Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
Also called Account Clerk, Accounting Assistant, Accounting Clerk, or Accounts Payables Clerk
What Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks do
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks compute, classify, and record numerical data to keep financial records complete. Perform any combination of routine calculating, posting, and verifying duties to obtain primary financial data for use in maintaining accounting records. May also check the accuracy of figures, calculations, and postings pertaining to business transactions recorded by other workers.
Who tends to enjoy it
Organizing
People who like keeping things accurate, orderly, and running on schedule.
Leading
People who like persuading, selling, starting things, and taking charge.
Curious
People who like figuring things out, research, science, and solving problems.
What you'd actually do
- Operate computers programmed with accounting software to record, store, and analyze information.
- Check figures, postings, and documents for correct entry, mathematical accuracy, and proper codes.
- Comply with federal, state, and company policies, procedures, and regulations.
- Operate 10-key calculators, typewriters, and copy machines to perform calculations and produce documents.
- Receive, record, and bank cash, checks, and vouchers.
- Code documents according to company procedures.
- Perform financial calculations, such as amounts due, interest charges, balances, discounts, equity, and principal.
- Reconcile or note and report discrepancies found in records.
A typical day involves
Skills that matter most
- Mathematics
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Speaking
What you'll need to know
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administrative
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Economics and Accounting
Where to study for this
College programs that commonly lead to this career, and how many US colleges offer each.
- Accounting Technology / Technician and Bookkeeping 746 colleges
Related careers
Office and Administrative Support
Billing and Posting Clerks
Compile, compute, and record billing, accounting, statistical, and other numerical data for billing purposes. Prepare billing invoices for services rendered or for delivery or shipment of goods.
Little to some preparation
Office and Administrative Support
Office Clerks, General
Perform duties too varied and diverse to be classified in any specific office clerical occupation, requiring knowledge of office systems and procedures. Clerical duties may be assigned in accordance with the office procedures of individual establishments and may include a combination of answering telephones, bookkeeping, typing or word processing, office machine operation, and filing.
Little to some preparation
Sales and Related
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
Buy and sell securities or commodities in investment and trading firms, or provide financial services to businesses and individuals. May advise customers about stocks, bonds, mutual funds, commodities, and market conditions.
Considerable preparation
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA), occupation 43-3031.00, used under CC BY 4.0 and modified by Whittle. Program links: NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. How we build these pages.