Accounting and Related Clerks

What They Do

	Calculate, prepare, and issue documents such as bills, invoices, inventory reports, and other financial statements, by hand or by computer
	Code, total, batch, enter, verify, and reconcile transactions such as accounts payable/receivable, payroll, purchase orders, cheques, invoices, cheque requisitions, and bank statements in a ledger or computer system
	Compile budget data/documents based on estimated revenues/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 questions, maintain good customer relations, and solve problems
	Perform other duties such as word processing, maintaining filing/record systems, faxing, and photocopying

Where They Find Work — Top Occupational Areas

These clerks work in business/government.

The highest concentrations (per 10,000 people) of accounting and related clerks are found in Manitoba and Alberta while the lowest concentrations are in Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick.

To enhance your professional knowledge and broaden your opportunities, consider:

	Assessing new office equipment/ software programs
	Maintaining office machinery
	Learning how to build and maintain customer relations

What You Need

	You usually need a high school diploma.
	You may need a college program or other course in accounting, bookkeeping or computer operations.
	If you are an accounting clerk, you may need to be bondable.
	With additional training/experience, you may move up the ranks to become a supervisor or to a position requiring more skills such as bookkeeper.
	Most recent entrants have a trade/vocational certificate or community college diploma, and almost 1 in 4 has an undergraduate university degree.

	Communication skills
	Accounting and budgeting
	Computer literacy Useful High School Subjects Accounting Math Computer Basics English Current Conditions Your work prospects are rated FAIR because: Demand is increasing because economic expansion has resulted in more financial transactions. Hourly wages ($14.84) are below average ($16.91), and the rate of wage growth is about average. The unemployment rate (3.6%) is below average (5%). The number of job openings exceeds the number of job seekers. Outlook To 2007 Your work prospects will continue to be rated FAIR because: The employment growth rate will likely be above average because continued economic expansion should result in more financial and other transactions. The retirement rate will likely be about average, and the number of retiring workers should contribute to job openings. The number of job openings will likely exceed the number of job seekers.   Preparing for the Competition You'll need skills in computerized accounting, inventory, and billing systems Source: Government of Canada