A restoration bookkeeper posts claim payments, bills homeowners for what they owe, pays vendors and subs, and balances the books each month. Insurers often pay a job in pieces. The bookkeeper tracks what each claim still owes, from checks held by a mortgage company to depreciation paid at the end.
By the HireBus team · Updated · Pay data: BLS, May 2025
Responsible for processing claims payments, reconciling accounts, and managing AR/AP to ensure financial accuracy and support restoration project success. Plays a critical role in maintaining financial integrity and ensuring timely payment processing, contributing to seamless operations and customer satisfaction.
2. Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Process claims payments accurately and efficiently.
Reconcile daily, monthly, and yearly financial transactions across various accounts.
Manage accounts receivable and accounts payable with precision.
Prepare financial reports and assist in budget tracking for restoration projects.
3. Key Tasks / Daily Activities
Daily review and posting of claims payments and invoices.
Regular reconciliation of bank statements and general ledger accounts.
Manage vendor payments and follow up on outstanding customer invoices.
Communicate with colleagues and vendors regarding payment discrepancies and resolution.
4. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Claims Processing Accuracy: 99% accuracy in claims payments processed.
Reconciliation Timeliness: Complete monthly account reconciliations within 5 business days.
AR Turnover: Achieve an AR collection rate of 95% within 30 days.
AP Processing Efficiency: Process all vendor invoices with a turnaround time of less than 7 days.
5. Required Qualifications and Skills
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field or equivalent work experience.
A minimum of 3 years’ experience in bookkeeping with a focus on AR/AP management.
Proficiency with accounting software and Microsoft Office Suite.
Strong attention to detail and excellent organizational skills.
6. Preferred Experience
Experience working in the restoration or home services industry.
Familiarity with industry-specific software and claims processing systems.
Previous role involving multi-account reconciliation and vendor management.
Exposure to project-based financial tracking and reporting.
7. Physical Requirements
Ability to sit for extended periods while working on a computer.
Moderate lifting ability (up to 20 lbs) for handling paperwork and documents.
Adequate vision to manage detailed financial data.
8. Work Environment and Schedule
Standard work hours typically Monday through Friday during business hours.
Low travel requirements with occasional overtime during high-volume periods.
Office environment with a focus on detailed financial documentation.
9. Compensation and Benefits
Hourly rate range from $25 to $35 per hour based on experience.
Performance bonuses based on accuracy and efficiency metrics achieved.
Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision insurance provided.
401(k) plan with company matching contributions.
Additional fringe benefits such as paid time off and professional development opportunities.
10. Company Culture and Overview
We are a growth-oriented company that values collaboration, accountability, and excellence.
Our team embraces continuous improvement and strives to deliver exceptional restoration services with integrity.
We foster an inclusive environment that supports career development and long-term success.
Join us in a culture where your contributions are recognized and innovation is encouraged.
11. How to Apply
If you meet the above criteria and want to be part of a growth-oriented company focused on customer satisfaction, please send your resume to [INSERT EMAIL HERE] or apply online at [INSERT WEBSITE LINK HERE].
Need help filling this role? HireBus posts the ad, Iris interviews every applicant by phone before you do, and you decide who to hire. Start hiring now
A restoration invoice may be settled by three parties: the insurer, the mortgage lender and the homeowner. The money comes in pieces, sometimes months after the drying equipment leaves the house.
Checks with more than one name on them
If the homeowner still owes on a mortgage, the insurance check usually names the lender as well as the owner. The lender then hands the money over in stages: some before work starts, more as it goes, and the rest once the job passes inspection. The bookkeeper records each stage against the claim and notes which release is next and who still has to act on it. Source: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: How do home insurance companies pay out claims?.
Depreciation comes after the work
Texas's insurance department says most insurers pay a replacement cost claim in two parts. The first payment leaves out the deductible and the depreciation. The insurer sends the depreciation once it has the final bill for the finished work. Policies usually set a time limit to finish repairs, too. So the bookkeeper keeps a running tally of depreciation owed by claim and sends the final bill the day a job wraps up. Source: Texas Department of Insurance: Home insurance guide.
Supplements change the balance
Wet drywall often hides more damage. When the crew finds it, the estimator sends the adjuster a supplement, and the approved total changes. One claim can carry an estimate, more than one supplement, several partial payments and a deductible. The bookkeeper keeps each piece apart, so the balance is right when the homeowner calls.
Mitigation and rebuild are two jobs
Emergency drying and tear-out are usually billed once the structure is dry. The rebuild may start weeks later, with its own estimate, subcontractors and materials. Keep the two in separate job costs. Drying jobs carry equipment and labor; rebuilds carry subcontractor and material bills. Mixed together, they hide which side of the business makes money.
