Procurement Clerk

What is a Preschool Teacher?

Preschool teachers are responsible for educating and caring for young children, typically between the ages of three and five. During their preschool years, children learn their numbers, letters, shapes, and colors. They hone fine motor skills through crafts and sensory play and develop strong gross motor skills through active play, such as dancing and games.

Preschool is also an important time for developing social skills. Through their time in preschool, children learn how to relate to other children in their age range. They develop independence from their parents and learn how to interact with other adults and caregivers on a regular basis. Preschool prepares children for kindergarten and the rest of their elementary school experience. By participating in predictable daily routines and exploring a variety of key skills and topics, preschoolers are able to gain the knowledge they need to advance successfully throughout their elementary school experience.

Job Responsibilities of Procurement Clerks

Procurement clerks are primarily responsible for compiling records and information needed to create purchase orders, which are documents used to procure supplies, equipment and services. Their daily tasks include, but are not limited to: 

• Locate suppliers and obtain product information and price quotes 
• Compare prices, specifications, delivery dates in choosing potential suppliers 
• Create, maintain and review purchasing reports, price lists and files 
• Payment Invoicing 
• Ensure compliance purchasing policies and government regulations 
• Track procurement data, order status, requisitions and contracts 
• Check arriving shipments for proper products and quality 
• Check invoices against bids and purchase orders to ensure accuracy 
• Inventory tracking 
• Purchasing 

Procurement Clerks: Common Employment Settings

Since virtually all organizations have a need for materials, supplies, and equipment, Procurement Clerks work in a wide variety of businesses and industries. These employees most often work in office environments, but in many employment settings, some travel may be necessary – for meetings with suppliers, for example.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), About 75,000 Procurement Clerks held jobs in 2016. Some of their largest employers were local, state and federal government, manufacturing firms, hospitals, schools and retail and wholesale organizations.

Career Outlook: Procurement Clerks

Although the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not directly report statistics for Procurement Clerks, similarly purchasing manager roles show about 45,000 openings 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.

Additional Training/Requirements

Many employers prefer to hire candidates for Procurement Clerk positions that have a significant amount of work experience as a procurement clerk or in a closely related field. Requirements vary from one employer to another, but generally fall between 1 and 5 years of work experience. Some employers may prefer to hire applicants for Procurement Clerk positions who have earned professional certifications. Certifications that are often sought by potential employers in this field include:

• The Certified Purchasing Professional (CPP) certification, which can be acquired through The American Purchasing Society 
• The Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) credential, offered by the American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS) 
• The Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) credential, obtained via the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council (UPPCC) 

Earning professional certifications typically requires meeting educational and work experience requirements set forth by professional associations offering the specific certification you are seeking, then passing an exam administered by those organizations. Some certifications require holders to meet continuing education requirements annually to maintain their certification status.

For more insights into the Procurement Clerk field, please visit the Business Degrees section of the Bryant & Stratton College blog. Exploring that blog and our website can offer you a great deal of helpful information and insight on pursuing a career path as a Procurement Clerk or in any other area of business that you feel has the potential to offer you a satisfying and successful career.