Should I Consider Becoming a Forensic Clerk?
Mar 2, 2015 | 12:00 pm
Having a career as an accounting forensic clerk is not only challenging, but also quite rewarding as well. This position will allow you to have a great career as a forensic accountant, all you will need to do is to acquire the proper education and garner some experience as well. There is a lot of room for growth in this particular field. Forensic accounting clerk is a typical entry-level position in the financial sector, and positions are generally open in banks or other financial institutions.
Education Requirements
It is important to know that most employers prefer to hire candidates with a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree to join their accounting staff; however, forensic clerks with a certificate or associate’s degree can be hired to work with forensic accountants.
Starting a career as a clerk in forensic accounting definitely offer you a valuable experience that will allow you to work your way to the top. Many people who enter the field of forensic accounting have acquired an education or have a background in economics, business administration, finance and mathematics in addition to their accounting knowledge.
There is no doubt that forensic clerks are valuable members of any organization’s accounting team and provide valuable support in a variety of areas within the department.
Duties of a Forensic Clerk
•They verify the correctness of documents, invoices and records
•They maintain ledgers, journals, company transactions and financial reports
•They enter data into chosen accounting software systems/programs
•They compile data and prepare subsequent reports
•They reconcile records concerning staff members of the company, vendors and clients/customers
•They maintain the day to day records of purchases made, invoices, expenses, payroll and ledgers
•Discover, analyze and make recommendations in order to rectify problematic data or discrepancies
•They assist in financial, productivity and operational reporting
•They analyze productivity and expense trends and the reasons of variance
•They are proficient in the use of Excel spreadsheet and have the ability to translate, assess data effectively and examine data
Soft Skills Needed to be a Forensic Clerk
If you want to be a forensic accounting clerk, you need to have the following skills:
•Be a problem solver
•Have superior written and oral communication skills
•Have the ability to work without supervision or as a part of team and be able to handle several tasks
•Help coworkers and help train new staff members
•Have the ability to pay close attention to details
•Be discreet and be able to keep sensitive and confidential information
•Be organized and analytical
Salary of Forensic Clerks
There is no doubt that the human element is vital when handling the finances of small, mid-sized and large businesses. A lot of factor actually determine the salary of a forensic accounting clerk, these factors include: employment opportunities, area of the nation, educational level and level of experience. The salary for a forensic clerk differs according to territory and region. However, two sources coming out of Medina, Texas and Sierra Vista, Arizona, indicate the starting salary is approximately $35,000 per year.
There are many colleges and universities offline and online where you can enroll in order to achieve your goal of becoming a forensic accounting clerk.