Financial Clerks

Financial Clerks

Financial clerks keep and update financial records.

Financial clerks do administrative work for many types of organizations. They keep records, help customers, and carry out financial transactions.

Duties

Financial clerks typically do the following:

·         Keep and update financial records

·         Compute bills and charges

·         Offer customer assistance

·         Carry out financial transactions

Financial clerks give administrative and clerical support in financial settings. Their specific job duties vary by specialty and by setting.

Billing and posting clerks calculate charges, develop bills, and prepare them to be mailed to customers. They review documents such as purchase orders, sales tickets, charge slips, and hospital records to compute fees or charges due. They also contact customers to get or give account information.

Gaming cage workers work in casinos and other gaming establishments. The “cage” in which they work is the central depository for money and gaming chips. Gaming cage workers sell gambling chips, tokens, or tickets to patrons. They count funds and reconcile daily summaries of transactions to balance books.

Payroll and timekeeping clerks compile and post employee time and payroll data. They verify and record attendance; hours worked, and pay adjustments. They ensure that employees are paid on time and that their paychecks are accurate.

Procurement clerks compile requests for materials, prepare purchase orders, keep track of purchases and supplies, and handle questions about orders. They respond to questions from customers and suppliers about the status of orders. They handle requests to change or cancel orders. They make sure that purchases arrive on schedule and that the items meet the purchaser's specifications.

Brokerage clerks help with tasks about securities such as stocks, bonds, commodities, and other kinds of investments. Their duties include writing orders for stock purchases and sales, computing transfer taxes, verifying stock transactions, accepting and delivering securities, distributing dividends, and keeping records of daily transactions and holdings.

Credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks review the credit history and get the information needed to determine the creditworthiness of individuals or businesses applying for credit. Credit authorizers evaluate customers' computerized credit records and payment histories to decide, based on predetermined standards, whether to approve new credit. Credit checkers call or write credit departments of business and service establishments to get information about applicants' credit standing.

Loan interviewers, also called loan processors or loan clerks, interview applicants and others to get and verify personal and financial information needed to complete loan applications. They also prepare the documents that go to the appraiser and are issued at the closing of a loan.

New accounts clerks interview people who want to open accounts in financial institutions. They explain the account services available to prospective customers and help them fill out applications. They also investigate and correct errors in accounts.

Insurance claims and policy processing clerks process applications for insurance policies. They also handle customers' requests to change or cancel their existing policies. Their duties include interviewing clients and reviewing insurance applications to ensure that all questions have been answered. They also notify insurance agents and accounting departments of policy cancellations or changes.

Work Environment

The vast majority of financial clerks work full time.

Financial clerks work in a variety of office settings, including bank branches, medical offices, and government agencies. The industries that employed the most financial clerks include:-

·         Credit intermediation and related activities

·         Insurance carriers and related activities

·         Health care

·         Professional, scientific, and technical services

·         Work Schedules

How to Become a Financial Clerk About this section

A high school diploma is sufficient for most financial clerk positions. These workers usually learn their duties through on-the-job training.

Some institutions though prefer one to have achieved Kenya Accounting and Technical Certificate (KATC) for some jobs as a financial clerk.  

Education

Financial clerks typically need a high school diploma or equivalent to enter the occupation. Employers of brokerage clerks may prefer candidates who have taken some college courses in business or economics, and in some cases require a 2- or 4-year college degree.

Training

Most financial clerks learn how to do their job duties through on-the-job training. Some formal technical training also may be necessary; for example, gaming cage workers may need training in specific gaming regulations and procedures.

Advancement

Financial clerks can advance to related occupations in finance. For example, a loan interviewer or clerk can become a loan officer, while a brokerage clerk can become a securities, commodities, or financial services sales agent, after obtaining the required education.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Financial clerks should have good communication skills so that they can explain policies and procedures to colleagues and customers.

Math skills. The job duties of financial clerks, including calculating charges and checking credit scores, require basic math skills.

Organizational skills. Strong organizational skills are important for financial clerks because they must be able to find files quickly and efficiently.

Similar Occupations

Bill and Account Collectors:        Bill and account collectors, sometimes called collectors, try to recover payment on overdue bills. They negotiate repayment plans with debtors and help them find solutions to make paying their overdue bills easier.

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks:                Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks produce financial records for organizations. They record financial transactions, update statements, and check financial records for accuracy.   

Gaming Services Occupations:  Gaming services workers serve customers in gambling establishments, such as casinos or racetracks. Some workers tend slot machines deal cards, or oversee other gaming activities such as keno or bingo. Others take bets or pay out winnings. Still others supervise or manage gaming workers and operations.

Information Clerks:                        Information clerks perform routine clerical duties such as maintaining records, collecting data, and providing information to customers.

Medical Records and Health Information Technicians:  Medical records and health information technicians, commonly referred to as health information technicians, organize and manage health information data. They ensure its quality, accuracy, accessibility, and security in both paper and electronic systems. They use various classification systems to code and categorize patient information for insurance reimbursement purposes, for databases and registries, and to maintain patients’ medical and treatment histories.                       

