Bookkeepers, Bookkeeping, Accounting, Auditing, Clerks, Financial Record Keepers
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks are financial record keepers. They maintain financial and accounting records, including but not limited too, those which calculate expenditures, receipts, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and profit and loss.
All these positions require that they have a wide range of skills, they all make numerous computations daily and must be competent using computers to calculate and record data. Their skill level ranges from a full-charge bookkeeper, who maintains a company’s books, to the accounting clerks who handle specific tasks.
In small to medium sized businesses, bookkeepers have responsibility for the accounts, known as the general ledger. They record the various transactions, they post debits and credits, they produce financial statements and prepare reports for supervisors and managers.
Bookkeepers prepare bank deposits, verify and balance receipts, additionally, they handle payroll, make purchases, prepare invoices, and keep track of overdue accounts.
In large companies, accounting clerks have more specialized tasks; such as accounts payable clerk or accounts receivable clerk. They garner more responsibilities via their level of experience. Entry-level accounting clerks post details of transactions, total accounts, do minor computations, and monitor accounts to ensure they are up to date. The advanced accounting clerks may total, balance, and reconcile billing vouchers; thus verifying the accuracy of the accounts; and they probably code documents according to company procedures.
Auditing clerks, verify the records posted by other workers. They check figures, postings, and documents to ensure that they are accurate. They will correct errors, or notify the accountants or other workers to fix the errors.
The use of computers and the latest accounting software, has enabled bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks to take on additional responsibilities, such as payroll, procurement, and billing. Many of these functions require the clerks to become more versatile in their job skills.
Most bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks are required to have a high school degree at a minimum. Post secondary education is becoming more important in this high tech and ever competitive world, it is not uncommon for companies to require an associate degree in business or accounting for some positions. Most companies will have the newly hired worker attend Some formal classroom training, such as training in specialized computer software.
All accounting clerks should have a strong aptitude for numbers, along with the following other
qualifications: they must be careful, orderly, and detail-oriented to avoid making errors and to recognize errors made by others. They should be discreet and trustworthy, because they handle confidential material, and good communication skills are essential because they interface with all levels of employees, management, and with customers.
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks, particularly those who handle all the record keeping for a company, may find it beneficial to become certified. They have the skills and knowledge needed to carry out all bookkeeping functions, including payroll and balancing accounts.
For certification, the bookkeeper must have at least 2 years experience, pass a four-part examination, and adhere to a code of ethics. Numerous colleges and universities have preparatory courses for certification; some offer courses online. Certified bookkeepers are required to meet a continuing education requirement every 3 years.
There are well over 2 million jobs in the bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks sectors of employment. They work in nearly all industries and at all levels of government. The industries that employ the largest numbers of these clerks are the state and local governments, educational services, healthcare, and the accounting, tax preparation, and payroll services industries.
Job growth and potential is good, the large size of this occupation ensures plenty of job opportunities, because many accounting, and auditing clerks are expected to retire or transfer to other occupations. New jobs are projected to grow by 10 percent over the decade. This occupation is one of the largest growth occupations in the economy, with about 210 to 220,000 new jobs expected over the decade.
Clerks who have a wider range of and accounting skills will be in greater demand than the specialized clerks. Demand for full-charge bookkeepers is expected to increase, primarily because they perform a wider variety of financial transactions, including payroll and billing. The Certified Bookkeepers and those with several years of accounting or bookkeeping experience will have the best job prospects.
Okay bookkeepers and soon to be bookkeepers get busy, find the new job or your first one of a great new career.
