Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Training and Teaching Others Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Processing Information Compiling, coding, categorising, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

The Work

The duties of the Clerk include routine clerical work associated with book-keeping and accounting matters, operating computers, input and output terminals, secretarial duties and typing.  
 
More experienced clerks deal with work on house purchase loans, mortgages, accounts, insurance investments, and unit linked funds and enquiries from the public. Other duties include filing and records, personnel and payroll, and other specialised clerical duties.  
 
Building society clerks/cashiers receive and pay out cash at the counter, records details on computer and ensures that the days transactions balance. They answer queries from clients and gives out new info on application forms. They help customers to open new accounts and advise customers on different options of saving.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Receive payment by cash, check, credit cards, vouchers, or automatic debits.
• Answer customers' questions, and provide information on procedures or policies.
• Help customers find the location of products.
• Issue receipts, refunds, credits, or change due to customers.
• Greet customers entering establishments.
• Supervise others and provide on-the-job training.
• Assist customers by providing information and resolving their complaints.
• Maintain clean and orderly checkout areas, and complete other general cleaning duties, such as mopping floors and emptying trash cans.
• Establish or identify prices of goods, services, or admission, and tabulate bills, using calculators, cash registers, or optical price scanners.
• Answer incoming phone calls.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Much like banking there are entry admin roles, and options to develop key skills in education and training to progress your entry point to this carer in finance & banking. 

Training & Development 

FET Centre Traineeship: Business & Office Administration, Office procedures, Accounting technician NFQ level 5 Search our FET Traineeship coursefinder 

FET Centre PLC Courses: Business, Banking, Finance, and Office Administration NFQ level 5-6 Search our FET PLC Coursefinder

Apprenticeship:  Accounting Technician, Financial Services NFQ Level 6-8 Search Apprenticeships

Professional Development  

Irish League of Credit Unions New entrants serve a probationary period of 3-6 months and during this time receive an introduction programme and on-the-job training from more experienced members of the staff, under the advice and guidance of the supervising officer in the section. Employees are rotated regularly to enable them to learn about the procedures and routines in the different sections.  
 
In-house training is often supplemented by special educational courses. The recognised professional qualifications are the Certificate in Building Society Practice or the higher level Associateship. The Chartered Building Societies Institute awards these qualifications. Employees are also encouraged to take Banking exams in line with Central Bank list of Financial Qualifications.

Search springboardcourses Financial Services NFQ level 8-9 Search springboardcourses

Postgraduate Study Accounting / Finance or Administration / Business NFQ level 9 

Skillnets International Financial Services: Finance, Fintech, and Law

Last Updated: March, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €28k - €40k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
Sigmar / Morgan McKinley / CPL

Last Updated: February, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Financial administration roles accounted for the largest occupation in this group. Employment declined marginally between 2021 and 2022, although the annual average employment growth rate over the five-year period was slightly above the national average. Despite the fall in employment, there was a high volume of recent job hires indicating that job churn is a feature of this occupation. Almost three quarters of those employed in these roles were female, and 62% held third-level qualifications.

Approximately two-fifths of persons employed were in the financial sector, with the remainder spread across most other sectors. The number of online job adverts grew strongly (nearly 12%) in 2022 driven entirely by increases for book-keepers/payroll managers etc. Difficult-to-fill vacancies (noted in the Recruitment Agency Survey and the Skills for Growth data) related to accounts administration (payable/receivable) staff, fund accountants, and credit controllers (some with languages) and payroll administration; skills in particular demand included digital skills and knowledge of accounting systems. For such a large occupation, and with a high level of job churn, demand for these roles is likely to continue in the short to medium term.

• Banking and Payments Federation Ireland

  • Nassau House, Nassau St. Dublin 2
  • (01) 671 5311
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• FSU Financial Services Union (former IBOA)

  • Stephen Street Upper, Dublin 8, D08 DR9P
  • (0)1 4755908
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here