Computerized Accounting and Administrative Assistant

Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks are an organization’s financial record keepers. They update and maintain one or more accounting records, including those which tabulate expenditures, receipts, accounts payable and receivable, and profit and loss. They represent a wide range of skills and knowledge from full-charge bookkeepers who can maintain an entire company’s books to accounting clerks who handle specific accounts. All of these clerks make numerous computations each day and increasingly must be comfortable using computers to calculate and record data.

In small establishments, bookkeeping clerks handle all financial transactions and recordkeeping. They record all transactions, post debits and credits, produce financial statements, and prepare reports and summaries for supervisors and managers. Bookkeepers also prepare bank deposits by compiling data from cashiers, verifying and balancing receipts, and sending cash, checks, or other forms of payment to the bank. They also may handle payroll, make purchases, prepare invoices, and keep track of overdue accounts.

In large offices and accounting departments, accounting clerks have more specialized tasks. Their titles, such as accounts payable clerk or accounts receivable clerk, often reflect the type of accounting they do. In addition, their responsibilities vary by level of experience. Entry-level accounting clerks post details of transactions, total accounts, and compute interest charges. They also may monitor loans and accounts to ensure that payments are up to date.

Many secretaries and administrative assistants now provide training and orientation for new staff, conduct research on the Internet, and operate and troubleshoot new office technologies. In spite of these changes, however, the core responsibilities for secretaries and administrative assistants have remained much the same: Performing and coordinating an office’s administrative activities and storing, retrieving, and integrating information for dissemination to staff and clients.

Secretaries and administrative assistants are responsible for a variety of administrative and clerical duties necessary to run an organization efficiently. They serve as information and communication managers for an office; plan and schedule meetings and appointments; organize and maintain paper and electronic files; manage projects; conduct research; and disseminate information by using the telephone, mail services, Web sites, and e-mail. They also may handle travel and guest arrangements.

Occupational Outlook
Employment of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks is projected to grow more slowly than average for all occupations through 2014. More job openings will stem from replacement needs than from job growth. Each year, numerous jobs will become available as these clerks transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force. The large size of this occupation ensures plentiful job openings, including many opportunities for temporary and part-time work.

Opportunities in office administration should be best for applicants with extensive knowledge of software applications, particularly experienced secretaries and administrative assistants.

Employment growth in the health care and social assistance and legal services industries should lead to average growth for medical and legal secretaries. Employment of executive secretaries and administrative assistants is projected to grow average for all occupations. Growing industries—such as administrative and support services; health care and social assistance; educational services (private); and professional, scientific, and technical services—will continue to generate most new job opportunities. A decline in employment is expected for secretaries, except legal, medical, or executive; they account for about 47 percent of all secretaries and administrative assistants.

Salaries
In July 2005, the median wage and salary annual earnings of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks were $32,570. The middle half of the occupation earned between $24,560 and $38,140. The top 10 percent of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks more than $45,270, and the bottom 10 percent earned less than $20,380.

This program is approved by: IL Board of Education
This program prepares you for: Skill attainment highly successful in current job market.

Computerized Accounting and Administrative Assistant Program
Total Duration: 220 clock hours classroom instruction
Prerequisites: High School diploma or GED. Basic oral, written and conversational skills in English language.
Course Fee: $4,360

Introduction to Computers and Office Technologies course
Total Duration: 40 clock hours classroom instruction
Prerequisites: High School diploma or GED. Basic oral, written and conversational skills in English language.
Course Fee: $250