What is the primary role of an accounts receivable clerk?

The primary role of an accounts receivable clerk revolves around managing customer invoices and payments. This includes generating invoices for sales or services rendered, ensuring they are accurate and sent out promptly to customers, and monitoring the payments received against those invoices. The clerk is also responsible for updating customer accounts to reflect payments, managing overdue accounts, and following up with customers regarding outstanding invoices. This function is crucial for maintaining the cash flow of the company, as it ensures that revenue is collected in a timely manner, thus supporting the overall financial health of the organization.

While handling customer inquiries is an important aspect of maintaining customer relationships and ensuring satisfaction, it is not the core responsibility of an accounts receivable clerk. Similarly, managing payroll processing and conducting market research are roles associated with other departments, such as human resources and marketing, respectively, and fall outside the typical duties of accounts receivable.