Financial ServicesISCO 4132

Data entry clerk

A data entry clerk is a person who updates, maintains and retrieves the information held in computer systems. The clerk prepares the source data for entry by collecting and sorting the information, processes the customer and account source documentation by reviewing it for anything missing, and verifies the customer and account data that is entered.

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Rate 5 of the 9 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

apply statistical analysis techniques

perform data cleansing

use word processing software

apply information security policies

maintain data entry requirements

About data entry clerk

Verification is what distinguishes this role from typing. The clerk checks the source document against the record, applies the data entry requirements that define how a field is to be filled, and performs data cleansing, which means finding and correcting the entries that are duplicated, inconsistent or impossible. A record entered wrongly propagates: every report, invoice and decision built on it carries the error forward.

The technical ground is wider than the name suggests. The clerk processes data, works with word processing software, works from a knowledge of databases and of documentation types, uses the RDF query language where data is held in that form, and applies statistical analysis techniques to check that a dataset behaves as it should.

The clerk also retrieves information, which requires understanding how the records are organised, not only how they are typed. Much of what makes this work valuable is the judgement to stop and ask rather than enter something that looks wrong.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (9)

documentation typesdocumentation typesThe characteristics of internal and external documentation types aligned with the product life cycle and their specific content types.databasedatabaseThe classification of databases, that includes their purpose, characteristics, terminology, models and use such as XML databases, document-oriented databases and full text databases.resource description framework query languageresource description framework query languageThe query languages such as SPARQL which are used to retrieve and manipulate data stored in Resource Description Framework format (RDF).apply statistical analysis techniquesapply statistical analysis techniquesUse models (descriptive or inferential statistics) and techniques (data mining or machine learning) for statistical analysis and ICT tools to analyse data, uncover correlations and forecast trends.perform data cleansingperform data cleansingDetect and correct corrupt records from data sets, ensure that the data become and remain structured according to guidelines.use word processing softwareuse word processing softwareUse computer software applications for composition, editing, formatting, and printing of any sort of written material.apply information security policiesapply information security policiesImplement policies, methods and regulations for data and information security in order to respect confidentiality, integrity and availability principles.maintain data entry requirementsmaintain data entry requirementsUphold conditions for data entry. Follow procedures and apply data program techniques.process dataprocess dataEnter information into a data storage and data retrieval system via processes such as scanning, manual keying or electronic data transfer in order to process large amounts of data.

Optional (23) — show

optical character recognition softwareoptical character recognition softwareThe software that electronically converts printed and typed images into machine-encoded text so that documents can be electronically stored, edited and digitally displayed.XQueryXQueryThe computer language XQuery is a query language for retrieval of information from a database and of documents containing the needed information. It is developed by the international standards organis...SPARQLSPARQLThe computer language SPARQL is a query language for retrieval of information from a database and of documents containing the needed information. It is developed by the international standards organis...ABBYY FineReaderABBYY FineReaderThe computer program ABBYY FineReader is software that electronically converts printed and typed images into machine-encoded text so that documents can be electronically stored, edited and digitally d...information confidentialityinformation confidentialityThe mechanisms and regulations which allow for selective access control and guarantee that only authorised parties (people, processes, systems and devices) have access to data, the way to comply with ...LDAPLDAPThe computer language LDAP is a query language for retrieval of information from a database and of documents containing the needed information.data storagedata storageThe physical and technical concepts of how digital data storage is organised in specific schemes both locally, such as hard-drives and random-access memories (RAM) and remotely, via network, internet ...LINQLINQThe computer language LINQ is a query language for retrieval of information from a database and of documents containing the needed information. It is developed by the software company Microsoft.OmniPageOmniPageThe computer program OmniPage is software that electronically converts printed and typed images into machine-encoded text so that documents can be electronically stored, edited and digitally displayed...N1QLN1QLThe computer language N1QL is a query language for retrieval of information from a database and of documents containing the needed information. It is developed by the software company Couchbase.data modelsdata modelsThe techniques and existing systems used for structuring data elements and showing relationships between them, as well as methods for interpreting the data structures and relationships.manage ICT data classificationmanage ICT data classificationOversee the classification system an organisation uses to organise its data. Assign an owner to each data concept or bulk of concepts and determine the value of each item of data.use an application-specific interfaceuse an application-specific interfaceUnderstand and use interfaces particular to an application or use case.normalise datanormalise dataReduce data to their accurate core form (normal forms) in order to achieve such results as minimisation of dependency, elimination of redundancy, increase of consistency.use spreadsheets softwareuse spreadsheets softwareUse software tools to create and edit tabular data to carry out mathematical calculations, organise data and information, create diagrams based on data and to retrieve them.establish data processesestablish data processesUse ICT tools to apply mathematical, algorithmic or other data manipulation processes in order to create information.use databasesuse databasesUse software tools for managing and organising data in a structured environment which consists of attributes, tables and relationships in order to query and modify the stored data.implement data quality processesimplement data quality processesApply quality analysis, validation and verification techniques on data to check data quality integrity.manage datamanage dataAdminister all types of data resources through their lifecycle by performing data profiling, parsing, standardisation, identity resolution, cleansing, enhancement and auditing. Ensure the data is fit ...manage data collection systemsmanage data collection systemsDevelop and manage methods and strategies used to maximise data quality and statistical efficiency in the collection of data, in order to ensure the gathered data are optimised for further processing.manage digital documentsmanage digital documentsManage various data formats and files by naming, publishing, transforming and sharing files and documents and transforming file formats.apply organisational techniquesapply organisational techniquesEmploy a set of organisational techniques and procedures which facilitate the achievement of the set goals set such as detailed planning of personnel's schedules. Use these resources efficiently and s...implement data warehousing techniquesimplement data warehousing techniquesApply models and tools such as online analytical processing (OLAP) and Online transaction processing (OLTP), to integrate structured or unstructured data from sources, in order to create a central dep...

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Frequently asked questions

What does a data entry clerk do?

Data entry clerks update, maintain and retrieve information held on computer systems. They prepare source data for computer entry by compiling and sorting information, process customer and account source documents by reviewing data for deficiencies and verify entered customer and account data.

What skills does a data entry clerk need?

A data entry clerk needs 9 essential skills, including documentation types, database, resource description framework query language, apply statistical analysis techniques, perform data cleansing.

Will AI replace data entry clerk jobs?

The AI disruption score for data entry clerk is 92/100 (very high risk). Skills most exposed to automation: use word processing software, maintain data entry requirements, process data. Most resilient: implement data warehousing techniques, apply organisational techniques, use an application-specific interface.

AI Replacement Risk

92/ 100

Very High Risk

Low riskHigh risk

Skills most at risk from AI

use word processing software maintain data entry requirements process data

Skills resilient to automation

implement data warehousing techniques apply organisational techniques use an application-specific interface

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Quick Facts

SectorFinancial Services

ISCO GroupGeneral and keyboard clerks

Essential Skills9

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