Billing Clerk
A billing clerk is a professional responsible for managing the billing process within various organizations, such as businesses, hospitals, and insurance companies. Their primary duties include reviewing financial records, calculating charges, preparing invoices, and addressing customer billing inquiries. Typically requiring a high school diploma, billing clerks engage in on-the-job training to develop necessary skills. The role emphasizes strong organizational abilities, attention to detail, and proficiency in mathematics, as clerks must accurately handle sensitive financial information.
Billing clerks often work standard hours in office settings but may also need to work overtime during busy periods. The occupation is projected to experience a decline in job opportunities, with an average annual salary of approximately $47,070. Additionally, individuals interested in this career path can enhance their qualifications through vocational training in areas like bookkeeping and accounting, although formal education beyond high school is not usually required. Overall, billing clerks play a vital role in the financial operations of their organizations.
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Subject Terms
Billing Clerk
Snapshot
Career Cluster(s): Business, Management & Administration, Health Science, Transportation, Distribution & Logistics
Interests: Accounting, business administration, mathematics, solving problems, customer service
Earnings (Yearly Average):$47,070 per year $22.63 per hour
Employment & Outlook: -4% (Decline)
Entry-Level Education High school diploma or equivalent
Related Work Experience None
On-the-job Training Yes; principal method of skill acquisition
Overview
Sphere of Work. Billing clerks oversee all stages of the billing process. Tasks completed by billing clerks may include reviewing financial records and data such as charge slips or purchase orders, calculating charges and fees for goods, preparing and sending invoices, assisting customers with billing inquiries, and resolving billing disputes. Billing clerks often work in billing and payroll departments.
Work Environment. Billing clerks work in offices in businesses, hospitals, insurance companies, academic institutions, and other organizations. Depending on the needs of the employer, a billing clerk may work on a full-time or part-time basis in an employer’s office. Billing clerks typically work standard forty-hour weeks, but overtime may be necessary during increased business and billing periods.
Occupation Interest. Individuals attracted to the billing clerk profession tend to be organized and detail-oriented people who find satisfaction in tracking financial information. Those who excel as billing clerks demonstrate good judgment, financial and mathematical abilities, focus, responsibility, and effective time management. Prospective billing clerks must be honest and trustworthy as they handle sensitive financial information. Billing clerks should also be problem solvers attuned to the concerns of the client as well as their employer.
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. Although the exact daily occupational duties and responsibilities of billing clerks vary by job specification and work environment, all billing clerks submit bills to customers, maintain fiscal records, and resolve any problems that arise. They are also responsible for complying with regulatory requirements for financial institutions.
After goods are delivered or services are rendered, billing clerks calculate the charges and fees owed to the company or organization, adjusting for discounts or credits and shipping costs. They may enter billing and insurance codes into specialized billing software programs if needed. Billing clerks also review and verify the accuracy of financial records and data such as charge slips, purchase orders, and hospital records. They then prepare invoices or statements that detail the charges incurred, type shipping labels on a computer or typewriter, and send the bills and invoices to clients. Billing clerks assist customers with billing inquiries as necessary. They must keep meticulous documentation and provide financial records to accountants who handle tax preparation, payroll, and auditing for their employers.
The billing clerk’s level of work experience also influences the type of duties they receive. Entry-level billing clerks must accept supervision and instruction from a billing manager or office manager. Experienced billing clerks may be assigned more complex tasks or train new hires in in-office procedures and processes. They may advance to become billing machine operators or billing managers. Some billing clerks select, implement, and troubleshoot the accounting software systems they use for billing. They may also participate in discussions of work teams, workflows, dynamics, and best practices.
Invoice-Control Clerks (214.362-026). Invoice-Control Clerks examine vendors’ (sellers’) invoices and verify data with other records to ensure receipt of items ordered.
Billing-Control Clerks (214.387-010). Billing-Control Clerks review and compute charges for utility services.
Deposit-Refund Clerks (214.482-014). Deposit-Refund Clerks prepare final bills for mailing to gas and electric-power customers. They also review accounting records to ensure that all charges and credits are included in final bills.
Work Environment
Immediate Physical Environment. Billing clerks typically work in office environments in businesses, hospitals, and insurance companies. The majority work in doctors' offices. Their work requires sitting at a desk and using computers and telephones for long periods each day.
Plant Environment. Billing clerks working in plant or manufacturing environments supervise the ordering, billing, and bookkeeping of the organizations. While a billing clerk’s office in a plant environment is most often kept separate from production lines, he or she may experience physical risks resulting from production fumes, noise, or plant accidents.
Human Environment. A billing clerk’s human environment may be social or isolated, depending on assignment and organization. Billing clerks may interact with clients, employees, supervisors, or colleagues. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are useful in this occupation, as billing clerks may encounter uncooperative or unresponsive clients.
Technological Environment. To complete their work, billing clerks use Internet communication tools, telephones, electronic databases, accounting and basic office software programs, bookkeeping and billing machines, calculators, facsimile machines, photocopying machines, scanners, and postal machines. For specialized billing services, clerks may also need to access electronic patient or client records and have familiarity with coding software.
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School/Secondary. High school students interested in pursuing a career as a billing clerk should prepare themselves by building good study habits as well as by developing ease with numbers and mathematical functions. High school-level study of English, typing, computer science, business, bookkeeping, and mathematics will provide a strong foundation for future work as a billing clerk. Emphasis on the life sciences is helpful for those who intend to work in medical facilities. As work experience is more important than educational attainment in this occupation, high school students interested in this career path will benefit from seeking internships or part-time work with local businesses or financial organizations.
Postsecondary. Postsecondary education is not required for work as a billing clerk; however, students interested in becoming billing clerks should consider pursuing vocational training of an associate’s degree in bookkeeping, accounting, secretarial science, or general business. Coursework in mathematics and business also proves useful in their future work. Billing clerks who complete a formal postsecondary program may have greater opportunities for employment or advancement in the field. Job placement is available through some programs. Internships or part-time employment with local businesses or financial organizations may provide relevant work experience and potential advantage in future job searches.
Related Occupations
− Bookkeeper and Accounting Clerk
− Cashier
− Shipping and Receiving Clerk
Bibliography
“Financial Clerks.” Occupational Outlook Handbook. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Dept of Labor, 17 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/financial-clerks.htm#tab-1. Accessed 27 Aug. 2024.
"43-3021 Billing and Posting Clerks.” Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, 3 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/OES/current/oes433021.htm. Accessed 27 Aug. 2024.