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants:          Secretaries and administrative assistants perform routine clerical and administrative duties. They organize files, draft messages, schedule appointments, and support other staff.       

Tellers:                                                 Tellers are responsible for accurately processing routine transactions at a bank. These transactions include cashing checks, depositing money, and collecting loan payments.

Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers, and Tapers

Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers, and Tapers 

Drywallers work with many different types of tools.

Drywall and ceiling tile installers hang wallboards to walls and ceilings and install ceiling tile inside buildings. Tapers prepare the wallboards for painting, using tape and other materials. Many workers do both installing and taping.

Duties

Drywall installers typically do the following:

•  Review design plans to minimize the number of cuts and waste of wallboard
•  Measure the locations of electrical outlets, plumbing, and windows
•  Cut drywall to the right size, using utility knives and power saws
•   Fasten drywall panels to interior wall studs, using nails or screws
• Trim and smooth rough edges so that boards join evenly

Ceiling tile installers typically do the following:

• Measure ceiling tile to match blueprints or drawings
•   Nail, screw, or clip in supports
• Put tiles or sheets of shock-absorbing materials on and into ceilings 
• Keep the tile in place with cement adhesive, nails, screws, or clips

Tapers typically do the following:

•  Prepare wall surfaces (wallboard) by patching nail holes
•  Apply tape and use sealing compound to cover joints between wallboards
• Apply additional coats of sealing compound to create an even surface
• Sand all joints and holes to a smooth, seamless finish

Installers also are called framers or hangers. Tapers also are called finishers. Ceiling tile installers sometimes are called acoustical carpenters because they work with tiles that block sound. In addition to performing new installation, many installers and tapers do repair work by fixing damaged drywall and replacing ceiling tile.

Once wallboards are hung, workers use increasingly wider trowels to spread multiple coats of spackle over cracks, indentations, and any remaining imperfections. Some workers may use a mechanical applicator, a tool that spreads sealing compound on the wall joint while dispensing and setting tape at the same time.

To work on ceilings, installers and tapers may use mechanical lifts or stand on stilts, ladders, or scaffolds.

Work Environment

Drywallers often stand on scaffolding to hang drywall.

A good number of drywall and ceiling tile installers and tapers are self-employed.

Drywall and ceiling tile installers and tapers work indoors. As in many other construction trades, the work is physically demanding. Workers spend most of the day standing, bending, or stretching, and they often must lift and maneuver heavy, oversized wallboards. To work on ceilings, installers and tapers must stand on stilts, ladders, or scaffolds.

Because the work is dusty, irritating the skin, eyes, and lungs, workers must wear protective masks, goggles, and gloves. Common injuries include falls from ladders or stilts, cuts from sharp tools, and muscle strains from lifting heavy materials.

Work Schedules

Most drywall and ceiling tile installers and tapers work full time.

Self-employed installers and tapers may be able to set their own schedule.

How to Become a Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer, or Taper

New drywallers typically learn their job by working with more experienced workers.

Although most drywall and ceiling tile installers and tapers learn their trade on the job, some learn through an apprenticeship.

Education

Although there are no education requirements to become a drywaller, high school math and general shop courses are considered useful.

Training

Most drywall and ceiling tile installers and tapers learn their trade on the job by helping more experienced workers and gradually being given more duties. They start by carrying materials and cleaning up, and then learn to use the tools of the trade. They also learn to measure, cut, and install or apply materials. Employers usually provide some on-the-job training, lasting up to 12 months.

A few drywall and ceiling tile installers and tapers learn their trade through a 3- or 4-year apprenticeship. For each year of the program, apprentices must have at least 144 hours of related technical work and 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training. During training, apprentices learn construction basics related to blueprint reading, mathematics, building code requirements, and safety and first-aid practices.

After completing an apprenticeship program, installers and tapers are considered journey workers and may perform duties on their own.

The basic qualifications for entering such a program are as follows:

·         Minimum age of 18

·         High school education or equivalent

·         Physically able to perform the work

Important Qualities

Math skills. Drywall and ceiling tile installers and tapers use basic math skills on every job. For example, they must be able to estimate the quantity of materials needed and measure accurately when cutting panels.

Physical stamina. Because installers and tapers constantly lift and move heavy materials into place, workers should be in good physical shape.

Physical strength. Standard drywall sheets can weigh 50 to 100 pounds. Drywall and ceiling tile installers often must lift heavy panels over their heads to secure onto the ceiling.

Similar Occupation

Brickmasons, Blockmasons, and Stonemasons:                 Brickmasons, blockmasons, and stonemasons (or, simply, masons) use bricks, concrete blocks, and atural and man-made stones to build fences, walkways, walls, and other structures.  

Carpenters:                        Carpenters construct and repair building frameworks and structures—such as stairways, doorframes, partitions, and rafters—made from wood and other materials. They also may install kitchen cabinets, siding, and drywall.     

Construction Laborers and Helpers:        Construction laborers and helpers perform many basic tasks that require physical labor on construction sites.        

Painters, Construction and Maintenance:            Painters apply paint, stain, and coatings to walls, buildings, bridges, and other structures.             

Tile and Marble Setters:               Tile and marble setters apply hard tile and marble to walls, floors, and other surfaces.