How to Become an Auditing Clerk
Career News September 3, 2013An auditing clerk is an integral part of a business, as this professional performs several key duties in keeping track of numerical data in order to build records. This means making sure information is accurate whether manually added or by using advanced computer software. Some graduating students will work with loans; others will work with accounts and inventory records. As an auditor, you will be preparing financial reports and communicating with personnel on your findings. Companies will depend on you comprehending their finances and being able to explain where money went and where it originated from.
Most workers in this field are active during the end of the fiscal year, as well as tax time, though you may be asked to do monthly audits for some jobs. You may have to learn computer software and keep up to date with legal changes and industry changes, not to mention, internal company policies, which change frequently. While many workers in this field work in the public sector, there are also private company opportunities. As long as you can keep good records, track expenditures accurately, and keep track of receipts, profits and losses, you will build a skill set that any industry would deem valuable.
Finding a Job as an Auditing Clerk
Knowledge of math and accounting principles is certainly a foundation upon which to build on. In addition to basic math, you must also learn how to analyze financial data, interpret it according to company goals, and compile the data for review quickly. Since you will be reviewing financial information, you have to be ethical in this practice. You can build a reputation fast, for better or worse, as a trustworthy hard worker or someone to avoid at all cost. Work hard to establish the former and you will always find work in your chosen community.
Since the position is clerk, you are not working as a one-person reviewer, but will work with bookkeeping clerks, accountants and executives. You must be firm and sure in your findings, as you will have to verify the accuracy of records and catch mistakes from your co-workers.
What College Training Should Auditing Clerks Receive?
Since this is a clerk position, a bachelor’s degree or higher is not always required. The minimum might be a high school diploma or an associate’s degree depending on the firm’s own wishes. Of course, a few years of experience in practice finance work is often requested by employers who will be entrusting you with sensitive information. Statistically speaking, almost 40% of auditing clerks holding job positions applied with only a high school diploma. Nevertheless, learning all you can about accounting and computer technology would be a step in the right direction. If you can prove yourself educated and intelligent to a firm, you may even be able to receive on the job training.
If you have higher aims, then opt to become certified through organizations like the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers. This is a truly open career field that is growing and receptive to new graduates who have an eye for detail. It’s also a stepping stone into a profession; CPA-level accounting that is among the highest paying of any industry!
