Photo: David Lucas (Public domain)
Job description
Much of the day is spent posting transactions into accounting software, debiting and crediting the right accounts, then double-checking that every figure, code, and posting is accurate before it becomes part of the official record. Clerks also calculate the practical numbers a business runs on, like amounts due, interest charges, and discounts, and make sure everything complies with company and regulatory recordkeeping rules. Some also review calculations and postings entered by other employees, acting as a second check on the numbers. The role is desk-based and detail-heavy, with accuracy mattering far more than speed.
Pros
- A very large pool of openings nationwide (170,000) makes this an accessible entry into finance work
- Pay can reach nearly $75k with experience, solid for a role with no bachelor's degree required
- Steady desk-based work with predictable 40-45 hour weeks and no physical labor involved
Cons
- Employment projected to shrink notably over the next decade (-5.8%) as software automates routine entry
- Constant precision is required since errors in figures and postings carry real financial consequences
- Work is largely repetitive data entry and reconciliation with limited day-to-day variety
A typical day
Tuesday opens with the bank feed: yesterday's transactions matched to invoices and receipts in the accounting software, the two unmatched charges chased down by email before they harden into mysteries. Mid-morning is accounts payable — bills entered, approvals collected, a payment run scheduled — then payroll prep, where a new hire's setup and two expense reports need processing without error because paychecks are trust made visible. The afternoon closes the loop: customer invoices sent, an aging report flagging one account 45 days late for a polite call, and the monthly reconciliation inching toward a clean tie-out. For a clerk serving several small businesses, each client is its own tidy world. The satisfaction is the balanced ledger; the skill is never letting small errors compound.
Tasks at the job
- Operate 10-key calculators, typewriters, and copy machines to perform calculations and produce documents.
- Debit, credit, and total accounts on computer spreadsheets and databases, using specialized accounting software.
- Check figures, postings, and documents for correct entry, mathematical accuracy, and proper codes.
- Comply with federal, state, and company policies, procedures, and regulations.
- Code documents according to company procedures.
- Perform financial calculations, such as amounts due, interest charges, balances, discounts, equity, and principal.
Workplace & working conditions
Work happens indoors in a climate-controlled setting, and most of the day is spent sitting at a desk.
There's a regular, moderate amount of time pressure. Precision and accuracy are essential to the work.
Education necessary or common
Vocational training, apprenticeship, or associate's degree
Licenses & certifications
- QuickBooks ProAdvisor / Certified User
- Certified Bookkeeper (AIPB) or NACPB license
- Microsoft Office Specialist (Excel)
Career path
Related fields
Courses to take
- Accounting — the direct preparation; take it twice if offered in levels
- Business math
- Computer Applications — Excel and QuickBooks fluency get people hired
- English — professional correspondence
- Personal Finance
Clubs, activities & competitions
- FBLA accounting events
- Treasurer role in any club or class
- Office aide or school store bookkeeping
- Part-time work with register/cash-out duties
First steps you can take now
- Take QuickBooks' free tutorials or a community-college intro bookkeeping course open to teens
- Keep real double-entry books for a club, fundraiser, or your own money for one quarter
- Master ten core Excel skills against a checklist
- Ask a local small business's bookkeeper to walk you through their month
