification.
skills and competencies
Key skills as an accounting clerk are:
- organization: From paying bills and tracking expenses, you have a lot to keep up with as an accounting clerk. Strong organizational skills are essential to ensure you stay on top of important financial tasks. Checklists, calendars and systems help you handle the organization's finances in a dependable, efficient manner.
- attention to detail: It's also your responsibility to keep accurate records. An extra 0, a misplaced decimal or another numerical typo can cause problems. Thus, an attention to detail is essential as an accounting clerk. Get in the habit of double-checking your math and data entry to further reduce errors.
- communication: As an accounting clerk, you have a moderate level of communication to fulfill your duties, such as talking with vendors, colleagues and customers. Because you use a mixture of email and in-person communication as an accounting clerk, both verbal and written communication skills are important.
- teamwork: You are part of the accounting department, so you interact with other financial workers at your workplace. Even if you're employed at a small business, you are probably collaborating with at least one colleague and your boss.
- computer: Familiarizing yourself with using spreadsheets and accounting software prepares you for a job as an accounting clerk. You can stay organized and work more efficiently once you develop these computer skills.
- transparency: As a part of a financial department, accounting clerks must be able to show documentation regarding all spending for a business. This information must be able to stand up to regular audits.
FAQs about working as an accounting clerk
Here you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions about being an accounting clerk.
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what level of management is an accounting clerk?
Most accounting clerks are part of the lower management in an organization, but some are in senior roles and executive level positions. Having experience as an accounting clerk can qualify you for higher management positions, such as an assistant controller or a corporate controller. Another option is advancing your education to transition into a related field that falls under a higher level of management.
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is an accounting clerk a bookkeeper?
Although an accounting clerk mostly has the same responsibilities as a bookkeeper, the bookkeeper has a higher position. Bookkeepers usually oversee accounting clerks. Large companies often assign accounting clerks to specific tasks and hire a bookkeeper to manage the accounting clerks.
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is an accounting clerk an accountant?
Accountants analyze an organization's financial data, whereas an accounting clerk records financial data. Some accounting clerks advance their careers to work as accountants. As an accountant, you work closer with the business owner or management to budget, minimize taxes, manage risk and predict profits and expenses.
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are accounting clerks in demand?
Because of seasoned accounting clerks entering retirement or advancing their careers, there are 183,900 job openings each year. This is expected to stay consistent for at least 10 years from 2022.
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what is the highest salary for an accounting clerk?
The top 10% of accounting clerks earn a salary of $65,540+ with the median salary being $45,860. You can find the highest salaries in the finance and insurance, construction, professional services and technical services industries. Other top industries to consider are scientific services, wholesale trade and retail trade.
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how do I find a job as an accounting clerk?
Applying for an accounting clerk job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our UX designer jobs for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV. If you do not have a resume, no worries. Just check out our resume builder. This state-of-the-art tool will help you to create your own resume. Need help with your application? Check out all our job-hunting tips!
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