Hiring Accounting Clerks
Hiring an accounting clerk can be vital for the growth of a business. Accounting clerks help maintain accurate financial records of the clients, vendors, and customers. In doing so, they benefit the entire business and ensure that the internal operations are streamlined. This helps upper management focus their attention on more complex financial undertakings. Even though most accounting clerks earn less than other accounting professionals, their average salary is usually more than $40,000 a year. However, earnings may vary according to their educational level, professional experience, and the location for which they are applying. An entry-level accounting clerk can further their career prospects by acquiring relevant skills and valuable experience in the field. From a clerk level position, they may eventually move up to a professional level job, such as cost accountant or tax auditor.
Requirements of an Accounting Clerk
As with all professionals in this field, accounting clerks should be detail-oriented in their day-to-day duties. Their primary responsibilities include reconciling bank statements with the general ledger, tallying invoices to purchase orders and vouchers, assisting with the processing of accounts payable and receivable, performing data entry, and filing documents. They should also be adept at reviewing and maintaining accounting records. Additionally, they are required to work closely with auditors, adhere to all internal audit controls, be aware of all Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), and stay informed about new accounting regulations and principles. Accounting clerks work for businesses of all types and sizes. Their role tends to be more specialized when working for larger businesses that have a separate accounting department, where their duties often include assisting senior personnel such as Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) in a specialized area. For smaller organizations, the clerks are expected to maintain the books for the entire company. Apart from the size of the company, an accounting clerk’s work may also vary based on their level of experience.
Additional Resume Requirements
A potential candidate should have previous experience, which includes but is not limited to: bookkeeping, record keeping, and customer service. While accounting clerks are expected to have a two-year associate’s degree in accounting, sometimes a high school diploma or equivalent is also accepted. Proficiency in Microsoft Office and familiarity with accounting software such as QuickBooks is a plus. The applicant should also have well developed soft skills since they will be required to interact with coworkers from various departments. Critical thinking and problem-solving skills with excellent analytical, computational, and mathematical abilities are important. The ideal candidate should be open to working independently as well as in a team within stringent deadlines. Finally, the role requires discretion due to the confidential and sensitive nature of the information involved.
