Financial Clerk Jobs Overview
Financial clerk jobs are a great way to put your organizational and mathematical skills to work. This career involves performing routine financial tasks to help a company function properly. You handle tasks such as maintaining records so that your coworkers, including accountants and analysts, have the information they need to do their jobs.
Daily tasks as a financial clerk usually involve processing transactions and organizing data. You might also collect payments from customers, update ledgers, or send paychecks to employees. Depending on the business, you may work with software like QuickBooks or Xero or handle paper documents.
A career as a financial clerk can be full-time or part-time, with hours that vary depending on your status. The position is more common in larger companies with big financial departments, but there are also some chances to work for small businesses.
Salaries for Financial Clerk Jobs
The median wage for a financial clerk is $47,070 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, keep in mind that not all employers will pay this amount. Some financial clerks earn as much as $66,000 or as little as $34,000 annually.
Of course, how many hours you work and who you work for will affect your salary. Financial clerks specializing in payroll, credit authorization, and lending tend to have higher-than-average salaries. You’ll be particularly in demand in San Jose, CA, New Haven, CT, and New York City, NY, so you might earn a higher salary in these regions.
For more information on salaries for financial clerks, check out the Monster salary calculator. You’ll see the average salary for financial clerks in your region.
How to Find the Right Financial Clerk Job
The first step to getting your ideal job as a financial clerk is finding the right listings to apply for. Postings for financial clerk jobs can contain useful information that lets you know whether you'd be happy with the position. Here are some things to keep in mind as you browse job listings on Monster.
The Company's Culture
Look up the company online and look for information that hints at whether they’d be an enjoyable employer to work with. For instance, see what former employees say about the company's management style and hours. You might also want to consider whether you want to work in a specific industry like healthcare or insurance.
The Job's Duties
Go over the job's duties and try to picture yourself performing them. See whether the tasks seem manageable to you. You might also want to consider whether you'll get the chance to learn about certain fields, like payroll, that interest you.
Your Qualifications
While it's normal to dream big, you're more likely to get callbacks if you focus on job listings that suit your skills. Check the listing to see whether they ask for specific qualifications, like two years of experience or knowledge of Microsoft Office, and make sure you have these accomplishments.
Your Long-Term Goals
Don't forget to prepare for the future while you're job hunting and consider how the job will affect your plans. Depending on your goals, it might be useful to find jobs that offer free certification courses for accountants or mentorship programs. If you hope to advance within your department, look for bigger companies with a reputation for internal promotions.
Applying for Financial Clerk Jobs
Once you find a promising job listing, you'll need to craft an effective application. Follow these tips to create the perfect application for financial clerk jobs.
Write a Strong Resume
Your resume is your chance to leave a strong first impression. Every resume for a financial clerk job needs to be a cleanly formatted document. A good finance resume provides concise examples of your past successes, such as the number of invoices you can process in a month or how many transactions you've closed.
Modern resumes aren't just written for human eyes either. You also need to use relevant keywords that will help your resume get past any applicant tracking software (APS) the company uses. Some good phrases to highlight in your resume include:
- accounts payable
- accounts receivable
- customer service
- data entry
- invoicing
- bookkeeping
- Microsoft Office
- compliance
Finally, don't hesitate to get help from the pros. If you aren't quite sure how to phrase things, try using Monster's Professional Resume Writing Services. Our experts learn about your background and help create a tailored resume for financial clerk jobs.
Include a Cover Letter
A cover letter often isn't mandatory, but including one is still a good idea. This document lets you put a more personal face on your application. You can share some of your journey, explain why you are a good fit for this job, and highlight your interest in the position.
You should also showcase your skills in your finance cover letter. Consider describing a specific situation where you saved your past employer money or helped with a complex financial records problem.
Create a Monster Account
If you haven't already, now is a great time to create a Monster account. You'll need this account to submit your application, and it also offers other perks during your job search process. In addition to personalized job recommendations, you'll get free resume reviews and assistance saving your application progress.
Fill Out the Application Form Online
The final step of applying is just finishing up your online application. Attach your resume, cover letter, and any other requested documents, and fill out the form on Monster.
This is your last chance to show your attention to detail and commitment to accuracy, so check everything carefully. Read over the job listing to see whether they have any specific requests, and double-check your form for spelling errors.
