What Do Bookkeeping and Accounting Clerks Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Bookkeeping and Accounting Clerks 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. They also perform personal bookkeeping services.

Other tasks include:

• Operate computers programmed with accounting software to record, store, and analyze information.
• Prepare and process payroll information.
• Check figures, postings, and documents for correct entry, mathematical accuracy, and proper codes.
• Prepare bank deposits by compiling data from cashiers, verifying and balancing receipts, and sending cash, checks, or other forms of payment to banks.
• Comply with federal, state, and company policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Compute deductions for income and social security taxes.

We asked Bookkeeping and Accounting Clerks how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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70% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 42% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Bookkeeping and Accounting Clerks perform personal bookkeeping services. They code documents according to company procedures.

A typical day for a Bookkeeping, Accounting and Auditing Clerk will also include:

• Receive, record, and bank cash, checks, and vouchers.
• Debit, credit, and total accounts on computer spreadsheets and databases, using specialized accounting software.
• Prepare bank deposits by compiling data from cashiers, verifying and balancing receipts, and sending cash, checks, or other forms of payment to banks.
• Comply with federal, state, and company policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Check figures, postings, and documents for correct entry, mathematical accuracy, and proper codes.

We asked some Bookkeeping and Accounting Clerks a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	91% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	29% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	65% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	30% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	8% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	62% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Bookkeeping and Accounting Clerks also prepare trial balances of books. They may also reconcile records of bank transactions.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Bookkeeping and Accounting Clerks 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. They might also Prepare purchase orders and expense reports.

In addition, they Compute deductions for income and social security taxes.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Prepare and process payroll information.

To some Bookkeeping and Accounting Clerks, it is also their responsibility to Match order forms with invoices, and record the necessary information.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Bookkeeping, Accounting and Auditing Clerk, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas..

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/office-and-administrative-support/bookkeeping-accounting-and-auditing-clerks.htm

http://www.aipb.org/