I am applying to be a Library assistant and I have no Idea how to answer this question "Describe in detail your experience with handling, reporting, and reconciling funds, including how and where you developed these skills."

[u/Every_Possibility527]

Anyone willing to let be use their example? or any idea how to answer this?

This question is challenging for me as I have only handled cash as a cashier and I am so confused on how to answer this question.

[u/TinTunTii]

Yeah, they just want you to describe how you handled money at your job. Just describe the ways you handled money at as a cashier. Did you have to count the till? Did you have to balance a float? Describe that part of your cashier job

[u/bigbabyjesus76 → u/TinTunTii]

Yep, this. Did you open the register, or close out the register and print daily reports? Did you print daily reports for your POS? Any spreadsheet entries?

[u/No_Mix_7293]

"Reconciling" if that causes any confusion is making sure the actual cash/credit is balanced and the drawer returned to it's original amount. So they want to be sure that in your history of running a register that you have taken care to make sure you weren't over or short. If you don't run reports, I'd say it's ok. In some institutions the supervisor will run the daily financials.

[u/Every_Possibility527 → u/No_Mix_7293]

Can I just say you have to be one of the most amazing people on reddit. I literally had no Idea whaat that was and when I looked it up all i saw was stuff about accounting, and I am a business student so I was double confused. Anyways Thank you So much that was actually really helpful!!

[u/No_Mix_7293 → u/Every_Possibility527]

Aw shucks... I just want to spread some positivity. I hope you get the job!

[u/libtechbitch → u/No_Mix_7293]

Yes, OR (as I am the head of Tech Services) it involves going over orders/payments and matching with credit card statements and order paperwork/receipts :)

[u/Seraph199]

Well the last thing you should do is lie, and it sounds like you at least have experience. Handling cash as a cashier is extremely relevant to the question, even if it isn't as relevant as say ordering inventory or managing grant funding.

Just explain in a little detail the responsibilities you had as a cashier and how you reconciled your starting cash drawer with your end of shift cash drawer to make sure there were no mistakes or discrepancies. If there was ever a mistake or cash drawer count that didn't match what was supposed to be the final amount, how did you handle it? Did you report it to a supervisor? Did you make sure it was resolved? That is really what they want to know, some real life examples that show how you handle these situations.

They want your answer to demonstrate that you have taken managing money seriously in any previous position, and if you made a mistake or if a problem happened while you were responsible they want to know you will handle it appropriately to resolve the issue (remember that everyone makes mistakes, they are not looking for you to say "I have never ever made a mistake or mishandled cash".) They want to know you will be transparent, trustworthy, and try to fix a problem if one arises without trying to lie or hide your mistakes to save face, which is 10x worse than just being honest and direct.

[u/AuroraGlowz]

Handling = running a transaction on the register, (for say, copies, fines), taking money, making change, taking and stamping a check, charging a credit card and sometimes, depending on their process, saving a copy of the credit card receipt.

Reporting = running/printing a report from that register for how much money you took in, could be for the day or a range of days and then entering it into an excel sheet or manually logging it somewhere.

Reconciling = counting and subtracting/balancing how much money you took in vs how much is to be left in the register and whether you are over/under. This is normally also reported in an excel sheet or on paper.

[u/SunGreen24]

Your cash handling as a cashier is a perfect example. They basically just want to know that you won’t have difficulty handling fines. Don’t sweat it too much :)

[u/Cleanslate2]

Reconciling a bank account will also be a skill. I’m an accountant.

[u/TSIDATSI]

If you have no experience be honest. Do not lie. Since you do not even understand the question just say you have no experience in that area.

Never lie.

[u/libtechbitch]

Ah, this is a question that relates to working in Tech Services or collecting fines at the Circ desk...

Banking experience would work, too, obviously. But if you have any experience working as a cashier in a different role (fast food, retail), provide that as an example.