Procurement Clerk

What Is a Procurement Clerk?

A Procurement Clerk is an employee who plays an important role in securing supplies, equipment and services that employers/companies need for day-to-day operations. These administrative employees are also commonly known as Buyers, Procurement Assistants, Purchasing Clerks, Procurement Specialists or Purchasing Associates, among other common job titles.

Job Responsibilities of Procurement Clerks

Procurement clerks are primarily responsible for compiling records and information needed to create purchase orders, which are documents used to procure supplies, equipment and services. Their daily tasks include, but are not limited to:

• Locate suppliers and obtain product information and price quotes
• Compare prices, specifications, delivery dates in choosing potential suppliers
• Create, maintain and review purchasing reports, price lists and files
• Payment Invoicing
• Ensure compliance purchasing policies and government regulations
• Track procurement data, order status, requisitions and contracts
• Check arriving shipments for proper products and quality
• Check invoices against bids and purchase orders to ensure accuracy
• Inventory tracking
• Purchasing

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Procurement Clerks: Common Employment Settings

Since virtually all organizations have a need for materials, supplies, and equipment, Procurement Clerks work in a wide variety of businesses and industries. These employees most often work in office environments, but in many employment settings, some travel may be necessary – for meetings with suppliers, for example.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), About 75,000 Procurement Clerks held jobs in 2016. Some of their largest employers were local, state and federal government, manufacturing firms, hospitals, schools and retail and wholesale organizations.

Career Outlook: Procurement Clerks

According to BLS projections, overall employment of Procurement Clerks is expected to drop slightly between 2016 and 2026, with a projected decline of 4.2 percent. However, according to BLS figures, that drop in employment will be centered around a relatively small group of industries, with job numbers holding steady among the majority of organizations that employ Procurement Clerks.

While this information is handy to help readers get an idea of the career-building potential of various occupations, it is important to note that job market data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Handbook is only intended to provide insight on occupational opportunities. It is not to be construed as a guarantee of salary or job title. Neither BLS nor Bryant & Stratton College can guarantee employment as a Procurement Clerk or in any other occupational field.

How to Become a Procurement Clerk

While it is possible to get hired for entry level positions in this field with a high-school education and on the job training, most employers prefer hiring candidates with a degree in business, finance, or supply management. An associate degree can qualify you for most Procurement Clerk positions, with about 59 percent of employers, according to O*NET, expecting candidates for these positions to hold this degree. Around 20 percent of employers prefer to hire applicants who have earned a bachelor's degree. Only 14 percent of employers in the field are content to hire Procurement Clerks with just a high school diploma or equivalent.

What can I do with an Associate Degree in Office Management?

Earning a Office Management Associate Degree from Bryant & Stratton College will prepare you to pursue a career as a Procurement Clerk, providing you with the education level and credential that the majority of employers look for in potential new hires.

Earning a Associate Degree in Office Management can also prepare you for a wide variety of other roles in a range of businesses and industries by providing a solid education in areas that include management principles, marketing, sales, accounting, business communications, information technology, business law and much more. With this foundation, you will be prepared to pursue careers in corporations, manufacturing firms, insurance companies, financial institutions and real estate firms, among many other potential career opportunities.

Earning this degree can give you a head start on furthering your education, which can open the door to career advancement. Graduates of Bryant & Stratton's Associate Degree in Office Management program can apply credits earned in this program to many corresponding education programs – Bryant & Stratton's bachelor's degree in General Management, for instance.

Additional Training/Requirements:

Many employers prefer to hire candidates for Procurement Clerk positions that have a significant amount of work experience as a procurement clerk or in a closely related field. Requirements vary from one employer to another, but generally fall between 1 and 5 years of work experience. Some employers may prefer to hire applicants for Procurement Clerk positions who have earned professional certifications. Certifications that are often sought by potential employers in this field include:

• The Certified Purchasing Professional (CPP) certification, which can be acquired through The American Purchasing Society
• The Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) credential, offered by the American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS)
• The Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) credential, obtained via the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council (UPPCC)

Earning professional certifications typically requires meeting educational and work experience requirements set forth by professional associations offering the specific certification you are seeking, then passing an exam administered by those organizations. Some certifications require holders to meet continuing education requirements annually to maintain their certification status.

For more insights into the Procurement Clerk field, please visit the Business Degrees section of the Bryant & Stratton College blog. Exploring that blog and our website can offer you a great deal of helpful information and insight on pursuing a career path as a Procurement Clerk or in any other area of business that you feel has the potential to offer you a satisfying and successful career.