Accounting and Related Clerks (NOC 1431)

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Description

This unit group includes clerks who calculate, prepare and process bills, invoices, accounts payable and receivable, budgets and other financial records according to established procedures. They are employed throughout the private and public sectors.

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Example Titles

• accounting clerk
• accounts payable clerk
• accounts receivable clerk
• audit clerk
• billing clerk
• budget clerk
• costing clerk
• deposit clerk
• finance clerk
• freight-rate clerk
• income tax return preparer
• invoice clerk
• ledger clerk
• tax clerk

      >> View all titles

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Classified Elsewhere

• Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Clerks (1434)
• Bookkeepers (1231)
• Collectors (1435)
• Financial Auditors and Accountants (1111)
• Payroll Clerks (1432)
• Supervisors, Finance and Insurance Clerks (1212)

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Duties

Accounting and related 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.

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Skills

Accounting clerks should have the following skills and abilities:

• ability to work with numbers quickly and accurately,
• basic mathematical and bookkeeping skills,
• good organizational skills,
• the ability to concentrate on details and do repetitious work,
• be able to follow verbal and written instructions,
• good verbal and written communication skills,
• analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills,
• the ability to use a computerized accounting system, with skills in word processing, spreadsheets, database software and accounting software,
• respect for confidentiality,
• the ability to work independently or as a member of a team, and get along with other people.

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Employment Requirements

• In Manitoba, completion of secondary school is usually required.
• The specific educational requirements for accounting clerk positions vary greatly from one employer to another, depending upon the scope and responsibility of the positions. Most companies use computerized bookkeeping operations and require their employees to have related training or experience. Up to two years of on-the-job training or a related post-secondary certificate or diploma may be required.

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Terms & Conditions

Accounting and related clerks work in a computerized office environment throughout the public and private sectors. Those who work at counters may have to deal directly with the public. A 35 to 40 hour work week is standard, although overtime, evening and weekend work may be required during the income tax season.

Most work full-time (87%), self-employment in this occupation is not common (5%).

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Earnings

$25,300 per annum - starting

$35,200 per annum - average

$50,800.00 per annum - high

Earnings are reviewed annually or more frequently if new information becomes available.

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Education / Training

Office and business administration certificate and diploma programs with courses in bookkeeping and accounting are offered at all colleges in Manitoba:

• Assiniboine Community College, l'École technique et professionnelle, Red River College and the University College of the North offer diploma and certificate programs in business/office administration.
• The following Private Vocational Institutions in Manitoba offer programs in this field: Academy of Learning (Brandon, Dauphin, South, Winnipeg, Swan River), Anokiiwin Training Institute, CDI College, Herzing College, Robertson College, Patal Vocational Preparatory Schools, Winnipeg Technical College, Yellowquill College,
• Some high schools in Manitoba offer a program in Business Education.

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Career Paths

Persons in office jobs such as clerks, secretaries or computer operators may advance to junior accounting clerk positions and learn their skills on-the-job.

Accounting clerks may specialize in functions such as payroll, cost-accounting, billing.

Accounting clerks with experience may move into data management, supervisory or office management positions.

Accounting clerks may enrol in training with the Certified General Accountant or Certified Management Accountant programs. Training can take several years.

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Outlook

Employment prospects are expected to be good in the 2010 to 2014 period. This is a large occupational group and there will be frequent job openings occurring due to replacement demand (i.e. people retiring or leaving for other kinds of jobs). Employment in Manitoba in 2010 is estimated at 6,300.

All large or medium sized companies and government departments employ accounting or finance clerks (small businesses tend to hire book keepers). The continuing uncertainty in the financial markets should result in more financial transactions and related activities. Accounting systems are becoming increasingly computerized and over time productivity gains are expected to slowly reduce the number of accounting clerks required. At the same time, the job is likely to become more highly skilled and less routine.

A proportionally larger share of jobs in this occupational group are located in Winnipeg. Across industries, accounting and related clerks are relatively evenly distributed throughout most sectors, with the greatest concentrations in Public Administration (20%), Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (9%), Manufacturing (9%), Wholesale Trade (8%), Transportation and Warehousing (8%), Retail Trade (8%) and Finance and Insurance (8%).

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Employment by Age Group

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Employment by Industry

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Employment by Region

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Employment by Gender

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Employment by Aboriginal Self-Identification

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Employment by Visible Minority

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Please Note - The source for above charts is the 2006 Census.