An accounts receivable clerk performs a variety of tasks that fall under the categories of finance, administration and clerical. Simply put, accounts receivable clerk ensures that the company receives payment for their goods or services provided to customers. Tasks include processing incoming payments to the correct accounts, and issuing and at times following up on invoices to customers. Finally, they may be a point of contact for customers who have issues or discrepancies in their bills. The work of an accounts receivable clerk is important to ensuring a company keeps its finances in order.
Accounts receivable clerks are often found working in an office setting. Depending on the size of the company you may be part of a larger team, or the only accounts receivable clerk. You can expect to spend a good portion of your day interacting with others, which may include in-person or over the phone. You will also spend time working on a computer, often entering data. Most accounts receivable clerks work typical Monday through Friday 9 to 5 work weeks, with occasional over time required. There may be possibilities for remote work.
There are many pros of a role as an accounts receivable clerk. You will have an opportunity to work in essentially any industry that is of interest. It’s also a role with a lot of growth potential to move to other roles or areas of the business. Finally, you will spend a lot of your time interacting with others, which many people enjoy.
Some cons of a role as an accounts receivable clerk include that you may find the work repetitive over time and that many accounts receivable clerks have to spend time following up on overdue invoices, which some may find stressful.
Because an accounts receivable clerk obtains so many soft skills in their role (such as customer service, data entry, working as part of a team, good communication), the role has a lot of potential to lead to other career paths. Many people choose to remain in the field of finance and move into roles such as staff accountant, or accounts receivable specialist. Others find more interest in more administrative roles, such as an administrative assistant or office manager.
Other jobs you might be interested in that are similar to accounts receivable clerk include:
An accounts receivable clerk can expect to earn an average salary of up to $50,000 annually. This will be dependent on the industry you work in, or your years of experience. Here is a more detailed salary breakdown:
annual: $50,000
monthly: $4,167
weekly: $1,042
hourly: $26.04
Top paying areas for accounts receivable clerks in Canada include: Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary.
An accounts receivable clerk is responsible for multiple tasks including:
An accounts receivable clerk can find work in a variety of industries. Some of which may include: healthcare, consumer goods, trades, and hospitality.
Employers are looking for accounts receivable clerks with the following skills and knowledge:
Employers typically ask for accounts receivable clerks who have a degree in a related field, such as accounting or finance. However, some employers may be willing to hire those who have relevant experience only. Any additional training that is relevant or past work in accounting will be considered an asset.