All About Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

Bookkeeping, Accounting, or Auditing Clerk Definition 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: What Do They Do?

• Check figures, postings, and documents for correct entry, mathematical accuracy, and proper codes.
• Compile statistical, financial, accounting, or auditing reports and tables pertaining to such matters as cash receipts, expenditures, accounts payable and receivable, and profits and losses.
• Prepare bank deposits by compiling data from cashiers, verifying and balancing receipts, and sending cash, checks, or other forms of payment to banks.
• Maintain inventory records.
• Compare computer printouts to manually maintained journals to determine if they match.
• Perform general office duties, such as filing, answering telephones, and handling routine correspondence.

Bookkeeping, Accounting, or Auditing Clerk Required Skills

When polled, Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

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.

Related Job Titles

• Accounting Clerk
• Chart Calculator
• Finance Assistant
• Payment Processor
• Chart Picker

Bookkeeping, Accounting, or Auditing Clerk Employment Estimates

In the United States, there were 1,730,500 jobs for Bookkeeping, Accounting, or Auditing Clerk in 2016. 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.

Salary for a Bookkeeping, Accounting, or Auditing Clerk

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks make between $25,260 and $61,650 a year.

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

How much do Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks make in each U.S. state?

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 do Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks may use on a daily basis:

• 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

How do I Become a Bookkeeping, Accounting, or Auditing Clerk?

Individuals working as a Bookkeeping, Accounting, or Auditing Clerk have obtained the following education levels:

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

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks Sector

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks work in the following industries:

Similar Careers

Those interested in being a Bookkeeping, Accounting, or Auditing Clerk may also be interested in:

• 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.