Should I Consider Becoming a Revenue Clerk?

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Revenue clerks perform clerical tasks related to financial transactions at transit agencies, utilities and other different types of service providers. The duties of revenue clerks include collecting payments, issuing bills, handling overdue accounts and documenting account details. Revenue clerks may also be responsible for preparing financial statements. Some offices offer administration support due to the high volume of payments that will need to be handled. There are also cases where the clerks work solo and will have to report to the finance director or to an official who has similar position.

Revenue Clerks Job Description

Details of the services provided will need to be forwarded to revenue clerks, who prepare statements for the customers. The use of automated software is essential to facilitating this process; the software hastens the process by simply printing the statement(s) on request, and help in performing essential estimate for fees, taxes and other expenses.

The bills can be sent out to customers with payment envelopes and details about other payment alternatives. There are revenue clerks that work using Internet payment systems. The submission of payments online may be configured with the computer system in order to record data automatically and create reports that can be used by the revenue clerk.

As businesses make their payments, revenue clerks match the payments with the accounts and documents them. In the situation where a balance is due, another bill may be sent to the business, or notes may be included specifying payment plans available. It is important to keep accurate records in order to avoid double-billing customers or sending them to collections when they are not in poor standing. Revenue clerks may also update addresses or service details and change accounts in order to ensure that customers are billed correctly and properly.

Periodic financial information can provide details about the payments that have already been collected and the money owed. Revenue clerks send these out to other office staff, so they are aware of how much money the agency or business is bringing in. The periodic financial information can also offer information about the volume of services that are being used, which will help with planning. For instance, a water utility may need to make plans to have water trucked in to meet water needs in the dry season.

Education and Skills

In order to start your career as a clerk, you will need to have a high school diploma or its equivalent – this is the minimum requirement. Also, be prepared to get loads of on-the-job training. Acquiring additional training or education in accounting, business, or any other related courses will be an advantage if you want to start out as a revenue clerk. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly payment for a clerk as of May 2012 was $13.21 per hour – this is quite reasonable for an entry-level job straight out of high school.

As you stick with this career, you can earn more, the sooner you prove yourself and show others that you understand the industry.