What Does an Accounts Receivable Clerk Do?
Accounts receivable clerks play a vital role in assuring their organization’s bottom line, and in helping manage and process incoming payments to their company from customers and clients.
People in this role need to be detail and number oriented as well as have strong time management and communication skills.
This critical role is essential in balancing everything out for the company, tracking budgets, monitoring incoming credit accounts, and securing payments from debtors.
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National Average Salary
Accounts receivable 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 Accounts Receivable Clerk is:
$41,100
Accounts Receivable Clerk Job Descriptions
Creating the perfect job description is crucial when seeking an accounts receivable clerk. To aid in this process, we’ve gathered real-world examples that serve as valuable templates, giving you the best chance to attract top finance talent to your team.
Example 1
The accounts receivable clerk is responsible for maintaining the accuracy of the company’s accounts receivable records. They will ensure that all payments are entered and documented correctly, and will work with customers and management to resolve any billing issues. The accounts receivable clerk is also responsible for various tasks related to the billing cycle. These include resolving discrepancies between invoices and payment receipts, preparing invoices and other billing documents, and maintaining accurate customer records. They must also be able to effectively communicate with customers and management in order to resolve any billing issues. The ideal candidate for this position has excellent customer service skills, is proficient in computer usage, and has at least one year of experience in an accounts receivable role.
Typical duties and responsibilities
- Process incoming payments in compliance with financial policies and procedures
- Reconcile the accounts receivable ledger to ensure that all payments are accounted for and correctly posted
- Generate financial statements and reports detailing the accounts receivable status
- Audit ledgers to ensure they contain the correct information, such as billing addresses and invoice numbers
- Initiate collections on past-due accounts
- Communicate with clients about billing discrepancies and questions
Education and experience
- This position requires a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related discipline
Required skills and qualifications
- Solid understanding of accounting, fair credit practices, and collection regulation
- Proven ability to calculate, post and manage accounting figures and financial records
- Proficient in Microsoft Office and accounting software
- Data entry skills along with a knack for numbers
- A high degree of accuracy and attention to detail
- Excellent communication and problem-solving skills
Preferred qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting
- Minimum one year of experience in accounts receivable
- Exceptional customer service skills
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
- Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite
- Knowledge of accounts receivable software
Example 2
Responsibilities
- Ensure that the processing of all invoices is completed properly
- Process checks for payment of all invoices as necessary
- Process checks manually in an emergency situation
- Maintain complete and accurate files in order to handle vendor inquiries
- Reconcile vendor statements and solve any discrepancies
- Coordinate and analyze the general ledger with the Assistant Director of Finance
- Reconcile daily invoices
- Month-end accrual preparation
- Check re-bill process
- Copies of all invoices forwarded to AR for billing
Qualifications
- Previous Accounting experience is preferred
- Strong Excel skills required
- Good verbal/written communication skills
- Attention to detail and excellent organizational skills
- Maintain a professional business appearance, attitude, and performance
- Must be able to work a variety of shifts, including weekends and holidays
Example 3
Duties and responsibilities
- Maintaining the billing system
- Generating invoices and account statements
- Performing account reconciliations
- Maintaining accounts receivable files and records
- Producing monthly financial and management reports
- Investigating and resolving any irregularities or inquiries
- Assisting in general financial management and analysis
- An ability to prioritize and manage expectations
- A keen eye for detail
- An ability to work independently
- The ability to communicate articulately and efficiently with other people within the company
Requirements
- Proven working experience as Accounts Receivable Clerk, Accounts Receivable Manager, or Accountant
- Solid understanding of basic accounting principles, fair credit practices, and collection regulations
- Proven ability to calculate, post, and manage accounting figures and financial records
- Data entry skills along with a knack for numbers
- Hands-on experience in operating spreadsheets and Billing Programs (Quickbooks, Open Invoice, Coupa, Taulia, Ariba)
- Proficiency in English and in MS Office
- Customer service orientation and negotiation skills
- A high degree of accuracy and attention to detail
Example 4
Position overview
The Accounts Receivable Clerk will be doing high-volume data entry. Communication is incredibly important when working with this Accounting team and requires organization, attention to detail, and being team-oriented! This would be a great entry-level role for a recent college graduate!
Responsibilities
- Matching invoices to purchase orders of vouchers
- Performing data entry
- Assisting with the process of accounts payable and accounts receivable
Qualifications
- 0 – 1 year of experience
- Data entry skills
- Familiarity with accounts receivable
- Familiarity with accounts payable
- Proficient in Excel
- Time management skills
- Well organized and a multitasker
Education requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Accounting (or similar) is required
Candidate Certification to Look For
The Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
The CPA designation identifies accounting professionals who meet eligibility requirements, including passing a rigorous examination. CPAs are licensed to provide assurance services, such as audits and reviews, as well as other services.
How to Hire an Accounts Receivable Clerk
Consider the following when hiring an accounts receivable 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 accounts receivable 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 accounts receivable 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
- How do you handle billing disputes?
- What are some of the common accounting principles that you are familiar with?
- Describe your experience in an accounts receivable role.
- What accounting software programs are you confident using?
- What are some of the common mistakes you see customers making?
- How do you ensure you are accurate when entering client information into an accounting system?
- What do you think is the most important attribute for someone in this role?
- How would you describe your customer service style?
- What is the most difficult customer interaction you have had?
- What do you find most challenging in this role?
- Why did you choose to pursue a career in accounts receivable?