Accounts Clerk
SOC 43-3031.00 · ESCO 4311 · OSCA 541131
Role snapshot
Overview
An Accounts Clerk is responsible for maintaining accurate financial records by processing transactions, reconciling accounts, and assisting with various accounting tasks. This role involves managing invoices, receipts, and payments, reconciling bank statements, maintaining general ledgers, and providing support for month-end and year-end reporting. They ensure financial data integrity and compliance with established procedures.
Ensures the accuracy and integrity of an organization's financial data, providing reliable information for decision-making and compliance.
On the job
- Process accounts payable and receivable, ensuring timely and accurate recording of transactions.
- Reconcile bank statements, credit card statements, and other financial accounts.
- Maintain general ledgers by posting journal entries and verifying balances.
- Prepare and process invoices, expense reports, and payment requests.
- Assist with month-end and year-end closing procedures and financial reporting.
Tools & technology
Average salary
Job outlook
StableDemand is steady. This is an established role with consistent hiring across sectors.
Education & training
A certificate or diploma in accounting, bookkeeping, or a related business field is often preferred. Some roles may require an associate's degree.
AI impact outlook
Note — this is our current view. AI is moving fast, so we revisit these ratings.
Show how this was assessed Hide the detail
Note — this is our current view. AI is moving fast, so we revisit these ratings.
Show how this was assessed Hide the detailWhy this role received this rating
Core task exposure
high
How much of the role’s important work could AI perform?
Processing accounts payable/receivable, reconciling, and posting journal entries are highly repetitive and rule-based tasks.
End-to-end automation
high
Can AI complete the work without substantial human involvement?
AI can complete entire workflows for invoice processing, payment reconciliation, and general ledger updates with minimal human intervention.
Adoption pressure
high
How likely are employers to introduce AI into this work?
There is extremely high employer incentive to automate these highly transactional tasks for efficiency and cost reduction.
Human dependence
low
How much does success depend on human judgement, relationships and accountability?
Success relies heavily on accurate execution of defined procedures, with minimal requirement for independent judgment or relationship building.
Protective — a higher rating lowers the overall score.
Role adaptability
low
How easily can the role evolve as AI takes on more tasks?
The role's core functions are largely transactional, offering limited scope for reshaping without significant upskilling into broader accounting roles.
Shown for context — not part of the score.
What AI may take on
These are the parts of the role most likely to be automated or significantly accelerated.
- Process accounts payable and receivable transactions
- Reconcile bank statements and credit card statements
- Post routine journal entries to maintain general ledgers
- Prepare and process standard invoices and payment requests
Where people remain essential
These parts continue to depend heavily on human judgement, relationships and accountability.
- Verify accuracy and integrity of automated data inputs
- Investigate and resolve complex discrepancies or errors
- Communicate with vendors/customers regarding payment issues
- Assist with non-standard month-end closing procedures
- Adapt to new accounting software and system changes
How the role may evolve
Less data entry, more exception handling and data verification.
The role will increasingly focus on overseeing automated processes, identifying and resolving anomalies, and ensuring the accuracy and compliance of financial records.
Strengthen your future fit
- Develop strong analytical skills for discrepancy resolution
- Gain proficiency in advanced accounting software and AI tools
- Enhance communication skills for internal and external queries
- Understand data integrity and compliance principles
- Cultivate a proactive approach to process improvement
- Assessment horizon
- 3–7 years
- Confidence
- Medium
- Last reviewed
- August 2026
- Methodology
- v1.0
This assessment reflects current AI capabilities and expected adoption patterns. Actual impacts will vary by industry, employer and the way each role is performed.
Career pathways
WHERE YOU COULD GO
CURRENT ROLE
Accounts Clerk
Accounting & Audit
ADJACENT MOVES
STARTING POINTS
Who thrives here
Interest profile
conventional · CEI
People who enjoy working with detailed financial data, following established procedures, and ensuring accuracy in record-keeping tend to thrive in this role.
Personality characteristics
Organized
Thrives on structured tasks and maintaining clear, well-ordered financial records.
Conscientious
Committed to accuracy and meticulous in handling financial data and adhering to procedures.
Cooperative
Works effectively with colleagues and other departments to resolve discrepancies and share information.
Calm under pressure
Manages deadlines and financial reconciliations without becoming easily flustered.
