Procurement Clerk's Job Profile
The responsibility of a procurement clerk is to process requests for the purchase. They send out the order of purchase to suppliers, as well as inform the relevant department of the organization about having the order placed. Their prime duty includes ensuring arrival of the purchase at the scheduled date and meeting the purchaser's specifications.
Procurement clerks usually process purchase requests. They need to discern if any of the items requested for are still accessible from the inventory and then make an invitation to bid forms and get in touch with suppliers. The procurement clerk compares prices along with estimated delivery dates suggested by the suppliers and pick on the finest bid. On the consent of the company, they place purchase orders for procuring the required supplies.
It is the duty of the procurement clerks to keep track of orders and find out the reasons of delays occurring in between the process, if any. For this the clerks keep in touch with the suppliers. In case there is a shortage during delivery, clerks are required to solve the issues as proficiently as probable.
While the items are delivered, the procurement clerk matches the order or purchase with the consignment, informs the vendor during non receipt of invoices, and checks the amount billed with the commodities received. They also forward the invoices to the respective departments.
In several firms, the job profile of procurement clerks includes overseeing inventory control. They require overseeing in house inventory movements and preparing the inventory shift forms for bookkeeping.
Skill Set
Candidates applying for procurement clerk jobs should have good knowledge of clerical duties like record keeping and managing files. Fine communication skills, along with expertise in mathematical applications and concepts, are also preferred. Since a majority of the jobs includes usage of computers, the candidate should be proficient in dealing with computer applications. Resource allocation abilities and strategic planning are needed as well.
Academics and Training
For the post of procurement clerks, many employers prefer applicants with a high school diploma or equivalent degree. Senior level positions require a bachelor's degree. Procurement clerks having high school certificate or experience and education generally gain on the job training. This helps train them for managing issues that require knowledge and experience.
Prior Experience
Some companies require prior experience in the relevant field; however, experience is not mandatory for the position.
Career Prospects and Salary
The career prospect of procurement clerks is quire fair, as the jobs are estimated to grow according to the statistics of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average annual salary of a procurement clerk is about $15,910. On the other hand, hourly wages range from $12,650 to $19,410. A procurement clerk working for the federal government earns about $41,716 annually.
The employment figures for procurement clerks can be expected to experience no or little change in the coming years. However, there will always be a requirement for such skills within smaller and medium sized organizations.
