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What Does an Accounting Clerk Do? A Complete Guide to Roles, Salaries, and Hiring

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Accounting clerks collaborating in finance department reviewing invoices and financial data on computer monitors in professional office workspace

Executive Summary

What does an accounting clerk do? These professionals form the operational backbone of finance departments across every industry, managing daily financial transactions, processing accounts payable and receivable, reconciling bank statements, and maintaining the accurate records that executives rely on for decision-making.

With a median accounting clerk salary of $49,210 and approximately 170,000 annual accounting clerk job openings expected through 2034, these professionals remain in steady demand. The best accounting clerk candidates combine technical proficiency in accounting software with exceptional attention to detail, strong communication skills, and adaptability.

For hiring managers, finding quality accounting clerks has become increasingly challenging. Top candidates receive multiple offers within days, making speed essential. This guide covers what accounting clerks do, including accounting clerk duties and responsibilities, required skills, competitive accounting clerk pay rates, and proven hiring strategies.


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Understanding what accounting clerks do helps you make better hiring decisions and build stronger finance teams. This guide covers accounting clerk responsibilities, required skills, salary ranges, and hiring strategies for finance leaders.

     

What Is an Accounting Clerk?

An accounting clerk is a financial professional who manages routine bookkeeping and administrative tasks within an organization. The primary accounting clerk job involves maintaining accurate financial records and supporting the broader accounting department. Most work in office settings, though remote opportunities have increased.

What do accounting clerks do differently from other finance roles? Bookkeepers focus more on analysis and interpreting financial data. Accountants need at least a bachelor’s degree and handle complex financial analysis. In contrast, accounting clerks concentrate on processing transactions, organizing records, and ensuring data accuracy.

You’ll find accounting clerk jobs across virtually every industry. Corporate offices, healthcare facilities, manufacturing plants, retail operations, and government agencies all rely on these professionals who typically report to senior accountants or accounting managers.

     

What Does an Accounting Clerk Do? Core Duties and Daily Tasks

What does an accounting clerk do on a typical workday? The specific accounting clerk duties vary by company size and industry, but most share common accounting clerk responsibilities.

Financial Transaction Management Tasks

Accounting clerks record and process numerous financial transactions daily. These accounting clerk tasks include entering data into accounting software systems and general ledgers. They maintain organized filing systems that make retrieving documents quick and easy. Accuracy matters tremendously, as even small errors can create significant problems.

Accounts Payable Duties

Managing what your company owes represents a critical accounting clerk responsibility. These professionals process vendor invoices and match them to purchase orders. They prepare and issue checks, ACH transfers, and wire transfers. Additionally, accounting clerks maintain vendor records while reconciling accounts payable statements monthly.

Accounts Receivable Responsibilities

Accounting clerk duties include handling incoming money. They prepare and send customer invoices according to agreed-upon terms. Recording incoming payments and deposits happens daily. When accounts become overdue, accounting clerks follow up with customers professionally and reconcile accounts to resolve discrepancies.

Bank Reconciliation Tasks

What do accounting clerks do during reconciliation? They compare bank statements to general ledger entries to catch errors early. Accounting clerks identify and investigate discrepancies, then record bank fees, interest payments, and other adjustments. This ensures your cash balances remain accurate.

Financial Reporting Support

During month-end and year-end closing, accounting clerks provide vital assistance. Their responsibilities include preparing financial summaries and reports for management review. They compile data that senior accountants need for deeper analysis, enabling timely, accurate financial statements.

Payroll and Administrative Tasks

Some accounting clerk jobs specialize in payroll functions, processing timesheets, calculating wages and taxes, and maintaining compliance documentation. Beyond number-crunching, accounting clerk duties encompass communication responsibilities like responding to vendor inquiries, maintaining confidentiality of sensitive information, and supporting audits.

Professional accounting clerk reviewing financial reports while working on QuickBooks software at modern office desk with dual monitors

 

 

Essential Skills and Qualifications for Accounting Clerk Jobs

Success in accounting clerk jobs requires technical abilities and personal qualities. Understanding these requirements helps you identify the strongest candidates.

Technical Skills for Accounting Clerk Positions

Proficiency in accounting software stands as the most important technical requirement. QuickBooks, Sage, Xero, and NetSuite represent common platforms accounting clerks must master. Advanced Microsoft Excel capabilities prove essential for managing financial data. Understanding basic accounting principles like debits, credits, and double-entry bookkeeping creates a strong foundation.

Soft Skills That Make the Difference

Exceptional attention to detail prevents costly errors in financial records. Strong organizational abilities help clerks manage multiple tasks and deadlines simultaneously. Excellent communication skills enable them to explain financial information clearly. Problem-solving skills help accounting clerks identify and resolve discrepancies independently. Integrity and adaptability to new software ensure they remain valuable as technology evolves.

Educational Background and Certifications

Most entry-level accounting clerk jobs require at minimum a high school diploma or GED. However, many employers prefer candidates with an associate’s degree in accounting, finance, or business. A bachelor’s degree provides more opportunities for career advancement. Certifications like Certified Bookkeeper, Certified Public Bookkeeper, and QuickBooks Certification demonstrate commitment to professional development.

 

 

Accounting Clerk Salary: How Much Does an Accounting Clerk Make in 2026?