Practical
Prefers established methods and clear guidelines for managing financial operations rather than seeking novel approaches.
Best for
- Individuals who enjoy working with numbers and ensuring precision.
- Those who prefer a structured environment with clear guidelines and established procedures.
- People who derive satisfaction from maintaining organized and accurate financial systems.
Watch out for
- High volume of repetitive data entry tasks can be a significant part of the role.
- Pressure to meet strict deadlines for financial reporting and month-end closing.
A week in the life
A representative working week for an Accounts Clerk — where the deep work, meetings, and admin actually land.
Real people. Real results.
Thousands of people
can't be wrong.
Frequently asked questions about Accounts Clerk roles
What does an Accounts Clerk do?
An Accounts Clerk an Accounts Clerk is responsible for maintaining accurate financial records by processing transactions, reconciling accounts, and assisting with various accounting tasks. This role involves managing invoices, receipts, and payments, reconciling bank statements, maintaining general ledgers, and providing support for month-end and year-end reporting. They ensure financial data integrity and compliance with established procedures. Ensures the accuracy and integrity of an organization's financial data, providing reliable information for decision-making and compliance.
How much does an Accounts Clerk earn?
An Accounts Clerk earns a median of $45,000 per year in the US, typically ranging from $35,000 to $55,000.
What qualifications do you need to become an Accounts Clerk?
To become an Accounts Clerk, a certificate or diploma in accounting, bookkeeping, or a related business field is often preferred. Some roles may require an associate's degree.
What personality suits an Accounts Clerk?
Accounts Clerk roles tend to suit people who are highly conscientious — precise, organised and strong on follow-through (Conscientiousness 88/100) and steady under pressure — deadlines and setbacks do not rattle them easily (Emotional Stability 75/100). The traits that matter most in the role are Organized, Conscientious, Cooperative and Calm under pressure. Thrives on structured tasks and maintaining clear, well-ordered financial records. On interests, Accounts Clerk maps to a CEI Holland Code profile — people who enjoy working with detailed financial data, following established procedures, and ensuring accuracy in record-keeping tend to thrive in this role.
Who does an Accounts Clerk role suit?
An Accounts Clerk role is usually a strong fit for these reasons. Strong Conventional alignment: the role requires adherence to rules and systematic data management. Focus on accuracy and meticulous record-keeping is central to daily tasks. Provides a clear, structured work environment with predictable tasks.
What are the downsides of being an Accounts Clerk?
Accounts Clerk roles come with trade-offs worth weighing up. High volume of repetitive data entry tasks can be a significant part of the role. Pressure to meet strict deadlines for financial reporting and month-end closing.
What is the work environment like for an Accounts Clerk?
Work as an Accounts Clerk is mostly office-based with onsite arrangements common, highly structured, with set processes and deadlines, a moderate pace and low exposure to clients or stakeholders. Around 90% of the week is focused deep work.
What skills do you need to be an Accounts Clerk?
Core skills for an Accounts Clerk include Bookkeeping, Data entry, Financial record keeping, Bank reconciliation and Accounts payable/receivable.
How do you become an Accounts Clerk?
Common entry routes into Accounts Clerk roles include Administrative Assistant, Data Entry Clerk and Office Assistant.
What career progression is there for an Accounts Clerk?
From an Accounts Clerk role, common next steps include Accountant and Bookkeeper; lateral moves include Payroll Clerk.
What is the job outlook for Accounts Clerk roles?
The outlook for Accounts Clerk roles is currently rated stable. Demand is steady. This is an established role with consistent hiring across sectors.
Will AI replace Accounts Clerk roles?
Traitstack rates automation risk for Accounts Clerk roles at 87 out of 100, which is strong. Most transactional processing is now within AI's reach, while human clerks ensure data integrity and assist with complex exceptions. AI is most likely to take on process accounts payable and receivable transactions, reconcile bank statements and credit card statements and post routine journal entries to maintain general ledgers. Verify accuracy and integrity of automated data inputs, investigate and resolve complex discrepancies or errors and communicate with vendors/customers regarding payment issues stay with people. Less data entry, more exception handling and data verification. That score measures how much of the work could change, not the likelihood the job disappears. It is Traitstack's current view, revisited as AI capability moves.