View Accounting Clerk Careers Now

Accounting Clerk Career

An Accounting Clerk's general responsibilities include maintaining accounts payable and accounts receivable records, but specific duties vary depending on the employer and previous experience.  Entry level clerks generally total accounts, compute interest charges, and post transaction details.  More advanced clerks total, balance, and reconcile billing receipts, as well as post daily transactions in journals and computer files.  Senior clerks have the duty of reviewing all transactions by comparing computer data to manual journals and invoices to statements, making any necessary changes. 

Accounting clerks generally work in an office setting with full or part time hours.  Some evening or weekend hours may be needed during peak times such as fiscal year end, tax season, or when preparing for scheduled audits.  Clerks often sit for long periods of time; therefore, many professionals may endure eye and muscle strain, back pain, and/or headaches.  Although new computer programs have eliminated many of the tedious tasks involved with accounting, candidates must be detail oriented and precise when making entries. 

Employers require that candidates possess a high school diploma, but tend to prefer candidates with a college education.  Even though formal education is not required, candidates looking to work their way into higher positions prosper from continued education.  As with many professions, previous office experience is helpful for entry level clerks.  On the job and formal training is generally offered by employers. 

While technology has increased automation and improved associate efficiency, it has adversely affected the number of accounting clerks needed to perform daily tasks.  As companies continue to downsize, these positions will slowly be eliminated.  Fortunately, the accounting field is large, meaning that numerous openings will exist, and increased financial transactions are projected.  Growth for these careers is predicted to be slower than average industries through 2014.  For more information on a career as an accounting clerk, please visit the following sites:

• Upper Rio Grande College Tech Prep Youth Consortium
• Edunet
• Financial Accounting Standards Board
• Rutgers Accounting Web
• Government Accountability Office

For a list of available Accounting Clerk positions as well as a database of Accounting Clerk professionals, please visit iHireAccounting.