What does an accounting clerk do?
As an accounting clerk, you will be responsible for performing various day-to-day clerical and administrative tasks in the accounting department of an organization. You will also handle cumulative tasks that will be fully resolved on a long-term basis. An accounting clerk has to add up all transaction details, including types, amounts, and dates. You will be charged with monitoring accounts and making sure that payments are current and coding documents according to your organization's procedures.
Other responsibilities of an accounting clerk
In general, you will take care of the basic office tasks such as bookkeeping, reporting, and the resolution of discrepancies related to the tasks you perform. You will keep a record of business transactions and do data entry from the daily work logs into the general ledger system of the company. The typical duties that will be in your role will also include reconciling bank statements, filing financial records, and maintaining/updating accounting databases. In addition, you will also process backups and much more.
Types of calculations in the role
Things to do with calculating accounts payable, processing bills/budgets, and various other financial records also fall under your role. You will offer support to the accountants and executive staff by carrying out the assigned clerical and accounting tasks. As an accounting clerk, you can work for many types of organizations and companies in the private and public sectors.
View Roles
What is the average accounting clerk salary?
Salary ranges for accounting clerks can vary widely depending on various crucial factors such as education, certifications, and skills in addition to experience. The average salary of an accounting clerk in the US is $41,563 per year as of May 2022, but the range normally falls between $37,000 and $46,500 per year. The average hourly pay of an accounting clerk is about $17.15 per hour with an entry-level accounting clerk that has less than a year of experience earning approximately $15.49, including tips, overtime, and bonuses.
How to earn more
Pursuing additional education as an accounting clerk can significantly increase your earnings. While the annual entry-level accounting clerk's salary is roughly $40,000, a bachelor's degree holder will earn a median salary of about $69,000 per year. Acquiring a bachelor's degree as an accounting clerk will make you qualified to work as an accountant or accounting manager, thus earning more.
Working as an accounting clerk
Do you wish to become an integral part of an organization? An accounting clerk job will place you right in the midst of where all the financial operations of an organization take place. It will allow you to work in coordination with all the sectors of the company while performing a vital role in clerical accounting.
-
Accounting clerk job description
As an accounting clerk in any organization, you will have the following responsibilities:
- Providing clerical and accounting support to the entire accounting department
- Performing basic office tasks such as answering phones, processing mail, and responding to emails
- Preparing checks, processing invoices, budgets
- Assisting with bank reconciliations, deposits, and financial reports
- Verifying, maintaining, and updating various ledgers
- Keeping company information confidential
- Entering data from the daily business transactions in the company's general ledger
- Providing support to the supervisory and executive staff through carrying out the assigned clerical and accounting tasks
- Monitoring any issues that require customer refunds and ensuring it is done promptly
- Providing support to senior accounting personnel through performing any tasks that are related to the accounting department
- Typing documents and entering data on any items under the accounting department, including invoices, checks, and vouchers
- Preparing travel, purchasing, or other related documents
- Researching processing problems and liaising between departments and vendors to resolve such problems
- Handling cash-related transactions, issuing receipts, and keeping records
- Assisting in ordering, maintaining, and utilizing company supplies, equipment, and inventories
- Ensuring compliance with federal regulations
-
What type of equipment do accounting clerks use?
Accounting clerks ensure the accuracy of documents and figures. Thus they need to have strong skills in using various types of software. They often use accounting software like fund accounting software, Intuit Quickbooks, and Sage 50 Accounting tax software. As an accounting clerk, you also need to know how to use compliance software and database query software such as Microsoft Access. You should understand how to use software for enterprise resource planning and financial analysis.
-
Other equipment for accounting clerks
The other equipment that accounting clerks often use includes 10-key calculators, typewriters, and computers. Since you will be mostly working in an office, you will need these types of equipment to make calculations and produce documents. Most of the work is done using computers; thus, the knowledge of how to professionally use accounting software, compliance software, and financial analysis software is essential in addition to enterprise resource planning software, database user interface, and query software is paramount.
-
What is the work environment of an accounting clerk?
Accounting clerks typically work in an office environment, and most of their time is spent working on a computer. It is a full-time job, meaning you will follow the regular 40-hour work week. Accounting clerks sometimes work overtime during the weekends and even at night, especially during busy seasons such as at the end of a fiscal period, tax season, and audit time. Depending on the industry, you may find yourself working more during certain times in the year due to seasonal workloads, such as in hotels, resorts, and malls.
-
Who are your colleagues as an accounting clerk?
Accounting clerks work closely with other accounting team members, such as the certified public accountant, payable/receivable clerk, and accounting assistant. You will also work with business analysts and payroll specialists. You will be answerable to your immediate supervisor and the accountant that you are working under. It will be your responsibility to handle communications between departments, clients, and vendors. In most cases, an accounting clerk is assigned to a particular accountant; therefore, that is the person that you will be working with most of the time.
