Clerk Specialisation

[Trooper149]

Just wanted to ask a rather specific question, which probably won't interest the forum.

With being a Clerk Specialisation, what is the scope for Accounting? I noticed that you gain a level-something in Asset Management which I thought was gucci.

Just curious what other skills you might learn e.g:
-Bookeeping
-Accounting
-Squad/Company Investing?

Something I have considered is doing an Accounting qualification, however alot of work placements require 2-3 years experience. Not sure if being a Clerk in the RM would be a good match?

Appreciate any info
Cheers

 

[The guide]

If you reach the level of SNCO or above, you may end upon a from on accounting courses, some WO 2,s or above do run offices known as Central Bank so entire unit funds are dealt with, as some also run SNCO & Officers messes, the bigger messes deal in figures in the 100K plus region, so once again accounting required.

Unit pay offices are run by SNCO,s of some form normally as well, with external officers, coming in and signing of the accounts on a regular basis.

Also, most units have a Sgt or above (sometimes lower rank) running a shop - often known as UIF

As for investments, no not done or covered.

The most you would normally get at troop/company level is a section/company fund , most often done as a simple cash kitty , or if slightly bigger a direct debit into a troop account.

 

[The guide]

Most of the time you will be dealing with, Pay issues, Travel, Leave, Drafts, and the big one annual reports, and personnel records, but lots of other administrative bits thrown in as well, but in a nutshell, you are the central point of guidance for all the rules relating to those bit mentioned via JSP,s (Joint Service Publications) or Royal Navy BR,s (Books of Reference) and in the realm of the Royal Marines also Army land regulations, as they come under both.!!..also Queens Regulations.

Will add if going into this branch as a medically fit younger marine, potential promotion can be good as it is a branch that is heavily occupied but guys that are medically downgraded, so fit Clerks are few and far between

 

[Trooper149]

Sounds like a gucci set up, cheers for the info

 

[Trooper149]

I want to be a Bootneck firstly, however in the long run, I think building some form of worth as an Accountant will see you with employment into your old age.

 

[Trooper149]

Also I'm hearing from alot of lads that people get pinged for specialization pretty quickly these days. Is it realistic that upon completion of RT, I could request to immediately specialize as Clerk? If so, how long would it take to specialize?

 

[SCOTTY6]

Just playing devils advocate here, why do you want to become a Royal Marine if you want to go straight into an administration role? Surely becoming a navy clerk or writer would suit your desires more? Majority of lads that join the corps do it because they want to do the job, wether it’s green skills or cqb and so on, but it all revolves around soldiering. Most lads take clerks for fast promotion in order to reach Cpl to transfer into other branches such as PTIs. I may have misunderstood your intentions and if I have I apologise. But I just thought I’d throw in a certain view of it!

 

[Trooper149]

 

[Johnny_Anonie]

Reality check.


Receiving accountancy training within the corps is quite different than the minimum level of qualifications required to become an accountant.

A bit of online research has indicated that in the UK the AAT qualification is typically the minimum level expected of an accountant. However to ultimately become a chartered accountant, you'll have to progress to the ACCA, ACA or CIMA qualifications. These are all post graduate qualifications.

If you have a desire to study accountancy go and do it. Do not bank on being a clerk being a stepping stone into that world. It’s not. A clerk provides administrative capabilities to a unit, you’ll be no better qualified than any civilian HR counterpart.

Besides it takes a special kind of bootneck who actually wants a role in which he can muck their oppos pay up, lose their paperwork and sit behind a desk, in an air conditioned office while the rest of the blokes do some real soldiering.

Taxi for Johnny- next cab off the rank.

 

[ThreadpigeonsAlpha]

Yea I echo the above. You won’t get any worthwhile qualifications as a Clerk.

You will probably get a Clerk SQ pretty quickly because no one wants to do it. Why join the Corps to push pens?


A good mate of mine was Clerk for a bit. Left the Corps, still had to go back to university to studying accounting. Clerks barely gave him experience or qualifications. Administration is very different in the Corps and Civvie Street.

If you want to do accounting, go to uni. You won’t get anything worthwhile, and even if you did, when you are sat next to guys waiting on an interview, all with Degrees and higher education in Accounting, and you are sat there with your toilet paper qualification, token effort from the Corps, I can let you guess who’s going to get the job.

 

[Trooper149]

A second voice with the same opinion, gives me thought.

Honestly, I'm just browsing the SQs at the moment. Fundamentally, you are a solider first and to gain anything of serious value on civvie street, I guess has to be gained on civvie street, not in the RM.

Either way, I want to be a Bootneck first and see what opportunities open up in that direction for the first few years.

As I am unsure at this point, if I want a short or long term career in the RM, I can't help but look at how the career would improve my options on civvie street.

With that said, which of the SQs would you say has the greatest value outside the forces?

 

[Rob20]

As opposed to qualifications available perhaps look at what skills can be transferred.
For someone who used to work in a position of hiring people, I would say personal skills and attitude often outweigh someone's qualifications. That stuff looks good on paper but isn't an indication of work ethic or time keeping for example.

 

[Trooper149]

I do think personal skills are of great value in a job ONCE your in there but in order to just get a chance, qualifications help qualify who has the basic skills and who doesn't. You can't apply to be a welder, accountant, bookkeeper or personal trainer purely on personal skills.