This Accounts Receivable Clerk job description template can be posted to online job boards and career pages to attract qualified candidates. The Accounts Receivable Clerk job description, responsibilities, and requirements listed here can be modified based on your company’s needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Generate and send invoices to customers
• Track incoming payments and update records
• Follow up on outstanding balances
• Reconcile accounts receivable transactions
• Maintain accurate financial documentation

Job Statement

We are hiring a reliable Accounts Receivable Clerk to manage incoming payments and ensure accurate recording of financial transactions. This role is important for maintaining steady cash flow and keeping customer accounts up to date.

What does an Accounts Receivable Clerk do?

An Accounts Receivable Clerk is responsible for collecting payments from clients and recording them correctly. You will issue invoices, monitor payment timelines, and follow up when payments are overdue.

You will also work with internal teams and customers to resolve billing issues. Clear communication helps avoid delays and keeps relationships strong.

Day to day accounts receivable job duties center on customer payments, invoicing, and collections. To do well in this role, you need strong attention to detail and a basic understanding of accounting processes. You should be comfortable working with numbers and handling repetitive financial tasks.

Job Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate or bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field preferred
• Previous experience in accounts receivable or a similar role
• Familiarity with accounting software such as QuickBooks or SAP
• Proficiency in MS Excel including basic formulas
• Strong understanding of accounting principles
• Good attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to manage deadlines and prioritize tasks
• Strong communication and follow-up skills
• Ability to handle confidential financial data

Job Responsibilities

• Prepare and send invoices to customers
• Monitor accounts to identify outstanding payments
• Follow up with clients on overdue invoices
• Record and reconcile incoming payments
• Resolve billing discrepancies and disputes
• Maintain updated records of all receivable transactions
• Assist in preparing financial and aging reports
• Support audits by providing necessary documentation
• Work closely with sales and finance teams
• Ensure compliance with company policies and accounting standards

Accounts receivable job duties: daily, monthly, and year end

Accounts receivable job duties follow a rhythm. Some tasks happen every day, some at month end, and a few only once a year. Listing them this way in your posting tells candidates exactly what the job looks like.

Daily duties

• Create and send invoices as orders ship or services are delivered
• Record customer payments received by check, card, ACH, or wire, and apply them to the right invoices
• Match unapplied cash to open invoices and contact customers when a payment is unclear
• Answer customer questions about statements, credits, and due dates

Weekly and monthly duties

• Run and review the accounts receivable aging report
• Send reminders and make collection calls on overdue balances
• Issue credit memos and process approved write offs
• Reconcile the receivables subledger to the general ledger
• Support month end and year end close by preparing AR schedules and accrual details

Year end and audit duties

• Pull invoices, remittances, and confirmations for auditors
• Help review customer credit limits and payment terms
• Archive records according to the company retention policy

Skills that predict success as an accounts receivable clerk

Degrees and job titles say little about how someone handles a stack of unapplied payments. Look for these skills instead:

• Attention to detail and accuracy: one transposed digit can misapply a payment and trigger a needless collection call
• Problem solving and analytical skills: tracing a short payment, a duplicate invoice, or a disputed charge back to its cause
• Customer communication: asking for money firmly while keeping the relationship intact
• Software skills: working in ERP or accounting systems and building simple Excel reconciliations
• Discretion: handling payment and banking details with care

How to screen accounts receivable clerk candidates

Ask candidates to do the work, not describe it. A short, job relevant exercise works well: give them a list of open invoices and a batch of customer payments, and ask them to apply the cash and flag anything that does not match. Add a short writing task, such as a polite reminder email to a customer who is 45 days past due.

A skills assessment such as Glider AI skill tests lets you run this check before the first interview, so recruiters spend interview time only with candidates who can already do the core tasks.

Accounts receivable clerk FAQs

Why hire an Accounts Receivable Clerk?

An Accounts Receivable Clerk helps ensure that your business gets paid on time. This directly impacts cash flow and overall financial health.

They also keep customer accounts organized and reduce the risk of unpaid invoices. With proper follow-up and accurate records, businesses can avoid delays and maintain strong client relationships.