Accounts Clerks
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Accounts Clerks monitor creditor and debtor accounts, and undertake related routine documentation. They may work in call centres.
Also known as: Accounts Payable Clerk or Receivable Clerk.
Specialisations: Audit Clerk, Investment Accounting Clerk.
Formal qualifications are not essential to work as an Accounts Clerk. Although some workers have a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification or university degree in accounting, business administration, banking and finance, management and commerce, secretarial and clerical.
Tasks
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Prepares and processes documentation related to accounts payable and receivable.
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Reconciles invoices and dispatches payments.
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Calculates, analyses and investigates the costs of proposed expenditure, wages and standard costs.
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Prepares bank reconciliations.
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Allocates expenditure to specified budget accounts.
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Summarises expenditure and receipts.
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May work in a call centre.
Characteristics
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University
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Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Informal or on-the-job
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Administrative
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Sedentary
Outlook
JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. Employment projections data are only produced for occupations at the broad four digit Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) level. While data are not available for this occupation, projections data are available for the parent occupation, Accounting Clerks, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 63% of people employed as Accounts Clerks work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is similar to the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 40 hours per week in their main job. This is 4 hours less than the all jobs average (44 hours per week).
Sources:Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average.
Industries
Main industries
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Accounts Clerks work in industries like:
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.
Regions
Employment across Australia
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Employment by State and Territory (% Share)
State | Accounts Clerks | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 32.9 | 31.6 |
VIC | 25.4 | 25.6 |
QLD | 19.6 | 20.0 |
SA | 6.7 | 7.0 |
WA | 11.0 | 10.8 |
TAS | 1.6 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.9 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.9 | 1.9 |
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Around 68% of Accounts Clerks live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
- Melbourne - South East
- Melbourne - West
- Sydney - Inner South West
- Melbourne - Outer East
- Perth - South East.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Worker profile
Age and gender
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The median age of Accounts Clerks is 44 years. This is higher than the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 45 to 54 years.
Females make up 86% of the workforce. This is 38 percentage points above the all jobs average of 48%.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile (% Share)
Age Bracket | Accounts Clerks | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.8 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 5.0 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 21.7 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 25.0 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 26.2 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 10.3 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 6.9 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 4.2 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 44 | 40 |
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Employment Pathways
Education, training and experience
Formal qualifications are not essential to work as an Accounts Clerk. Although some workers have a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification or university degree in accounting, business administration, banking and finance, management and commerce, secretarial and clerical.
Visit
- Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
- ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Financial Services VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Accounts Clerks | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 7.3 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 19.2 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 15.3 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 14.8 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 23.4 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 6.7 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 13.2 | 12.5 |
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Skills and Knowledge
Employers look for Accounting Clerks who can work well with others, communicate as part of a team and have good computer literacy.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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55%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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54%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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50%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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48%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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46%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
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46%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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45%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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45%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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43%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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41%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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41%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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41%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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37%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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37%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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36%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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36%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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36%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
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36%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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34%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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32%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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70%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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54%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
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54%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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50%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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47%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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47%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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41%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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29%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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27%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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22%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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20%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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20%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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17%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
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17%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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12%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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11%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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11%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
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10%
Foreign languageForeign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
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6%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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4%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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57%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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55%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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54%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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52%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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52%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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52%
Working with numbersAdd, subtract, multiply, or divide.
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50%
MathematicsChoose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
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50%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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46%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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46%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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45%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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45%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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45%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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45%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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41%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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41%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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37%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
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36%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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36%
MemorizationRemember things like words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.
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34%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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65%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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63%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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62%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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61%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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59%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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58%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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53%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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53%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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53%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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51%
Managing payments and ordersMonitoring and controlling resources and the spending of money.
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50%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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49%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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49%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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47%
Providing office supportDoing day-to-day office work such as filing and processing paperwork.
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44%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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40%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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40%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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40%
Negotiating and resolving conflictsHandling complaints and disagreements, and negotiating with people.
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40%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
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39%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
Interests and demands
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
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100%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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52%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
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33%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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33%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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24%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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14%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
Values
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71%
SupportSupportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
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67%
RelationshipsServe and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
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52%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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52%
IndependenceWork alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
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52%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
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43%
RecognitionAdvancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
Demands
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97%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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96%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
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94%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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92%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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89%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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88%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
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86%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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86%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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83%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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81%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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79%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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78%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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76%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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75%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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74%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
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70%
Making repetitive motionsSpend time making repetitive motions.
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67%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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67%
Using your hands to handle, control, or feelSpend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
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63%
Conflict situationsDeal with conflict or disagreements.
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58%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 43-3031.00 - Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks.
Links and downloads
Research and reports
The Skills Priority List provides a current labour market rating and a future demand rating for nearly 800 occupations nationally. Current labour market ratings are available for occupations at a state and territory level.
Downloads
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Occupation profiles data are available for download.
The Employment Projections are available for download.