Following Up on an Application
Once your application goes out, you don't have to just sit and wait. Following up on your application can show that you’re proactive and help you stand out.
The typical etiquette when following up on applications to financial clerk jobs is to reach out only if you haven't heard from anyone within a week of applying. Read the job listing to see if it includes a helpful contact number for you to call. You can also find contact information on the company's website.
Whether your follow-up is an email or a phone call, keep things short and polite. Follow these expert tips, and make sure to include these details:
- your name and the position you're applying for
- an inquiry about where they are in the hiring process
- a brief mention of your interest in the job
- a request for them to contact you with more information
Interviewing for Financial Clerk Jobs
Financial clerk interviews are typically straightforward. With the right preparation, you can go into each interview with confidence. Here are some things to think about while you get ready for your interview.
Interview Types
For many financial clerk jobs, the first interview will be over the phone or video call. These initial assessments help hiring managers screen candidates for communication skills and general qualifications. If the company utilizes a specific video conferencing platform, practice using the app beforehand to avoid glitches or any technical issues.
The next round of interviews will likely be in person with one or more managers at the work site. This will be your opportunity to discuss your technical skills and ability to handle financial responsibilities. Some financial clerk interviews may also include tests to determine your abilities with data entry, technology, or reconciling accounts.
Be prepared for a possible panel interview in which multiple decision-makers sit down in the same room with you to ask questions and discuss the role. While panel interviews can be stressful, you'll be better prepared if you research the panelists and their job responsibilities.
Interview Questions
Of course, most interviews for financial clerk jobs will include common questions about your strengths, weaknesses, and work experience. Practice answering these questions ahead of time to increase your confidence and gain some mental clarity about why you'd be a good employee. You'll also need to practice more industry-specific questions like:
- How would you resolve a situation where you need to work with a spreadsheet but don't recognize all the formulas?
- What would you do if a coworker asked you to share confidential information with them?
- Can you give an example of a time you've made a mistake on a report and explain how you resolved the issue?
- How would you go about compiling data for an accounts payable report?
- Which accounting software have you used, and which do you prefer working with?
Answer Methods
You don't need to ad-lib your response to every interview question. It can be helpful to memorize a format and use it each time you need to respond. This technique lets you organize your thoughts and present information in an easy-to-understand way.
There are many popular techniques, but one of the most effective choices for financial clerk jobs is the STAR method. This approach lets you describe complex situations in a clear way that's easy for the interviewer to follow.
Interview Follow-Ups
After every interview, you have the opportunity to follow up immediately. Sending a thank-you note within 24 hours of the interview is an easy way to carry on a dialogue with the interviewer. This follow-up should be a brief email thanking the interviewer for their time and letting them know you're available if they have any other questions.
You might also want to consider a more detailed follow-up if you don't hear back from the employer within seven days. You can use this email to ask where they are in the hiring process and let them know you're still interested in the job. If you think you might not get the job, you can also ask for feedback that you can use to improve future interviews.
Responding to Job Offers
If everything goes well, you'll eventually hear good news from the employer you interviewed with. Most job offers start with a call or email to assess your interest. Be grateful, but avoid agreeing to anything just yet.
Instead, ask the company when they'll send an offer and how long you have to review it. It will usually come in the form of an emailed document that should clearly list all details about the job. You'll need to look it over to consider:
- the salary
- the job duties
- the schedule
- the benefits
- the job title
After reading the offer, you can either accept it right away or negotiate. The most effective negotiation tactics involve remaining polite and respectful while using research into local salary ranges to back up your request.
Career Paths
A financial clerk job can be an entry-level position that helps you prepare for a future in the financial industry. The experience you get as a clerk can help you prepare to become a financial manager or a financial analyst.
For some career paths, all you'll need to do is keep working as a financial clerk and gradually gain promotion to higher positions within your department. However, some jobs, like being a financial accountant, may also require you to get an advanced degree or pass a licensing test. Extra schooling, such as a master's in business administration, may also be a requirement if you hope to become an upper-level manager.
No matter your career plans, remember that networking and experience are essential within the financial industry. Try to get involved in big projects that will look good on your resume and practice working with software and systems that you'll need in other jobs. Some companies may offer mentorship programs or ongoing educational courses to help you prepare for the future.
Similar Occupations
Financial clerk jobs have some overlap with other careers within the financial industry. Here are some other careers that may be right for your skillset: