Billing, Cost, and Rate Clerks

Description

Compile data, compute fees and charges, and prepare invoices for billing purposes. Duties include computing costs and calculating rates for goods, services, and shipment of goods; posting data; and keeping other relevant records. May involve use of computer or typewriter, calculator, and adding and bookkeeping machines.

Tasks

  • Verify accuracy of billing data and revise any errors.
  • Operate typing, adding, calculating, or billing machines.
  • Prepare itemized statements, bills, or invoices and record amounts due for items purchased or services rendered.
  • Review documents such as purchase orders, sales tickets, charge slips, or hospital records to compute fees or charges due.
  • Perform bookkeeping work, including posting data or keeping other records concerning costs of goods or services or the shipment of goods.
  • Keep records of invoices and support documents.
  • Resolve discrepancies in accounting records.
  • Type billing documents, shipping labels, credit memorandums, or credit forms, using typewriters or computers.
  • Contact customers to obtain or relay account information.
  • Compute credit terms, discounts, shipment charges, or rates for goods or services to complete billing documents.
  • Answer mail or telephone inquiries regarding rates, routing, or procedures.
  • Track accumulated hours and dollar amounts charged to each client job to calculate client fees for professional services, such as legal or accounting services.
  • Review compiled data on operating costs and revenues to set rates.
  • Compile reports of cost factors, such as labor, production, storage, or equipment.
  • Consult sources such as rate books, manuals, or insurance company representatives to determine specific charges or information such as rules, regulations, or government tax and tariff information.
  • Update manuals when rates, rules, or regulations are amended.
  • Estimate market value of products or services.

Knowledge

Clerical
Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Skills

Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Abilities

Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Speech Recognition
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Speech Clarity
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Work Activities

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Processing Information
Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Interacting With Computers
Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Getting Information
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Analyzing Data or Information
Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Work Context

Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Face-to-Face Discussions
How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
Frequency of Decision Making
How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
Electronic Mail
How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
Letters and Memos
How often does the job require written letters and memos?
Structured versus Unstructured Work
To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?

Interests

Conventional
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Enterprising
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Realistic
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Investigative
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Social
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Artistic
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Work Style

Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Self Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Independence
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Concern for Others
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

Work Values

Relationships
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Support
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Achievement
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Working Conditions
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Recognition
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Lay Titles

Accountant
Accounting Assistant
Accounting Clerk
Accounts Manager
Accounts Payable Clerk
Accounts Payable Specialist
Accounts Receivable Clerk
Accounts Receivable Specialist
Administrative Assistant
Bill Checker
Bill Clerk
Bill of Lading Clerk
Biller
Billing Analyst
Billing and Accounting Staff Assistant
Billing Clerk
Billing Control Clerk
Billing Coordinator
Billing Manager
Billing Specialist
Billing Typist
Certified Coding Specialist
Clerk
COD Clerk (Cash On Delivery Clerk)
Contract Administrator
Cost Recorder
Demurrage Agent
Demurrage Clerk
Demurrage Worker
Deposit Clerk
Deposit Refund Clerk
Dispatcher
Documentation Billing Clerk
Estimate Clerk
Evaluator
Fee Clerk
Foreign Clerk
Freight Rate Analyst
Freight Rate Clerk
Freight Rate Specialist
Insurance Clerk
Insurance Coder
Insurance Rater
Interline Clerk
Invoice Checker
Invoice Clerk
Invoice Control Clerk
Laundry Pricing Clerk
Medical Biller
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist
Medical Billing Clerk
Medical Billing Coder
Medical Billing Specialist
Medical Coder
Medical Coding Specialist
Medical Insurance Biller
Medical Insurance Clerk
Medical Insurance Coder
Medical Reimbursement Specialist
Medical Voucher Clerk
Message and Delivery Service Pricer
Office Manager
Order Entry Clerk
Patient Accounts Representative
Patient Financial Representative
Patient Service Representative
Personal Property Assessor
Policy Value Calculator
Posting Clerk
Price Lister
Pricer
Pricing Clerk
Rate Clerk
Rate Examiner
Rate Marker

National Wages and Employment Info

Median Wages (2008):
$16.08 hourly, $33,450 annual.
Employment (2008):
490,850 employees