Understanding Financial Clerk Job Description
This guide explores the key Financial Clerk Job Description, responsibilities, required skills, education and training to properly prepare for a career as a financial clerk.
A Job Overview
A financial clerk processes financial transactions and maintains financial records for organizations. Read on for an overview of what a financial clerk’s job entails.
Financial Clerk Job Description
- Works in the finance department of various types of establishments like corporations, government agencies, schools etc.
- Key duties involve processing payments, preparing financial statements, reviewing records for accuracy, reconciling accounts etc.
- Interacts with customers and subordinates on financial matters.
Typical Work Environments
- Finance departments
- Banks
- Accounting firms
- Insurance companies
- Government agencies
Financial Clerk Responsibilities
Processing Financial Transactions
- Prepare invoices, account statements, expense reports etc.
- Review documents for accuracy and compliance with regulations.
- Reconcile accounts to ensure numbers match between systems.
Maintaining Financial Records
- Record day-to-day financial transactions
- Update ledgers, spreadsheets, databases
- Archive financial documents
Providing Customer Support
- Address client and customer queries on transactions, statements, charges etc.
- Guide clients on financial best practices
Ensuring Compliance
- Comply with internal financial policies and government regulations
- Support external and internal audits
Financial Clerk Requirements and Skills
Education
- High school diploma or equivalent qualification
- Coursework in math, accounting, and finance helpful
Key Competencies
- Proficiency with spreadsheets and accounting software
- A keen eye for detail
- Strong math and bookkeeping skills
- Customer service orientation
Character Traits
- Integrity – handle monetary transactions ethically
- Discretion – protect confidential data
- Organization – keep meticulous records
This provides an overview of what a financial clerk typically handles in their job on a day-to-day basis – key responsibilities, must-have skills and working conditions. Please let me know if you need any clarification or would like me to add/modify any areas!
Financial Clerk Job Description Template
We are seeking a detail-oriented financial clerk to process financial transactions for our company. The financial clerk will maintain accurate records of monetary transactions and provide customer service support on financial matters.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Prepare, verify, and process invoices, expense reports, account statements and other financial documents
- Perform data entry to record daily financial transactions
- Reconcile accounts and ledgers to ensure numbers match across systems
- Review financial records for accuracy and compliance with accounting protocols
- Update and maintain spreadsheets, databases and other records of financial transactions
- Address client and customer queries regarding payments, charges, statements accounts etc.
- Comply with company policies and government financial regulations and support audits
- Keep abreast of organizational and legal changes impacting work financial work
Required Qualifications
- High school degree or equivalent qualification
- Proven work experience as a financial clerk or similar financial/accounting role
- Hands-on experience with spreadsheets (Excel etc.) and accounting software
- Strong attention to detail and organizational abilities
- Excellent math skills
- Strong customer service orientation
- High ethical standards and integrity
Preferred Qualifications
- Coursework in accounting or bookkeeping
- Familiarity with auditing processes
- Experience preparing tax statements and documentation
This financial clerk job description provides a template that outlines primary duties, requirements and qualifications to adapt to your company’s specific hiring needs for the role.
What does a financial clerk do?
A financial clerk processes financial transactions and updates records of monetary transactions for an organization. Key duties include preparing invoices and expense reports, reconciling accounts, and providing customer support on financial queries.
What are the day-to-day activities of a financial clerk?
Financial clerks perform a lot of data entry into spreadsheets and databases to log transactions. They verify records for accuracy and review documents like account statements and invoices for errors. They also respond to client and customer questions related to payments, refunds, charges etc.
What skills and qualifications are required to be a financial clerk?
Most financial clerk roles require a high school degree and proven work experience in an accounting/finance setting. Essential skills include numeracy, spreadsheet/software proficiency, attention to detail, communication and integrity when handling monetary transactions.
What kind of companies hire financial clerks?
Banks, insurance firms, accounting companies, corporations, government agencies and schools hire financial clerks. They work in accounts payable/receivable, payroll, billing and other transaction processing teams.
What qualities make a good financial clerk?
Successful financial clerks are meticulous with details, skilled in resolving discrepancies between records, comfortable with various financial software and have strong customer handling skills to address client/customer financial queries.
What is the job outlook for financial clerks?
Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for financial clerks are estimated to show a modest decline over the next decade due to automation and integration of accounting systems. However, roles in customer-facing financial service domains may grow.
What is the average salary for financial clerks?
The average annual salary for financial clerks in the US ranges between $35,000 – $45,000 per year. Higher wages are typically paid in the financial services sector.