Bookkeeping clerks: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more
Bookkeeping clerks, also known as bookkeepers, often are responsible for some or all of an organizations accounts, known as the general ledger. They record all transactions and post debits (costs) and credits (income).
They also produce financial statements and other reports for supervisors and managers. Bookkeepers prepare bank deposits by compiling data from cashiers, verifying receipts, and sending cash, checks, or other forms of payment to the bank.
In addition, they may handle payroll, make purchases, prepare invoices, and keep track of overdue accounts.
- Education Required
- Employers generally require bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks to have some postsecondary education, particularly coursework in accounting. However, some candidates can be hired with just a high school diploma.
- Training Required
- Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks usually get on-the-job training. Under the guidance of a supervisor or another experienced employee, new clerks learn how to do their tasks, such as double-entry bookkeeping. In double-entry bookkeeping, each transaction is entered twice, once as a debit (cost) and once as a credit (income), to ensure that all accounts are balanced.
- Job Outlook
-
The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: -1% (Little or no change)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.) - Advancement
- With appropriate experience and additional education, some bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks may become accountants or auditors.
- Licenses/Certifications
- Some bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks become certified. For those who do not have postsecondary education, certification is a particularly useful way to gain expertise in the field. The Certified Bookkeeper (CB) designation, awarded by the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers, shows that those who have earned it have the skills and knowledge needed to carry out all bookkeeping tasks, including overseeing payroll and balancing accounts, according to accepted accounting procedures.
- Median pay: How much do Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks make?
- $38,390 Annual Salary
- $18.46 per hour
Careers for Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
- Accounting clerks
- Accounts payable clerks
- Accounts receivable assistants
- Accounts receivable clerks
- Auditing clerks
- Bookkeepers
- Clerks
- Financial clerks
- Fixed capital clerks
- Foreign exchange position clerks
- Full-charge bookkeepers
- Mortgage accounting clerks