Life As a Bookkeeping, Accounting, or Auditing Clerk

Bookkeeping, Accounting, or Auditing Clerk Job Description Compute, classify, and record numerical data to keep financial records complete. Perform any combination of routine calculating, posting, and verifying duties to obtain primary financial data for use in maintaining accounting records. May also check the accuracy of figures, calculations, and postings pertaining to business transactions recorded by other workers.

Life As a Bookkeeping, Accounting, or Auditing Clerk

• Compute deductions for income and social security taxes.
• Prepare bank deposits by compiling data from cashiers, verifying and balancing receipts, and sending cash, checks, or other forms of payment to banks.
• Operate computers programmed with accounting software to record, store, and analyze information.
• Compile budget data and documents, based on estimated revenues and expenses and previous budgets.
• Complete and submit tax forms and returns, workers’ compensation forms, pension contribution forms, and other government documents.
• Compare computer printouts to manually maintained journals to determine if they match.

Things a Bookkeeping, Accounting, or Auditing Clerk Should Know How to Do

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Types of Bookkeeping, Accounting, or Auditing Clerk

• Accounting Specialist
• Revenue Audit Clerk
• Computer Bookkeeper
• Chart Calculator
• Journal Clerk

Is There Job Demand for Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks?

There were about 1,730,500 jobs for Bookkeeping, Accounting, or Auditing Clerk in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Bookkeeping, Accounting, or Auditing Clerk. There will be an estimated 186,400 positions for Bookkeeping, Accounting, or Auditing Clerk per year.

The states with the most job growth for Bookkeeping, Accounting, or Auditing Clerk are Utah, Nevada, and Maryland. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Mississippi, or West Virginia. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

What is the Average Salary of a Bookkeeping, Accounting, or Auditing Clerk

The typical yearly salary for Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks is somewhere between $25,260 and $61,650.

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks who work in District of Columbia, Alaska, or Connecticut, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks in different U.S. states.

State	Annual Mean Salary
Alabama	$37,250
Alaska	$48,640
Arizona	$40,930
Arkansas	$36,310
California	$47,750
Colorado	$42,830
Connecticut	$47,890
Delaware	$44,760
District of Columbia	$54,970
Florida	$40,220
Georgia	$40,330
Hawaii	$41,620
Idaho	$38,470
Illinois	$42,520
Indiana	$38,300
Iowa	$38,900
Kansas	$35,880
Kentucky	$37,950
Louisiana	$37,180
Maine	$39,190
Maryland	$45,450
Massachusetts	$47,020
Michigan	$39,130
Minnesota	$44,210
Mississippi	$38,130
Missouri	$38,340
Montana	$36,310
Nebraska	$37,850
Nevada	$40,100
New Hampshire	$42,170
New Jersey	$46,860
New Mexico	$37,600
New York	$45,590
North Carolina	$39,590
North Dakota	$38,220
Ohio	$39,830
Oklahoma	$39,010
Oregon	$41,840
Pennsylvania	$40,660
Rhode Island	$44,120
South Carolina	$36,860
South Dakota	$33,970
Tennessee	$40,380
Texas	$41,390
Utah	$39,170
Vermont	$42,320
Virginia	$43,140
Washington	$45,600
West Virginia	$34,550
Wisconsin	$37,910
Wyoming	$38,870

What Tools & Technology do Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks:

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft Access
• Data entry software
• Word processing software
• SAP
• Microsoft Windows
• Microsoft Project
• Spreadsheet software
• Microsoft SharePoint
• Microsoft Dynamics
• IBM Notes
• Microsoft Publisher
• Google Docs
• FileMaker Pro
• Intuit QuickBooks
• Oracle PeopleSoft

Becoming a Bookkeeping, Accounting, or Auditing Clerk

Education needed to be a Bookkeeping, Accounting, or Auditing Clerk:

How Long Does it Take to Become a Bookkeeping, Accounting, or Auditing Clerk?

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks Sector

Below are examples of industries where Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks work:

Similar Careers

Those thinking about becoming a Bookkeeping, Accounting, or Auditing Clerk might also be interested in the following careers:

• City and Regional Planning Aides
• Proofreaders and Copy Markers
• Procurement Clerks

Career changers with experience as a Bookkeeping, Accounting, or Auditing Clerk sometimes find work in one of the following fields:

• Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents
• Budget Analysts

References:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• College Factual
• O*NET Online

Image Credit: Pixabay via CC0 License

More about our data sources and methodologies.