Companies know that extending credit is risky business. Credit authorizers, checkers and clerks work to reduce that risk. Credit clerks assemble the documents and process transactions involved in loan and credit applications. Checkers verify the information on application forms. They may interview applicants to gather personal and financial data. Checkers contact banks, credit bureaus and other sources for facts about an applicant’s earnings, spending, and bill-paying habits. At times, they may need to deal with unpleasant or upset people. Authorizers decide whether to approve or deny the request for a credit account or for a new charge to an existing line of credit. They assess credit histories for accounts that are past due, overextended or in some way invalid. A high school education is generally required for an entry-level position. Helpful qualifications include fluency in another language especially Spanish, strong keyboarding skills, and a solid grasp of business math. Because electronic records and communication are streamlining this field, the field is not growing. But where the work is needed, this is a career where a job done well is certainly a credit to your company.
What they do:
Authorize credit charges against customers' accounts.
On the job, you would:
Keep records of customers' charges and payments.
Evaluate customers' computerized credit records and payment histories to decide whether to approve new credit, based on predetermined standards.
File sales slips in customers' ledgers for billing purposes.
Arts and Humanities
English language
Business
customer service
accounting and economics
Engineering and Technology
computers and electronics
Math and Science
arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
Basic Skills
listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
talking to others
Problem Solving
noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Social
understanding people's reactions
bringing people together to solve differences
Verbal
communicate by speaking
listen and understand what people say
Ideas and Logic
notice when problems happen
order or arrange things
People interested in this work like activities that include data, detail, and regular routines.
They do well at jobs that need:
Cooperation
Integrity
Stress Tolerance
Dependability
Persistence
Attention to Detail
You might use software like this on the job:
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Electronic mail software
Microsoft Outlook
Accounting software
Financial accounting software
bachelor's degree or high school diploma/GED usually needed
Get started on your career:
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.