accounting clerk

National Occupation Classification Code: 1431

OCCUPATION INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW:

What are the main duties of an Accounting Clerk in Alberta?

Accounting Clerk positions are usually entry-level. Candidates should have solid interpersonal skills as well as proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.

Accounting Clerks perform some or all of the following duties:

  • Calculate, prepare and issue documents related to accounts such as bills, invoices, inventory reports, account statements and other financial statements using computerized and manual systems
  • Code, total, batch, enter, verify and reconcile transactions such as accounts payable and receivable, payroll, purchase orders, cheques, invoices, cheque requisitions, and bank statements in a ledger or computer system
  • Compile budget data and documents based on estimated revenues and expenses and previous budgets
  • Prepare period or cost statements or reports
  • Calculate costs of materials, overhead and other expenses based on estimates, quotations, and price lists
  • Respond to customer inquiries, maintain good customer relations and solve problems
  • Perform related clerical duties, such as word processing, maintaining filing and record systems, faxing and photocopying
  • Perform data entry, and match invoices to purchase orders or vouchers

What are the requirements to work as an Accounting Clerk in Alberta?

Most positions require a high school diploma with preference given to those who have taken related courses and programs at the college level. Office experience is a definite asset as well as a college diploma in a program related to accounting and business.

Most employers prefer to hire job candidates who have taken related courses and programs from colleges, technical institutes or private vocational schools. In Alberta, a number of institutions offer accounting courses and programs:

The specific educational requirements for accounting positions vary greatly from one employer to another depending on the scope and responsibility of the position. Employers may prefer to hire job candidates who are working toward a professional accounting designation. As an accounting clerk, you may want to work towards a Certified General Accountant (CGA), a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) or a Chartered Accountant (CA) . In order to obtain an accounting designation you must have a university degree. You will also need to take further accounting courses and pass standardized tests while you are working, a process that may take several years.

What kind of personal characteristics do employers expect in an Accounting Clerk?

Personal characteristics of Accounting Clerks include the following:

  • the ability to work with numbers quickly and accurately
  • the ability to communicate effectively in person and on paper
  • the ability to concentrate for extended periods of time and pay close attention to detail but also switch back and forth between tasks
  • the ability to work with computers and have good keyboarding skills
  • the ability to follow verbal and written instructions
  • keep employer information confidential
  • the ability to work independently on routine tasks.

Accounting clerks should enjoy having clear rules and organized methods for their work, balancing financial records and business transactions, and operating computerized systems and office equipment.