Bookkeeping Accounting and Auditing Clerk 

What is a Bookkeeping, Accounting and Auditing Clerk?

Bookkeepers, accounting and auditing clerks generate and keep financial records for businesses and other organizations by recording transactions, keeping statements updated and checking the work of others for accuracy. They work with documents such as profit and loss reports, accounts receivable and accounts payable. They also must have good math skills, with attention to detail.  

Job Responsibilities

Your duties as a bookkeeping, accounting or auditing clerk will depend in large part, on which area you specialize in.

Bookkeeping clerks can be responsible for:

• Keeping the general ledger
• Recording all transactions
• Producing financial statements
• Handling banking transactions
• Making purchases
• Preparing invoices
• Monitoring overdue accounts

Accounting clerks usually work for larger employers and their tasks are more specialized. An entry-level accounting clerk might:

• Post transaction detail
• Add up accounts
• Calculate interest charges, amounts due, discounts, equity and principal
• Use accounting software to analyze, record and store information
• Adding and balancing billing vouchers
• Making sure data in accounts is complete and accurate
• Coding documents per organizational procedures

Auditing clerks go over documents to make sure the math and coding are correct. They may fix smaller errors themselves, but would likely refer larger errors or discrepancies to a senior member of the auditing or accounting staff.

In addition, all bookkeepers, accounting and auditing clerks could be responsible for:

• Using appropriate computer software,
• Complying with federal, state and company policies, procedures and regulation,
• Operating appropriate office machinery to perform calculations and produce documents,
• Performing general office duties, such as filing, answering telephones, and handling routine correspondence and
• Accessing computerized financial information to answer general questions as well as those related to specific accounts.

Bookkeeping, Accounting and Auditing Clerks: Career Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts about 183,900 openings for bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. With more automation of routine tasks, bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks are expected to take on a more analytical and advisory role over the decade. For example, rather than entering data by hand, these workers may focus on analyzing their clients’ books and pointing out potential areas for efficiency gains.

Additional Training/Requirements

Becoming a bookkeeping, accounting or auditing clerk usually requires more than a high school diploma. The Accounting Assistant Diploma gives you the extra training in accounting that employers are looking for. Generally, there is a six month on-the-job training period where new employees learn accounting software and other tasks specific to their individual positions.

There are a number of certifications that you can get to further distinguish yourself. The Certified Bookkeeper, Certified Public Bookkeeper, Certified Accounts Payable Professional, Certified Payroll Professional and Certified Trust Examiner are among them. You will likely be required to take an exam, and some require a certain amount of prior experience. You may also be required to take continuing education credits to keep up your certifications.

Your ability to advance further in this field is limited only by your desires. With more education, such as Bryant & Stratton College’s associate’s degree in accounting you can move into positions with more responsibility. Going further along this path, with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Bryant & Stratton College, you could be an accountant or auditor.

Employment Settings

Bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks work in offices, sometimes more than one at a time. They will work together with accountants, auditors and managers, although they generally work alone. Most work full time, and hours can get long during busy times of the year, such as tax season. 

For insights into a career as a bookkeeping, accounting or auditing clerk, please visit the Degree Insights section of our blog. Here you will find valuable information about accounting careers and much more. Explore the website and be sure to visit the Accounting Assistant Diploma page.