Occupation guide · 43-3031.00
Bookkeeping clerks: build a practical learning plan
A useful first learning cycle pairs accurate arithmetic with careful reading of transaction documents. Practice identifying a key, following a matching rule and explaining a difference before adding speed. Your chosen priorities should reflect a task you want to perform, not merely the highest source rating.
Compute, classify, and record numerical data to keep financial records complete. Perform any combination of routine calculating, posting, and verifying duties to obtain primary financial data for use in maintaining accounting records. May also check the accuracy of figures, calculations, and postings pertaining to business transactions recorded by other workers.
First explore this role’s tasks →
Five skills connected to a concrete work product
These are selected learning options, not a complete ranking. Source importance runs from 1 to 5; source level runs from 0 to 7. The two scales describe different things and are not percentages or pass marks. Ratings describe an occupation, not your personal ability.
| Skill | Importance / 5 | Level / 7 | Source date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 3.38 | 3.38 | 07/2017 · Analyst |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.25 | 3.75 | 07/2017 · Analyst |
| Critical Thinking | 3.25 | 3.25 | 07/2017 · Analyst |
| Writing | 3.12 | 3.12 | 07/2017 · Analyst |
| Monitoring | 3.00 | 2.88 | 07/2017 · Analyst |
Write a learning action you can inspect
Choose one to three priorities. For each, name the work product, the next action, what would count as evidence and a review date. Keep your plan tied to a task rather than a rating alone.
Within one week, complete the invoice-match exercise and write a note identifying the two held lines, their separate reasons and the payable total.
Mathematics
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Try it here: Reconcile the bank and book balances, then account for every adjustment.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Try it here: Read the three-way match policy and identify the required order, receipt and invoice evidence.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Try it here: Decide whether repeated invoices are exact copies or unresolved conflicts.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Try it here: Write an exception note that a colleague can follow without reopening every source.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Try it here: Recheck the accepted total against the excluded and duplicate record counts.
Try related work
Find repeat invoices without losing legitimate bills
An invoice import contains exact repeats and a disagreement about one amount. Prepare the accepted invoice count and payable total, with a separate count of unresolved rows.
Match an invoice against an order and receipt
Four invoice lines need a payment recommendation. Apply a strict match against ordered quantities, accepted receipts and agreed prices; hold the entire line when a check fails.
Explain a bank-to-book difference with a timing bridge
The bank statement and cash ledger disagree at month end. Use the listed timing items and unrecorded bank fee to bring both balances to the same cutoff.
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Source and practice material
Occupational context uses the O*NET® 31.0 Database from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. View the occupation.
Skill Workbench selected and adapted the occupational information and added its own fictional cases, calculations, guidance and worksheets. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these additions. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.