Bookkeeping Accounting and Auditing Clerk

Controller Job Description

Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks are financial recordkeepers. They update and maintain accounting records, including those which calculate expenditures, receipts, accounts payable and receivable, and profit and loss. These workers have a wide range of skills from full-charge bookkeepers, who can maintain an entire company’s books, to accounting clerks who handle specific tasks. All these clerks make numerous computations each day and must be comfortable using computers to calculate and record data. In small businesses, bookkeepers and bookkeeping clerks often have responsibility for some or all the accounts, known as the general ledger. They record all transactions and post debits (costs) and credits (income). They also produce financial statements and prepare reports and summaries for supervisors and managers. Bookkeepers prepare bank deposits by compiling data from cashiers, verifying and balancing receipts, and sending cash, checks, or other forms of payment to the bank. Additionally, they may handle payroll, make purchases, prepare invoices, and keep track of overdue accounts. In large companies, accounting clerks have more specialized tasks. Their titles, such as accounts payable clerk or accounts receivable clerk, often reflect the type of accounting they do. In addition, their responsibilities vary by level of experience. Entry-level accounting clerks post details of transactions, total accounts, and compute interest charges. They also may monitor loans and accounts to ensure that payments are up to date. More advanced accounting clerks may total, balance, and reconcile billing vouchers; ensure the completeness and accuracy of data on accounts; and code documents according to company procedures. Auditing clerks verify records of transactions posted by other workers. They check figures, postings, and documents to ensure that they are mathematically accurate, and properly coded. They also correct or note errors for accountants or other workers to fix. As organizations continue to computerize their financial records, many bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks use specialized accounting software, spreadsheets, and databases. Most clerks now enter information from receipts or bills into computers, and the information is then stored electronically. The widespread use of computers also has enabled bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks to take on additional responsibilities, such as payroll, procurement, and billing. Many of these functions require these clerks to write letters and make phone calls to customers or clients.
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks must be careful, orderly, and detail-oriented to avoid making errors and to recognize errors made by others. These workers also should be discreet and trustworthy, because they frequently come in contact with confidential material. They should also have good communication skills, because they increasingly work with customers. In addition, all bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks should have a strong aptitude for numbers. Experience in a related job and working in an office environment is recommended. Workers must be able to use computers, and knowledge of specialized bookkeeping or accounting software is especially valuable.
Most bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks are required to have a high school degree at a minimum. However, having some postsecondary education is increasingly important and an associate degree in business or accounting is required for some positions. Although a bachelor’s degree is rarely required, graduates may accept bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerk positions to get into a particular company or to enter the accounting or finance field with the hope of eventually being promoted.

Typical duties of a Controller

•  Maintain financial or account records.
• Operate computers or computerized equipment.
• Execute sales or other financial transactions.
•  Verify accuracy of financial or transactional data.
•  Compile data or documentation.
•  Prepare cash for deposit or disbursement.
•  Monitor organizational compliance with regulations.
•  Calculate financial data.
•  Operate office equipment.
•  Collect deposits, payments or fees.
•  Monitor financial information.
•  Reconcile records of sales or other financial transactions.
•  Code data or other information.
•  File documents or records.
•  Answer telephones to direct calls or provide information.
•  Convert data among multiple digital or analog formats.
•  Search files, databases or reference materials to obtain needed information.
•  Prepare documentation for contracts, transactions, or regulatory compliance.
•  Calculate costs of goods or services.
•  Maintain inventory records.
  Skills:
•  Oral Comprehension – Listening and understanding what people say.
•  Mathematical Reasoning – Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
•  Written Comprehension – Reading and understanding what is written.
•  Near Vision – Seeing details up close.
•  Written Expression – Communicating by writing.
•  Oral Expression – Communicating by speaking.
•  Problem Sensitivity – Noticing when problems happen.
•  Number Facility – Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
•  Mathematics – Using math to solve problems.
  Qualifications: Accounting, Auditing, Office management, Finance, Bookkeeping and Business operations