Become a Bookkeeping and Accounting Clerk

Bookkeeping and accounting clerks are responsible for maintaining and updating financial records. The scope of their actual duties varies according to the nature and size of the companies they work for. Some bookkeeping clerks, particularly those who work for small firms, are responsible for most or all of the financial record keeping of the company's accounts. Specific tasks may include such things as posting debits and credits, producing financial statements, preparing reports for management, handling payroll, and making purchases. Larger companies often have accounting departments which employ accounting clerks. Although these individuals perform very similar functions as bookkeeping clerks, they typically have more specialized tasks and their job titles (e.g., accounts receivable clerk, accounts payable clerk) reflect the specific kind of work they do.

Education, Certification, Licensing

The minimum educational criterion for entering this field is a high school degree; however, some positions may require an associate degree in business or accounting. Those who aspire to higher-level positions in the financial realm may want to consider earning a bachelor's degree and starting their careers in bookkeeping and accounting clerk positions with the hope of eventually being promoted. Most bookkeeping and accounting clerks receive some level of on-the-job training after being hired, often including specialized topics such as specific computer software they need to use.

Certification is sometimes required but always beneficial. The most widely-accepted credential in this field is the Certified Bookkeeper (CB) designation which is granted by the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers. In order to earn this credential, a candidate is required to have at least 2 years of bookkeeping experience and pass a four-part examination. Several colleges and universities offer preparatory training, some of it online, for those wishing to become certified.

This article on accounting schools and jobs has been provided courtesy of City Town Info.

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