The head cashier is responsible for the supervision of a team of cashiers, providing training, hiring, monitoring, and assistance with operational issues. Cashiers are responsible for the correct calculation of the total invoice, based on the combination of goods and services purchased by the customer. A head cashier is typically found in a large operation, where there are multiple cash registers or check out stations available. Cashiers find employment opportunities in retail stores or outlets.
Work experience that teaches the skills required in this job include cashier, customer service, and supervisory positions. These positions can be either as a volunteer or as an employee. All head cashier positions require candidates to have basic computer and accounting skills to properly operate the cash register, reconcile the transactions, and understand how the entire inventory management system works.
There are two primary tasks required in this role: customer service and supervision. Attention to detail, communication skills, and basic accounting are all required to become a head cashier. These attributes increase customer satisfaction and are necessary when supervising staff.
There are no formal education or training programs to become a head cashier. Instead, most companies provide in-house training that covers the internal procedures, policies, human resource issues, workplace safety, and other issues. The training typically requires five to eight hours of time and is usually paid for by the company at the standard hourly rate.
A significant amount of a head cashier's time is spent on the hiring, training, and selection of staff. Cashier positions tend to have a high rate of turnover, resulting in an ongoing recruitment process. All such cashiers must be intimately familiar with the company’s human resources policies and the rules that surround workplace behavior.
Teaching is a great skill to use in this role, as all new staff must be trained on the cash register, dealing with customers, store policies, and other issues. Reconciliation of the shift total and counting money are tasks the cashier completes and is verified by the head cashier. These skills are based on core accounting policies and should be closely managed.
In many organizations, this position meets regularly with store management to discuss issues and concerns. Some items may include the management of the store product data, security, introduction of new business practices to address a problem, and more. This is a collaborative position, and teamwork is an essential aspect of this job.