Annual Salary: $28,500-$38,000
Accounting Clerk Job Description
In many ways an accounting clerk’s job description is the same as a bookkeeper’s job description. Many companies use accounting clerk and bookkeeper interchangeably. Both jobs consist of recording transactions for the company in its accounting system. Generally, accounting clerks have a more specific area of transactions than bookkeepers. Bookkeepers tend to record all company transactions; where as, an accounting clerk may only deal with payroll transactions or purchasing transactions.
Educational Requirements
As with bookkeepers, accounting clerks or accounting operators are generally required to have some accounting and computer knowledge. As 99.9% of companies use computerized accounting systems, it is important to know how to use popular accounting software like Quickbooks, Quicken, MYOB, and others. Most small companies do not require bookkeepers to have a formal accounting education. If you are aiming for a job in a larger company, you may be expected to have a two-year degree or associate’s degree in accounting or finance. Most bookkeepers receive most of their training on the job since all businesses operate differently.
Accounting Clerk Employers
Due to the more narrow focused view of an accounting clerk’s job description, small companies tend to hire bookkeepers rather than accounting clerks. Most small companies can’t afford to have multiple people record transactions. Mid-sized to large companies with internal accounting departments typically hire accounting clerks. Businesses in all industries including retail, manufacturing, or service-based businesses like law firms, and chiropractic and dental offices hire accounting clerks.
