Bookkeepers And Accounting Clerk Schools, Salaries, and Job Data
Bookkeepers and Accounting Clerks Job Overview
Bookkeeping and accounting clerks maintain financial records. This includes updating records of profit and loss, receipts and expenditures and accounts payable and receivable. Their job may involve maintaining the books of an entire company or looking into specific jobs.
Bookkeepers and Accounting Clerks Schools and Degrees
A high school degree is the minimum requirement to become a bookkeeping and accounting clerk. Candidates for this profession, however, are becoming more inclined to earn associates or bachelors degree in business and accounting, as it helps them advance in the profession.
Job Requirements
Certification is beneficial for bookkeeping and accounting clerks. It is particularly useful for those who keep records for a company. The American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers awards the designation of certified bookkeeper. This testifies the knowledge and the expertise the candidate has to execute all the functions that are required of a bookkeeper. To get the certificate, a candidate needs to pass an exam, possess 2 years of bookkeeping experience and abide by the ethics code.
Experience and acquiring a higher degree is very useful for bookkeepers and accounting clerks. This helps them take more responsibility and earn promotions within the organization. They may eventually become auditors or accountants.
Bookkeepers and accounting clerks need to be very well organized and have a keen eye for detail. It is important for them to be honest and trustworthy as they deal with confidential accounts. Spotting errors in accounts and not making errors themselves is essential. They undoubtedly need to have a strong affinity for numbers and also should be adept at handling spreadsheet software.
Nature of Work
Bookkeepers and accounting clerks in small firms often have to take care of the general ledger. They document all debits and credits and make financial statements and reports for managers. They also prepare bank deposits and look after purchases, payroll and invoices. In bigger companies, bookkeepers have more specialized functions, including calculating interest charges, maintaining details of transactions and monitoring loans and payments.
Bookkeepers and accounting clerks work in comfortable office environment. They usually work for forty hours in a week and have regular office hours. At times like fiscal year endings they may also be also required to work evenings and during weekends. They are susceptible to problems like eyestrain, headaches and backaches from continuously working with computers.
Bookkeepers and Accounting Clerks Jobs and Outlook
According to research in 2006, bookkeeping and accounting clerks held about 2,114,000 jobs in the US. This figure is projected to grow by 12% in the next ten years. Bookkeepers and accounting clerks are employed at all levels of government and are found in all industries.
The median annual wages of bookkeepers and accounting clerks as of 2006 was approximately $30,560.
Job Numbers and Growth
There are an estimated 2,114,000 bookkeepers and accounting clerks nationally. Most recently, workers have experienced a low level of joblessness. An estimated 3% of employees did not have employment in 2008.
Area Job Conditions
Bookkeepers and accounting clerks -of-a-feather seem to flock to Great Falls (Montana), Casper (Wyoming), and Missoula (Montana). They are less likely to be found around Warner Robins (Georgia), Ann Arbor (Michigan), and Jackson (Tennessee).
Compensation of workers is best in San Jose (California), San Francisco (California), and Bridgeport (Connecticut), and much worse in McAllen (Texas), Laredo (Texas), and Weirton (West Virginia).
Training and Education
Employees often find employers are looking for moderate-term on-the-job training. Bookkeepers and accounting clerks, in 16% of cases, have bachelor's degree or higher. After high school, 50% of workers pursued some additional career education. Employees, in 34% of cases, had only a high school education. Recommended schools are shown in the column to the right; request information from them to help you decide which if any could help you with this career.
Part-Time Work and Self-Employment
Bookkeepers and accounting clerks employed part-time are 25% of the total. Workers, in about 7% of cases, work for themselves.
Bookkeepers And Accounting Clerks by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Schools recommended for people interested in this career. Request info with quick online forms. These particular schools are noted for getting back to people fast.
Schools recommended for people interested in this career. Request info with quick online forms. These particular schools are noted for getting back to people fast.