Overview of the Cashier Role
Cashiers are in charge of handling stock and processing and receiving payments during a customer transaction in a retail environment. This can be performed in a clothing store, grocery store, or similar environments.
All Cashiers must have good communication skills, be able to work well under pressure and deal with customer enquiries. Numeracy skills are important for giving correct change and totalling payments.
A competent Cashier will be able to multitask and offer any other services the customer might require, such as stock checking or loyalty card queries.
There are many other retail jobs with similar skills, if you’re looking for something other than a Cashier Role.
Cashier Dress Code
Depending on the retail sector Cashiers will wear a uniform or have uniform guidelines, otherwise, a business casual dress code is advised. This can include polo shirts, slacks or chinos, blouses, dress pants, dresses and closed-toe shoes.
Cashier Responsibilities
Cashiers are expected to be polite and welcoming to customers, they should be able to handle cash and process transactions accurately and diligently for the best customer experience and should be capable of processing items when there is no barcode available or there has been a price change.
Cashier Tips
Be capable of working well under pressure, as there are often busy hours during retail shifts. Learn to work quickly and efficiently to keep productivity high and customers happy.
Know when to ask for assistance. Some transactions might call for a manager’s assistance, or you might have to put out a call for more staff if there is a queue of customers.
Necessary Cashier Skills
As a Cashier, you must have good numeracy skills and be able to handle cash. Good customer service is essential, and Cashiers must be familiar with till systems and point-of-sale software.
Numeracy & Cash-Handling
Cashiers must have basic maths skills or pass a numeracy test set by the employer. This is an essential skill, as Cashiers deal with cash during the transaction process of a sale and will need to accurately count notes and coins as well as return the correct amount of change to the customer.
While handling cash, it is also important to recognise counterfeit money and deal with it appropriately. This is something that will be shown during on-the-job training.
Customer Service
It is important to have good communication skills as a Cashier and you should be able to act calmly and politely in all situations. Sometimes customers will have complaints, and it is up to the Cashier to respond appropriately, whether that is relaying information to the customer, or escalating an issue to a manager.
Greet customers with a friendly demeanour and answer their requests with the appropriate information. There will be store procedures to follow for returns, discounts and payments, keep these in mind when dealing with customers.
Familiarity with Till Systems & Point-of-Sale Software
There are many ways to process payments and transactions, from cash registers to card readers, receipt printers and tablets. It is important to understand and become familiar with the Point-of-Sale software in whichever business you are working for.
A Cashier should be able to adapt to technical difficulties, such as card readers not working, or cash registers taking time to finalise payments, in these situations it is important to keep customers informed and speak with them politely to improve their customer experience.
Duties of a Cashier
A Cashier will process payments, assist customers with purchases and returns, and be able to give an accurate end-of-day report.
Processing Payments
A Cashier’s main job is payment processing. During this process, a Cashier will scan customer items, tell them their total payment, and process that payment whether by card, cash, gift card or app.
During the payment process, a Cashier must be able to return the correct change, give access to the card reader to the customer, or enter the correct details from a gift card or membership card. It is important to be attentive here and resolve any issues that may arise, such as declined payments.
Assisting Customers with Purchases & Returns
If a customer cannot find what they’re looking for they might ask the Cashier if there are alternative ways to purchase something. A Cashier will need the knowledge and ability to check the store’s stock or offer alternatives to customers.
Cashiers will also learn how to process returned items. There will often be store policies to follow, such as damaged item returns, or if they are returned within a given time. A Cashier needs to be empathetic and attentive to the customer while explaining any policies that they need to know about.
Accurate End-of-Day Reporting
End-of-day reports will provide a detailed record of all transactions performed during a Cashier’s shift, these will include total sales, breakdown of payment methods, any refunds, and the final cash balance of the register.
A Cashier will need to understand the POS system of the business to access this information and print a report. This is for financial accuracy, fraud prevention and performance analytics.
Cashier Career Progression and Advancement
There are many avenues to pursue within retail such as supervisor or shift leader roles. There is also the potential to move up the ladder into retail management or a position in finance.
Supervisor & Shift Leader Roles
It is the role of a Retail Supervisor or Shift Leader to lead a team and distribute work to other employees. For these roles, the Cashier will need to excel in teamwork and leadership skills. Communication skills are very important here, as it is up to the Supervisor or Shift Leader to deal with escalated customer complaints.
A Shift Leader or Supervisor needs to have a deep knowledge of the company and its policies so that they can relay information correctly and concisely.
Exploring Retail Management & Finance Positions
It is possible to progress from a Supervisor role into Management or Finance. A Retail Finance role involves analysing and managing the financial health of the business. That can include budgeting, profit and loss analysis, identifying financial trends and providing insight to support decision-making.
Retail Managers are responsible for the day-to-day operations of a store. They will be responsible for setting targets, managing staff, ensuring store policies are followed and producing reports and data for senior management. This role requires excellent leadership skills, financial experience and knowledge, problem-solving skills, team-building skills, and sales and marketing knowledge.
FAQs on Becoming a Cashier
Do You Need Experience to Become a Cashier?
No, you typically do not need prior experience, as it is considered an entry-level job. Cashiers will receive on-the-job training to learn the skills they need.
How Much Do Cashiers Earn?
A Cashier earns on average around £22,000 per year depending on experience and hours worked.
What Does a Cashier Do?
A Cashier processes payments and returns from customers, handles cash during transactions, and may need to check stock and prepare end-of-day reports.
