What does an Accounting Clerk do?
Accounting Clerks work in an organization’s financial department to complete the necessary clerical work for accurate accounting practices. They perform general office tasks, such as organizing and delivering documents, filing reports, updating records and communicating with clients. Accounting Clerks typically assist Staff Accountants with more administrative tasks. Specific duties can vary based on seniority, with more experienced Accounting Clerks generating reports, verifying the accuracy of data and ensuring compliance with financial regulations.
Accounting Clerk skills and qualifications
Coming into the Accounting Clerk position with certain skills and qualifications can help the candidate be more successful. Some of those qualifications include:
- Comfort using bookkeeping software and computer spreadsheets
- Attention to detail to ensure accuracy and recognize errors
- Integrity and discretion when handling the company’s financial data
- Strong mathematical skills
- Understanding of basic accounting principles, processes and reports
- Willingness to learn and comply with financial regulations
- Organizational skills
- Critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills
Accounting Clerk experience requirements
Companies often prefer candidates who have experience in accounting or finance. Examples include work as a Bookkeeper, Accounts Receivable Clerk or Tax Preparer. Experience in an Administrative Assistant role can also provide the foundational skills needed to support the department. Some smaller organizations hire Accounting Clerks with little experience and train them on the job.
Accounting Clerk education and training requirements
There are no minimum education requirements to become an Accounting Clerk. Some organizations might specify a minimum degree, such as an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance or similar fields. In some cases, companies waive the education requirement for candidates who have experience in the field. Accounting Clerks generally also receive on-the-job training.
Some Account Clerks choose to become certified. The American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers offers the Certified Bookkeeper (CB) designation. Meanwhile, the National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers offers several certifications, including Bookkeeping, Payroll and Tax Certifications. Accounting Clerks receiving these certifications have demonstrated that they have the knowledge and skills required to complete bookkeeping tasks. You might include a certification as a preferred qualification in your Accounting Clerk job description.
Accounting Clerk salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for an Accounting Clerk is $20.83 per hour. Salaries can vary based on where the job is located and the experience of the selected candidate.
Accounting Clerk salary expectations
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Common salary:
21.64 HOURLY -
Typical salaries range from
7.45 -43.10 HOURLY - Find more information on Indeed Salaries
*Indeed data –
Job description samples for similar positions
If this Accounting Clerk job description isn’t an exact match for your organization’s needs, check out our job description templates for similar and related jobs below:
Accounting Clerk job description FAQs
What is the difference between an Accounting Clerk and an Accountant?
Accountants and Accounting Clerks both work together with financial information, but Accountants focus on analyzing data while Accounting Clerks focus on collecting and organizing it. Accountants have a higher level of responsibility for managing an organization’s money, and they oversee and check the accuracy of the Accounting Clerk’s work. Accountants need to have more education and are usually required to have at least a bachelor’s degree in finance or business. Accountants also have the option to become a Certified Public Accountant to extend their qualifications.
What makes a good Accounting Clerk?
Good Accounting Clerks have a range of technical and organizational skills that help them succeed. They can handle large amounts of data while maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the information. Accounting Clerks should have a good memory to keep track of all their clerical duties and a detail-oriented mindset to ensure accuracy. Strong typing skills, financial literacy and math skills also make the job easier.
How can you make your Accounting Clerk job ad stand out?
Highlight the specific tools you use in your accounting department to ensure candidates have the necessary experience. Include details about the structure of the accounting department, highlighting the responsibilities of the role. Adding details about your company culture helps job seekers get a sense of what it’s like to work for you and if they’ll feel comfortable in the environment. Listing special perks you offer can help you stand out from competitors who are also hiring Accounting Clerks.
What should you look for in an Accounting Clerk resume?
Accounting Clerk resumes should highlight experience working with data or doing bookkeeping. Accounting Clerks are usually entry-level accounting staff, so related experience from other fields can be appropriate if it indicates strong information management skills. You might look for experience in the same or similar industry with an organization that’s about the same size as yours. This familiarity can make the job easier to learn.
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