-
What is the work schedule of an accounting clerk?
The typical daily schedule of an accounting clerk involves carrying out routine clerical and accounting tasks. The tasks you will be performing daily include posting entries and processing payments along with verifying and reconciling inputs into the financial reporting system output, assisting in the preparation of billings, and handling other financial reports. You will be responding to inquiries and contacting other departments and vendors to verify and resolve various problems. These and other duties will normally take place in the office. You will be based in-house from Monday to Friday, working from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. unless it is the peak times.
What is the career outlook for an accounting clerk?
The Bureau of Labor and Statistics projects a 4% decline in accounting clerk positions by 2028, but some states project significant growth in the field. This is due to the advancement of technology and the introduction of software that can do some duties of accounting clerks. However, in the coming decade, some states project that there will be a 6% growth rate for the careers of accountants and auditors.
-
How to advance in your future career
As an accounting assistant, you can seek further education and attain a bachelor's degree in a related field to secure additional career opportunities. The right training and experience can make an accounting clerk be promoted to the next job grade. You can rise from an accounting clerk position and become a tax auditor or cost accountant.
-
What are the advantages of working with Spherion as an accounting clerk?
If you are seriously looking for a job or just want to check out what is out there, Spherion is the best place to base your search. We will assist you with your search for lucrative employment by matching you with an accounting clerk job that matches your skills. As one of the leading staffing companies, Spherion has connections with a wide range of businesses and organizations. The Spherion team offers numerous networking opportunities, so you can find the right office for your work style. Whether you prefer to work with a small family business or a major company, Spherion has options for you.
Working via Spherion offers you several advantages. For example:
- Being paid weekly
- Flexibility
- A contact person you always can fall back on and ask for help
- A lot of training opportunities
- A range of jobs in your area
- Personal contact to assist you with your job search
- Training opportunities for gaining more advanced Accounting Clerk skills
- Flexible scheduling options
- Quick and seamless interviewing process
What education do you need as an accounting clerk?
The minimum education requirements for one to become an accounting clerk is a high school diploma or a General Equivalency Diploma (GED). However, if you want to have better chances for advancement, then getting an associate degree in business or accounting would be a good idea. A bachelor's degree in a related field will make you move quickly to more senior positions. Though an Accounting Clerk might be considered an entry-level position, one can get certifications to help them gain better knowledge and advance in their career. The most popular certifications include:
- Certificate Tax Preparer – You need to have at least 18 credits from a certified university to take this exam and pass it. You are also required to complete ongoing education credits each year.
- Certified Public Bookkeeper (CPB) – You need to have an associate's or bachelor's degree in accounting, 2,000 hours of bookkeeping experience, and pass a four-part exam to achieve this.
- Certified Management Accountant (CMA) – You need to have a relevant bachelor's degree, pass a licensing exam, then keep abreast with continuing education credits.
Accounting clerk skills & competencies
Accounting clerks need several skills and competencies to help them carry out their job efficiently. These are besides the knowledge of basic accounting procedures and using accounting software such as QuickBooks etc. They need these skills to handle their daily responsibilities effectively and stand a chance in career advancement. Some of the skills that you will require to have include:
- Mathematical skills
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Time management skills
- Integrity
- Teamwork
- Interpersonal skills
- Critical thinking
- Learning
- Creativity
- Close attention to detail
- Leadership
- Strong computer skills
- Data management skills
- Customer service skills
FAQs
Working as an accounting clerk can be a fulfilling position for someone interested in working with numbers. Here are answers to frequently asked questions about becoming an accounting clerk.
-
What is the difference between a bookkeeper and an accounting clerk?
A bookkeeper may work as the main accountant of a small business, but an accounting clerk often works for larger organizations. An accounting clerk may be responsible for a specific type of account. This can be the accounts payable or accounts receivable etc. A bookkeeper is generally a higher-level position when it comes to a company setting.
-
Is the job of an accounting clerk professional?
The position of an accounting clerk is professional since you will be responsible for maintaining financial records, recording transactions, and running reports for professional organizations, among many other official tasks. Furthermore, to succeed as an accounting clerk, you will need advanced educational qualifications that will enable you to perform your duties efficiently.
-
Does a staff accountant have a higher rank than an accounting clerk?
Staff accountants have more credentials and are trained to handle more specific and higher-level tasks. While accounting clerks focus on activities like balance sheets, expense tracking, or budgeting, staff accountants complete larger projects like assisting with budget expansions and planning for larger purchases.
-
How do I apply for a job as an accounting clerk?
Applying for a job as an accounting clerk is easy with Spherion. You can search for accounting clerk jobs on Spherion.com by job title and location. If you don’t see the perfect role, you can submit an open application. Once you submit your contact information and resume through Spherion’s open application, a recruiter from the office closest to you will reach out with details about potential accounting clerk roles that fit your skill set and professional goals.
