Should I Consider Becoming an Internal Clerk?
Mar 1, 2015 | 8:00 am
An internal clerk refers to an entry-level clerk who works internally, that is, within the organization. This is often a tax-oriented position since internal audits help to reduce the possibility of IRS auditing, or other fees and penalization in lieu of errors or failure to comply with the law. In this case, the internal clerk is likely an audit director or has an assistant position to such a professional.
What Does the Internal Clerk Do?
The audit clerk is taught professional directives and review techniques, including how to use yearly inspection diagrams and how to work with risk-based audits. This is the clerk’s job to carry out assessment by appraising departmental assets and the purposes of all items.
The internal clerk, in an assistant’s role, probably works under a director’s management. He or she may be the one performing internal auditing and executing other tasks. The director’s office offers consultative services as well as reports and statements, especially as regards answerability; the corporate office requires this information before submitting correspondence to the government office.
The Internal Clerk Assumes Some Responsibility
The director takes the public responsibility, but you as the assistant answer to the director. You may even be responsible for heavier duties, such as creating risk assessments and developing internal auditing plans that benefits the company. The director’s duties also include organizing labor projects, controlling resources, combining outcomes and appraising risk scenarios. If you have the experience, you will assist an auditing director in these individual tasks.
Since this is an internal position, you work in agreement with company protocol, not necessarily standard practice—although most companies do have policies that match the principles of the Auditing and Accounting Principles Committee (AAPC). You are not given the pressure of supervising as a clerk, but will listen to the director’s instruction as you continue to perform orthodox testing and auditing progression procedures.
Is It Worth It?
If you want to work in auditing or work your way up to a more responsible position like auditing director or even a CFO in the future, then gaining work experience in a financial department is the best option, especially if your previous experience is not in a business related course. If you want to pursue other managerial careers outside of financial it may not be the ideal placement for you. It really depends on your long-term career goals, which you ought to know in advance of taking such a position.
You will have to demonstrate your abilities in communications (written and oral skills) and show yourself attentive to production requirements from the company—always maintaining impartiality. The department is supposed to be exemplary in practicing communication skills with the departments outside, even if this is a stressful position.
Gaining a solid knowledge in accounting and auditing firms is never a waste, even if your ultimate goal is somewhere outside of the department. This training allows you to understand the complexities of economics. This is what keeps a business running efficiently and understanding the nuts and bolts of the operation is key.