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Accounts Clerk
Accounts clerks keep accurate financial records and help to prepare accounts in all types of business. They may also be known as finance clerks or bookkeepers.
Typical duties include
- balancing accounts (double entry book-keeping)
- processing sales invoices, receipts and payments
- preparing statements showing income and expenditure
- completing VAT returns
- checking that accounts are accurate
- preparing wages and processing expenses claims, if dealing with payroll
- helping to prepare final accounts, such as profit and loss accounts and balance sheets
- using computerised accounting systems.
In larger organisations, accounts clerks are usually part of an accounting team, and often specialise in one area like sales or purchase ledger, payroll or credit control. They also often give administrative support to accountants. In small businesses, bookkeepers usually do all of these tasks and may also bank takings and balance petty cash.
Hours and Environment
Most accounting technicians work 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. They may need to work extra hours at busy times. Flexi-time, part-time work and job sharing are widely available. Temporary work is often available.
Skills and Interests
To be an accounts clerk you should:
- be comfortable working with numbers
- have good spoken and written communication skills
- be interested in business and finance
- be able to plan and organise your own workload
- work accurately and pay attention to detail
- work well as part of a team
- be able to work to strict deadlines
- be honest, discreet and trustworthy.
Entry
There are no set entry qualifications for becoming an accounts clerk, but you will need to feel confident with maths. Some employers may prefer you to have GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3) including English and maths.
You will find it helpful to have previous experience of office work. Computer experience is also useful, particularly in using spreadsheet and database packages like Microsoft Excel and Access.
You may have an advantage if you take an entry-level bookkeeping qualification before looking for accounts work. Relevant qualifications include:
- Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) ABC Level 2 Certificate in Book-keeping
- International Association of Bookkeepers (IAB) Levels 2 and 3 Certificates in Bookkeeping
- Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) Level 1 Certificate in Basic Bookkeeping or Level 2 in Manual or Computerised Bookkeeping
- OCR Level 1 Certificate in Bookkeeping and Levels 2 and 3 Certificates in Accounting
- City & Guilds (8953) Levels 1and 2 Certificates in Bookkeeping and Accounts.
You can study for most of these qualifications full- or part-time in colleges or training centres, or by distance learning.
You may be able to get into this job through an apprenticeship scheme. Funding for apprenticeships is available for 16-24 year olds and some over-25s. To find out more, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk. For information about apprenticeships in other parts of the UK, see Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Training
If you are working for a company, you will usually be trained on the job whilst helping more experienced staff. Employers may also allow you to study for work-based qualifications, such as:
- NVQ/SVQ Levels 2, 3 and 4 in Accounting
- AAT Accounting Qualification at Foundation, Intermediate and Technician levels.
You can study by work-based training, part-time at a college or training centre, or by distance learning.
When you have reached NVQ/SVQ Level 4 or AAT Technician level, you will be a qualified accounting technician, able to produce financial reports and assist with accountants with audits. In the longer term, you could continue to study and qualify as an accountant. See the Accounting Technician profile for more information.
If you prefer to take further bookkeeping courses by distance learning, you could progress to qualifications such as:
- IAB Level 3 Diploma in Accounting and Advanced Bookkeeping or Small Business Financial Management
- ICB Level 3 Diploma in Bookkeeping (Manual or Computerised).
See IAB and ICB websites for more details.
Opportunities
As an accounts clerk, you could work for all types of organisation, including commercial companies, local and central government, public services and accountancy firms. You could also be a self-employed bookkeeper for a number of small businesses.
Work is available all over the UK. Jobs may be advertised in the local press, Jobcentre Plus, and by mainstream and specialist financial recruitment agencies.
With more experience and qualifications, you could become an accounting technician and take on more complex work. You could also choose to study further and qualify as an accountant.
Annual Income
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
Starting salaries are usually around £12,000 to £14,000 a year.
With skills and experience, earnings are usually around £14,000 to £18,000.
A senior book-keeper can earn £18,000 to £20,000 a year.
Self-employed bookkeepers can earn more.
Further information
London
SW1Y 4RB
Tel: 0845 060 2345
44 London Road
Sevenoaks
Kent
TN13 1AS
Tel: 01732 458080
London
EC1R 5AD
Tel: 020 7415 7660
London
EC2V 7HQ
Tel: 0845 257 3772
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Site Disclaimer
The information contained in our Career Profiles Database was correct at time of publishing, but since publication certain details may have changed so please use this section as a research tool and in some cases further research may be required.
Careers Database Information By Learn Direct Advice