What An Accounting Clerk Is – And Why You May Need One.

Ah, finances and its … bookkeepers? Accountants? CPAs? They all sound relatively the same and all share an industry that involves money and numbers, so they’re all the same, right?

Wrong. Well, kinda. Sorta.

Not every bookkeeper is an accountant – though every accountant is technically qualified to be a bookkeeper – and while both need to be sticklers for accuracy and knowledgeable about key financial topics, the main difference between a bookkeeper and an accountant is that an accountant has a bachelor’s degree in accounting or similar.

Clear as mud, right? Right.

Well, hold onto your hats because we’re throwing another math-master name in the ring: Accounting Clerk.

But before you throw up your hands and resign yourself to never knowing who’s who and what’s what, here, we’ll break down what an accounting clerk is and why you may actually need one – like, yesterday.

What Is An Accounting Clerk?

Accounting Clerks are financial professionals who are data-entry wizards that assist with accounts payable, accounts receivable or any other transactional processes that support the bookkeeping cycle.

They organize documents and apply incoming and outgoing payments to the proper accounts while maintaining a high level of efficiency and accuracy.

What Does An Accounting Clerk Do?

Accounts Receivable

• Prepare and issue invoices
• Process ACH/credit card transactions
• Identify delinquent accounts and insufficient payments
• Reconcile deposits, transactions, and bank statements
• Resolve discrepancies in customer accounts
• Provide the weekly aging report to the client
• Maintain up-to-date accounts receivable records
• Reconcile customer balances

Accounts Payable

• Enter all vendor bills and expenses into the accounting software
• Process bill payments through a 3rd-party bill pay system, like bill.com
• Review, code and process vendor bills
• Maintain vendor database and vendor balances
• Verify W9 completion
• Review expense reports and investigate any issues
• Reconcile and review credit card statements
• Reconcile accounts payable sub-ledgers

Who Could Use An Accounting Clerk?

If you think you or someone you know could use an accounting clerk, ask yourself …

• Do you need someone to complete all data entry on bills received so that they are ready to be paid on time?
• Do you need someone to track and reconcile credit card expenses?
• Do you need someone to gather information such as timesheets, subscription charges, travel receipts or any other reimbursable expenses?
• Do you need someone to match payments to invoices and mark them paid?
• Does your accounting department need help with entering month-end journal entries or other duties to close the books faster?
• If you – or someone you know – can answer ‘yes’ to any of the above questions, you could likely use the help of an Accounting Clerk.

Put An Experienced Financial Professional In Your Corner.

Finances don’t have to be overwhelming. But we understand why they feel that way.

It’s time to get help.

Maybe a CPA isn’t who you need. Neither is a bookkeeper. Like Goldilocks, you need a service that’s just right for you, your needs and your growing organization — and that's exactly how BELAY’s remote Accounting Clerk services can help.

With a remote Accounting Clerk, you get help with AP, AR, credit card reconciliation – everything you need and nothing you don’t.

Your finances are not the place to be experimenting and hoping for the best. Learn more about how one of BELAY’s remote Accounting Clerks can help you today.