Debtors Clerk

A debtors' clerk keeps record of customers' accounts at an undertaking and recovers the undertaking's debts. These records are kept in the form of books, record cards or on computer.


A debtors’ clerk does routine work in the accounts department of an undertaking. He keeps record of the money owed to the undertaking and payments made. He uses his records to determine which accounts are overdue and he contacts those persons/institutions in writing or by telephone in order to recover the outstanding balance. He determines a deadline for payment and follows up on the payment of the accounts. If the date of payment is not met, the debtors’ clerk decides which steps have to be taken (for example to sue the person / institution).

The debtors’ clerk also carries out routine bookkeeping duties in order to submit a record of all overdue accounts at the end of every month to the head of the undertaking’s financial department or the board of directors of the company. These duties also include calculating interest on overdue accounts.

The debtors’ clerk generally works in an office with a telephone and a computer.


Personal Requirements

  • have an outgoing personality
  • be able to relate well to people
  • be able to work in a stressful environment
  • able to be firm when clients are reluctant to pay their debts
  • be interested in bookkeeping
  • be prepared to spend most of his working day doing calculations


Employment

You can work at any undertaking that sells products or services on account.


Getting Started

  • start a delivery or errand service in your community and keep your own system of income and expenditure
  • arrange to speak to a debtors’ clerk about this type of career.


Programmes


Related Occupations


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