Because their job duties revolve around financial transactions, accountants and accounting clerks play integral roles in any business. The key to any successful accounting operation is to avoid mistakes in entering numbers, analyzing them and processing them. That's where auditing clerks step in by checking the accuracy of records, documents and entries related to financial transactions.
Auditing clerks examine financial and inventory transactions to make sure they are correctly entered and accurate. They check figures on hard-copy documents, cells in spreadsheets, records in databases and documents that contain numbers. For minor errors, such as transposed digits, they make corrections. But for major discrepancies, they consult the source of the transaction, such as accountants, clerks or managers, for clarification. They must be familiar with the basic rules of accounting as well as company procedures regarding transactions. They might also assist accounting professionals with their tasks, answer inquiries from employees and clients, and produce reports.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the minimum educational requirement for auditing, bookkeeping and accounting clerks is a high school diploma. However, some employers prefer candidates with postsecondary education, particularly coursework in accounting. As of 2009, about one-quarter of these workers had an associate’s or higher degree. Clerks typically get training on the job from more experienced clerks, accountants or financial supervisors. They learn how to use accounting software. They also learn double-entry bookkeeping, which records transactions twice, as a credit and debit, to ensure the balancing of accounts.
Three personal qualities and skills can increase the chances of success at the job, according to the BLS. The first is orientation to detail, which means carefully following repetitive procedures to achieve the highest accuracy and avoid mistakes. Because clerks deal with numbers and formulas constantly, they need excellent math skills. Finally, computer skills are important because clerks do most of their work on the computer. In addition to being familiar with accounting software, they should know how to keep data secure from unauthorized access, malicious hackers and dangerous viruses.
Salaries and Outlook
The BLS reports that as of May 2011, auditing, bookkeeping and accounting clerks earned a mean $36,120 per year, or $17.37 per hour. The lowest 10 percent of earners made $21,450 a year or less, while the highest 10 percent made $53,250 or more. The biggest employers were companies that provide accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services. The average pay here was $35,630 per year. The highest paying jobs were with the U.S. Postal Service, at an average of $57,570 per year. The BLS expects the number of jobs for auditing, bookkeeping and accounting clerks to increase 14% from 2010 to 2020, which is the same projected growth rate for all occupations.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: What Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks Do
- Toys R Us: Auditing Clerk Job
- University of New Hampshire: Hotel Auditing Clerk
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: How to Become a Bookkeeping, Accounting or Auditing Clerk
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: How to Become a Bookkeeping, Accounting, or Auditing Clerk
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2011, Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Job Outlook for Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
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