Understanding accounting clerk pay rates ensures your offers align with candidate expectations and help you attract quality talent.

National Accounting Clerk Salary Overview

How much does an accounting clerk make? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual accounting clerk salary was $49,210 as of May 2024. The typical salary range spans from $34,600 to $72,660. The accounting clerk pay rate averages between $20 and $24 per hour.

Factors That Influence Accounting Clerk Salaries

Experience level significantly impacts compensation. Entry-level professionals with zero to two years of experience start at the lower end of the accounting clerk salary range. Mid-level clerks with three to five years earn around the median, often with bonuses. Those with five or more years, especially with specialized skills, command higher accounting clerk pay rates.

Geographic location plays a major role. Metropolitan areas typically require 20 to 30 percent higher salaries than smaller markets. Industry variation affects accounting clerk salaries too. Finance and insurance sectors offer higher compensation, while professional and technical services provide above-average pay. Specialization, particularly in payroll or tax, can justify premium rates.

Beyond base salary, many organizations offer performance bonuses, overtime pay during busy periods, and comprehensive benefits including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.

 

 

Understanding Career Progression for Strategic Hiring

Knowing typical career paths helps you hire accounting clerk candidates with growth potential and develop retention strategies.

Most professionals begin in entry-level accounting clerk jobs. After two to three years, advancement to senior accounting clerk or junior accountant becomes possible. With four to six years of experience, many move into staff accountant roles. By seven to ten years, professionals reach senior accountant or accounting manager positions. Beyond ten years, with additional education, controller or CFO roles become attainable.

Many accounting clerks pursue bachelor’s degrees while working full-time or work toward CPA certification. Supporting these educational goals through tuition reimbursement programs improves retention. Notably, many successful CFOs began their careers in accounting clerk jobs.

 

 

The Accounting Clerk Job Market: Demand and Outlook for 2026

Understanding market conditions helps you set realistic hiring timelines for accounting clerk positions.

Currently, approximately 1.67 million accounting and financial clerks work across the United States. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects approximately 170,000 annual accounting clerk job openings through 2034. Despite a projected 6 percent decline in overall positions due to automation, accounting clerk jobs remain strong due to replacement needs as professionals retire and business expansion continues.

Technology’s role in accounting clerk jobs continues evolving. Automation handles basic data entry, so employers seek accounting clerk candidates with stronger analytical and problem-solving skills. The role shifts toward advisory functions requiring human judgment, making tech-savviness critical.

Professional and technical services, healthcare organizations, manufacturing companies, and government agencies show particularly strong demand for accounting clerk jobs.

Hiring manager conducting job interview with accounting clerk candidate in modern conference room discussing qualifications and experience

 

 

 

Tips for Hiring Managers: What to Look for in Accounting Clerk Candidates

Finding the right accounting clerk requires looking beyond resume credentials.

Beyond the Resume

Technical skills represent the baseline, not the distinguishing factor. Look for demonstrated accuracy and attention to detail in previous accounting clerk jobs. Problem-solving examples reveal how candidates think. The ability to learn software quickly matters more than mastering any single platform. Industry-specific experience gives accounting clerk candidates a head start.

Red Flags to Watch For

Frequent job hopping without career progression suggests reliability issues. Vague descriptions of past accounting clerk responsibilities indicate limited experience. Inability to explain basic accounting concepts reveals knowledge gaps. Poor communication skills or asking no questions about the accounting clerk job may indicate lack of genuine interest.

Interview Questions That Reveal Quality Accounting Clerk Candidates

Ask candidates to describe catching an error others missed, revealing attention to detail. Inquire how they prioritize multiple deadlines to assess organizational skills. Request they walk through their reconciliation process to demonstrate technical knowledge. Ask about software comfort and learning speed to gauge adaptability.

The Importance of Speed in Hiring

The best accounting clerk candidates receive multiple offers within days. Lengthy processes lose quality candidates to faster competitors. Understaffed finance departments face delayed invoicing, stretched closing timelines, declining accuracy rates, and reduced senior staff productivity.

When to Consider Professional Recruiting Help

Consider expert assistance when your HR team is stretched thin, you need someone starting within one to two weeks, previous accounting clerk hires didn’t work out, you lack a strong candidate pipeline, or you need specialized expertise.

 

 

 

Finding the Right Accounting Clerk for Your Business

Recruiting quality accounting clerks quickly has become increasingly challenging. The best candidates for accounting clerk jobs disappear within days, while sorting through unqualified applicants wastes valuable time.

VALiNTRY has spent over a decade specializing in finance and IT recruitment. We understand what separates good accounting clerks from great ones and know how to find them fast.

Our approach focuses on your specific needs. We understand your company culture, existing systems, and unique requirements. Then we tap into our extensive network of pre-vetted accounting professionals already screened for technical competency and professional reliability. Typically, we provide quality accounting clerk candidates within 48 hours.

Whether you need temporary coverage, a temp-to-hire arrangement, or a direct hire for a permanent position, we can help you fill your accounting clerk jobs without typical recruiting headaches.

Ready to find an accounting clerk who can hit the ground running? Contact VALiNTRY today to discuss your hiring needs. Let us handle the recruiting while you focus on running your business.

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