What Does an Accounting Clerk Do?
Accounting clerks work in the financial department of a company or non-profit and ensure that all clerical work for proper accounting practices is being performed. A typical day’s work will include delivering paperwork and documents, running reports, talking to clients regarding finances, and updating records. Typically, accounting clerks have a fast-paced work environment and must be skilled in multitasking, prioritizing, and time management, while performing efficiently under pressure with extreme accuracy.
Due to the time-sensitivity and privacy of financial documents, they must be trustworthy and have excellent verbal and written communication skills. Accounting clerks are responsible for properly communicating with other employees and clients about deadlines and sensitive material contained in financial documents.
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National Average Salary
Accounting clerk salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. To explore salary ranges by local market, please visit our sister site zengig.com.
The average U.S. salary for an Accounting Clerk is:
$39,870
Accounting Clerk Job Descriptions
The first step in the search for an exceptional accounting clerk is a well-crafted job description. Below we have multiple real-world examples to get you started and set the foundation for attracting the exact talent your team needs.
Example 1
The Accounting Clerk position will report directly to the Controller and offers the right candidate a unique opportunity to be directly involved in the growth and success of ABC Company, with an opportunity for significant career growth.
Required qualifications
- 1-3 years of accounting experience
- A complete or comprehensive understanding of GAAP accounting practices and procedures
- Experience with NetSuite
- Excellent communication, time management skills, and attention to detail
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office
Preferred qualifications
- Experience with Avalara
- Experience with Gmail, Google Chat, Google Meets, Google docs/sheets
Responsibilities
- High volume A/R and A/P
- Verifying claims and processing refunds
- Purchase order verification
- Process high-volume invoices
- Billing and collections
- Collect and maintain sales tax exemption certificates
- Assist with customer credit application setup
- Supporting staff by performing any assigned accounting and clerical tasks
Example 2
The Accounting Clerk assists the Accounting Supervisor in all fiscal functions.
Responsibilities
- Verify the timely distribution of funds
- Post all cash expenses
- Verify the presence of receipts for purchases
- Post-related cash benefits
- Verify the accuracy of entries made by staff in the general ledger
- Prepare bank reconciliation on all bank accounts
- Prepare and post adjusting journal entries to record monthly bank fees and other charges
- Analyze GL income and expense accounts seeking out-of-the-ordinary transactions
- Generate cash requirement report to replenish In-House Cash account
- Conduct un-announced audit in coordination with the QA Department
- Conduct verification of purchases as part of the audit process
- Prepare audit report stating findings and recommendations
- Oversee the day-to-day AR process
- Perform other duties as assigned by supervisors and/or senior management
Minimum qualifications
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or 3 years experience in the field
- Computer knowledge in MS Excel, Word, and Salesforce
- Ability to work well in a fast-paced professional office environment
- Highly organized and strong attention to detail
Example 3
Overview of the role
- Deposit checks and cash received through a remote deposit or at the bank
- Record billing and credit card deposits in accounting software
- Reconcile Merchant Bank Account monthly for Controller review
- Process and send invoices and follow up on payment
- Run budget reports for distribution to budget managers monthly and as requested
- Act as the first point of contact in the business office
- Administrative duties
- Ad hoc projects
Preferred qualifications
- 2-3 years experience in accounting
- Experience in a school setting is preferred
- Concur software knowledge
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How to Hire an Accounting Clerk
Consider the following when hiring an accounting clerk:
- Recruiting: Do you have the internal resources and tools to source and recruit for this role successfully?
- Complexity: Do you need a senior professional, or will mid, or even junior-level skills suffice?
- Duration: Is this a one-time project, or an indefinite need?
- Management: Can you effectively direct the work effort?
- Urgency: Are there any deadlines associated with this need?
- Headcount: Do you have the budget and approval for an internal employee, or should you consider alternate options?
Answering these questions will help determine the best course of action for your current hiring need. Fortunately, various great options exist for every scenario, no matter how unique. For hiring an accounting clerk, we recommend the following options:
1. Use 4 Corner Resources (or another professional recruiting firm)
The heavy lifting is done for you when working with a top-tier staffing company like 4 Corner Resources. We source, screen, recruit, and deliver only the most qualified candidate(s), saving you significant time and effort throughout the hiring process while you remain focused on your core business. Understanding your needs and ensuring the right candidate for the position is the key to our success.
This is the best route to take when:
- You need to fill the position quickly
- You want access to a vast talent pool of high-quality, prescreened candidates
- Your position is suited for temporary hiring services, contract staffing, or contract-to-hire recruiting, and you intend to direct the work activity.
- You are hiring an employee as a direct placement but aren’t able to recruit effectively or efficiently with your internal staff.
- You aren’t familiar with current salary rates, market trends, and available skill sets
2. Advertise your opening on a top job board
Your best option may be to advertise your opening on a proven job board. There are many widely used job sites out there that draw visits from qualified candidates. If you have someone internally who can dedicate the time and energy to sort through applications and screen individuals effectively, this can be a great choice.
We recommend using a job board when:
- Your internal recruiting team has the knowledge and experience to assess candidate qualifications
- You are hiring a direct employee and have time to manage the entire recruiting effort
- You have a process for receiving, screening, and tracking all resumes and applications
- You are prepared to respond to all applicants
We recommend using CareerBuilder when hiring an accounting clerk:
CareerBuilder
CareerBuilder has been a trusted source for hiring since 1995. Reach 80+ million unique, diverse U.S. job seekers annually by posting your jobs through their talent acquisition channels. Through CareerBuilder, you can engage candidates and drive them into your sourcing pipeline. We recommend using CareerBuilder for hiring when you have the internal resources and processes to review, screen, and reply to all applicants.
3. Leverage your internal resources
You can utilize your own website, social media, and employees to assist in your search for top candidates.
A company website posting should be the first step in notifying prospective candidates that you are hiring. Social media can also be a powerful tool for spreading the word about your new opening. As far as exposure is concerned, this option can be as good as some job boards when you have a large enough following across various platforms, like LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter.
Current employees are every organization’s greatest asset. Encourage your internal team to promote job openings to their network by offering cash and other incentives.
We recommend these options when:
- Your brand has great name recognition
- You can consistently monitor and respond to candidate activity through your website and social media accounts
- You have a process in place to quickly and broadly communicate job openings and requirements
- You have an effective employee referral program in place
If you aren’t sure which path is best, schedule a discovery call today with our seasoned recruiting professionals. The 4 Corner team is on standby to help you find the best option for your unique hiring need.
Sample Interview Questions
- What are the accounting clerk’s duties in a company?
- What qualities do you believe make a good accounting clerk?
- Which accounting software programs have you used and which do you prefer to use?
- How do you protect the clients’ personal information? And what do you consider confidential information?
- There are times when you will be required to meet multiple deadlines for different clients. How do you handle those situations?
- What would your goals be here at [Your Company Name]?
- We want to ensure minimal errors in our reports. How do you ensure data accuracy?
- Do you have any certifications related to accounting?
- Are you familiar with ERP systems?
- What is reconciliation in accounting?