Types of Jobs in Computerized Accounting Technology
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Accounts payable/receivable clerk
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Account information clerk
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Audit clerk
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Statement clerk
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Payroll clerk
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Bookkeeper
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Collections clerk
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Order clerk
Accounting, Auditing, and Bookkeeping Clerks
Accounting, auditing, and bookkeeping clerks focus on updating and maintaining accounting records. The records they maintain might be used to calculate expenditures, receipts, accounts payable and receivable, and profit and loss. Since these types of clerks make many computations throughout their workday, computers play a critical role in their jobs.
In small businesses, bookkeepers and bookkeeping clerks often have responsibility for some or all the accounts. In addition to recording transactions, they are responsible for posting debits and credits to the general ledger. They are responsible for reporting financial transactions as statements, reports, and summaries. In large companies, accounting clerks have more specialized tasks within departments such as Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable.
Bookkeepers
Bookkeepers are responsible for a range of duties, including handling payroll, managing and/or preparing invoices, keeping track of accounts, and making purchases. A bookkeeper might make bank deposits, balance receipts, and manage company payments with the bank.
Auditing clerks
Auditing clerks verify records of transactions posted by other staff members. They make sure that what’s been posted and documents in general are mathematically accurate. They are involved in quality assurance, making note of errors that need to be addressed.
Professional Settings
As a bookkeeper or accounting clerk, you will work primarily in an office environment, ranging in size from a small business or a mid-sized company to a large corporation. You might work for:
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State and local government
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Educational services
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Healthcare
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Accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services
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Fortune 500 company
Your schedule may become more demanding during certain times of the year (tax time, end-of-fiscal-year, audit periods).
Job Outlook
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks: US Bureau of Labor Statistics
Job Outlook: growth is projected to be about as fast as the average. The large size of this occupation ensures plentiful job opportunities, as many bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks are expected to retire or transfer to other occupations.
Employment Change: Employment of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks is projected to grow by 10 percent during the 2008–18 decade, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations. This occupation is one of the largest growth occupations in the economy, with about 212,400 new jobs expected over the projections decade.
A growing economy will result in more financial transactions and other activities that require record-keeping by these workers. Additionally, an increased emphasis on accuracy, accountability, and transparency in the reporting of financial data for public companies will increase the demand for these workers.
New regulations and reporting methods, including the use of International Financial Reporting Standards, should result in additional demand for clerks involved in accounting and auditing.
The earnings of accounting clerks and bookkeepers vary, depending on their experience, skill level, and location. Salary information is broken down by category of industry, including:
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Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services
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Management of Companies and Enterprises
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Local Government
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Depository Credit Intermediation
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Elementary and Secondary Schools
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Office Administrative Services
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Monetary Authorities/Central Bank
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Postal Service
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Motion Picture and Video Industries
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Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas
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Federal Executive Branch
Location: Geographic location is a big variable in the salaries of accounting clerks and bookkeepers. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics released a report that showed the breakdown of average salaries for these professions by state. There was quite a difference in average annual salaries, depending on location.
For the latest information on salaries as an accounting clerk or bookkeeper, visit the US Bureau of Labor Statistics site.
Computer Accounting Technology Resource Sites
Here are additional resources you can investigate to learn more:
American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers
6001 Montrose Rd., Suite 500, Rockville, MD 20852
http://www.aipb.org
Occupational Information Network (O*NET)
http://www.onetonline.org/
Looking for a Better Career?
Now that you've read about the computerized accounting technology program, you may decide that you are looking for something different. At Harris School of Business, we offer numerous career-training programs that will prepare you for a better job and a better life. Check out our list of programs to find the right one for you:
Computerized Accounting Technology
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