Accounting Clerks

Accounting Clerks

Career Overview

Accounting clerks typically work for larger companies and have more specialized tasks. Their titles, such as accounts payable clerk or accounts receivable clerk, often reflect the type of accounting they do. The responsibilities of accounting clerks frequently vary by level of experience. Entry-level accounting clerks may post details of transactions (including date, type, and amount), add up accounts, and determine interest charges. They may also monitor loans and accounts to ensure that payments are up to date. More advanced accounting clerks may add and balance billing vouchers, ensure that account data are complete and accurate, and code documents according to an organization’s procedures.

Education

Employers generally require bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks to have some postsecondary education, particularly coursework in accounting. However, some candidates can be hired with just a high school diploma.

Future Outlook

Employment of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks is projected to decline 6 percent from 2019 to 2029.

Work Environment

Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks work in offices and may do site visits. Some work part time.

Recommended High School Courses

  • Math
  • Business
  • Finance
  • Accounting

  • Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.
  • Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
  • Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Clerical - Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
  • Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  • Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
  • English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
  • Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Number Facility - The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
  • Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Maintain financial or account records.
  • Operate computers or computerized equipment.
  • Execute sales or other financial transactions.
  • Verify accuracy of financial or transactional data.
  • Compile data or documentation.
  • Prepare cash for deposit or disbursement.
  • Calculate financial data.
  • Collect deposits, payments or fees.
  • Operate office equipment.
  • Reconcile records of sales or other financial transactions.
  • Monitor financial information.
  • Code data or other information.
  • Answer telephones to direct calls or provide information.
  • File documents or records.
  • Search files, databases or reference materials to obtain needed information.
  • Prepare documentation for contracts, transactions, or regulatory compliance.
  • Calculate costs of goods or services.
  • Maintain inventory records.

Schools

usa_school
Alaska Career College- An...
Central Texas College- Ft...
Georgetown University
Iḷisaġvik College
Matanuska-susitna College
Suny Adirondack
University Of Alaska Fair...
University Of Florida
University Of Georgia
University Of Illinois At...
University Of Pennsylvani...
University Of Texas- Aust...
Wake Forest University
Washington University- St...
canada_school
Athabasca University
British Columbia Insti...
Carleton University
Durham College- Oshawa...
Thompson Rivers Univer...
University Of Lethbrid...
University Of Manitoba
University Of Ottawa
University Of Toronto-...

Potential Scholarships

Ache Police Officers And...
Aqha Arizona Quarter Hors...
Aqha Joan Cain Florida Qu...
Aqha Indiana Quarter Hors...
Aqhf Nebraska Quarter Hor...
- Creditcardgenius 2020 S...
- Haywood | Hunt & Associ...
- Lupus Canada Scholarshi...

Approx Salary Expectation

Currency:
Low End:
$25,870.00 /yr
Avg/Med:
$41,230.00 /yr
High End:
$62,410.00 /yr

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/.
Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.