PRINCIPAL CLERK BOOKKEEPER

Code: 21534 State Competitive Range: R12 (FY 2027)

Salary: $44,749.82 - $64,522.22/year FY 2027 schedule (last updated 2026-07-27)

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under direction of a supervisor in a state department, institution, or agency, performs bookkeeping and other related clerical work requiring knowledge of department rules, regulations, and policies, and the frequent exercise of independent judgment, and/or has charge of the activities of a large group of clerical workers in a large bookkeeping unit or a designated phase of the bookkeeping work of a large department; does related work as required.

Examples of work

• When the work program of the unit has been established and approved, organizes assigned bookkeeping, supervisory, and other related work, and assists in developing effective work methods.
• Assigns and instructs individuals and groups engaged in bookkeeping activities, and supervises the performance of their work.
• Plans, organizes, and assigns the work of the organizational unit and evaluates employee performance and conduct, enabling the effective recommendation of the hiring, firing, promoting, and disciplining of subordinates.
• Reviews the work of the unit, taking into consideration the particular bookkeeping problems and available personnel, equipment, materials, supplies, and space, and assists with plans for their most effective utilization.
• Coordinates the particular work or phase of work of the unit with that of other units within the department.
• Personally reviews and checks varied types of financial and other records.
• Supervises the maintenance of various double entry records.
• Compiles and tabulates needed financial and other data, and supervises the compiling and tabulating of such data for inclusion to budgets, special requests, and financial and other statements and reports.
• Where it is required, on a sporadic basis, may do typing which is uncomplicated, does not require skill or speed, and which is of a nature reasonable to be expected of employees in a business office.
• Where it is required, on an infrequent basis, may use varied types of common office machines in temporary assignments where skill and speed are not primary requirements and special training is not necessary.
• Maintains budgetary accounts.
• Supervises the maintenance of essential records and files.
• May be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• In the Department of Human Services, may be required to undergo fire training classes.

Experience

Two (2) years of experience in work involving the keeping of varied types of records of a bookkeeping nature.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of modern office routines, procedures, methods, equipment, and machines, and of bookkeeping procedures, methods, and devices and their application to the work of the unit.
• Ability to acquire knowledge of department rules, regulations, policies, procedures, organization, and functions of the problems likely to be encountered in organizing assigned bookkeeping, supervisory, and other work.
• Ability to organize assigned bookkeeping, supervisory, and related work, and to develop effective work methods.
• Ability to assign and instruct individuals and groups engaged in the bookkeeping work of the unit, and supervise the performance of their work.
• Ability to coordinate the work of the unit with that of other units within the department.
• Ability to supervise the reviewing and checking of varied types of financial and other records, to direct the making of suitable and accurate journal, ledger, cash book, and other entries, and to supervise the preparation of trial balances and reconciliation of bank statements.
• Ability to compile, tabulate, and supervise the collection and tabulation of financial and other data for inclusion in budget requests, in answer to special requests and for use in financial and other statements and reports.
• Ability to check and verify bills.
• Ability to supervise the maintenance of records of orders, requisitions, invoices, and payments.
• Ability to supervise the maintenance of petty cash records, and records of cash receipts and disbursements.
• Ability to balance and supervise the balancing of general and subsidiary ledgers.
• Ability to do uncomplicated typing which does not require skill or speed on a sporadic basis.
• Ability to use varied common office machines in temporary assignments where skill and speed are not a primary requirement and special training is not necessary.
• Ability to maintain budgetary accounts.
• Ability to prepare and supervise the preparation of clear, sound, accurate, and informative financial and other statements and reports.
• Ability to supervise the maintenance of essential records and files.
• Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
• CODES: R12- JMR 7/7/94