How much restoration bookkeepers make
The closest BLS group for restoration bookkeepers is bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks who work for remediation companies earned a median of $25.34 an hour ($52,710 a year) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s above the $50,670 median for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks in all industries. About 2,170 of the 1,373,680 bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks in that survey work for remediation companies.
Usually hourly. Expect overtime after a regional freeze or storm, when claim payments arrive in waves. Some reward clearing old claim balances with a bonus.
Remediation companies
$52,710$52,710 median Middle half $42,840–$61,250 10th–90th $34,930–$74,140
All industries
$50,670$50,670 median Middle half $43,520–$61,470 10th–90th $36,000–$74,550
$20k$30k$40k$50k$60k$70k$80k
10th–90th percentileMiddle halfMedianAnnual pay, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Annual pay by percentile
Group
10th
25th
Median
75th
90th
Remediation companies
$34,930
$42,840
$52,710
$61,250
$74,140
All industries
$36,000
$43,520
$50,670
$61,470
$74,550
BLS doesn’t publish pay for restoration contractors on their own. These figures cover remediation and other waste management services, which include them. Post a real range for your market in the ad.
The pay line in the template above is an example from our Role Blueprint. Set yours from these figures and what local companies pay.
Skills to hire for, and what you can teach
Hire for these
Receivables and payables experience, including month-end reconciliations
Steady, courteous follow-up with adjusters, homeowners and lenders' loss draft departments
A note on every call and every check, so anyone can see where a claim stands
Confidence in QuickBooks or a similar accounting system
Patience with claims that stay unpaid for months and need many small follow-ups
Teach these on the job
How replacement cost, depreciation and deductibles show up on a claim
Reading an Xactimate estimate and matching payments to its lines
Each lender's steps for endorsing checks and releasing funds
Where each carrier portal shows payment status
Your rules for splitting mitigation, contents and rebuild costs
Invoices start from Xactimate estimates and the job management system, then post to the accounting system, often QuickBooks. A candidate who has kept a receivables report split by insurer, homeowner and lender will need far less training.
Restoration bookkeeper interview questions
They have their own page: 6 questions that test this job, what strong and weak answers sound like, and a work exercise to run with your finalists.
Insurer payments, lender releases and depreciation each run on their own clock, so measure them apart. Swap the template's sample figures for your own once a quarter of claim data shows what normal looks like.
Claims Processing Accuracy
Each month, have someone outside receivables pull a batch of posted claim payments and match each to its check stub or remittance. Count any mismatch in claim number, payer or amount.
Reconciliation Timeliness
Log on the close checklist the day the last account ties out after month end. Count the business days to that day, and note which account held things up.
AR Turnover
Invoiced dollars collected inside the window, split by payer: insurer, homeowner and lender release. Report held-back depreciation separately, or it will hide slow payers.
AP Processing Efficiency
Days from a vendor or subcontractor bill arriving to its payment. Flag bills stuck waiting on a project manager's approval, since rebuild subs are quick to notice slow pay.
Career path
Claims admin or billing coordinatorUploads invoices to carrier portals and posts incoming payments.
BookkeeperTracks what each claim still owes and handles vendor bills and bank reconciliations.
What should the bookkeeper do when an insurer pays less than the invoice?
Compare the payment to the approved estimate before calling anyone. A short pay usually traces back to a line the adjuster cut, a supplement still under review, or depreciation held until the job closes. Send line disputes to the estimator. Bill the homeowner only for what is truly theirs, such as the deductible or upgrades they chose.
How much does a restoration bookkeeper make?
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks who work for remediation companies earned a median of $25.34 an hour ($52,710 a year) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $42,840 and $61,250 a year. Pay also depends on your local market, experience and overtime.
Should the bookkeeper call homeowners about money they owe?
Usually, yes, with a script. Many homeowners don't know they owe the deductible, or that the lender is still holding part of the check. A calm walk through what the insurer paid, what the lender released and what is left works better than a past-due notice. Send disputes about the work itself to the project manager.
Which reports should a restoration bookkeeper send the owner each month?
Receivables aging split by payer, so slow insurers, homeowners and lenders each show up. A list of depreciation still owed on closed jobs. Job costs with mitigation and rebuild kept apart. And the cash balance against the next few weeks of payroll and supplier bills, since claim money can arrive weeks after the work.
How should rented drying equipment be booked?
Charge every rental to the jobs it served. After a big freeze, a company may rent extra dehumidifiers and air movers for a few weeks. If those bills land in overhead, the drying jobs look more profitable than they were, and the owner may price the next surge wrong. Ask the warehouse to tag rented units by job.
