Bookkeeper Job Description, Skills, Experience and Education

Benefits that can set your firm apart, like paid vacation time, conference sponsorships, or childcare reimbursements can go right here. As you prepare your bookkeeper job description, salary range transparency is an important consideration. Adding compensation numbers can help to build trust with candidates, while also ensuring applicants who may be more aligned with your budget. This Bookkeeper job description template is optimized for posting on online job boards or careers pages. Add your specific bookkeeping responsibilities to attract the most qualified candidates for your company.

When a bookkeeper wants to leap to being an accountant, they will need to take the CPA exam, plus earn a bachelor’s degree , if they do not have one already. Fifty states plus the District of Columbia require accountants to earn 150 credit hours of college education before taking the national four-part Uniform CPA exam. Accountants work with numbers and financial details all day long.

Should you hire a bookkeeper or an accountant?

Experienced CPA’s may then choose to move into management positions such as financial controllers or strategic positions such as chief financial officers. A Bookkeeper is a service professional who helps business owners and companies keep track of the money they earn and spend. They prepare your accounts, document daily financial transactions and ensure compliance with applicable standards. Modern accounting software is the repository of all financial transactions for your company and can generate requisite reports in real-time. So even if you have accounting software, odds are, you still need a bookkeeper to manage the software, enter data, file reports, identify errors and keep everything current. Upon completion of this qualification candidates will be able to carry out the role of an employed assistant bookkeeper under supervision. They should be able to apply postings from the books of prime entry and from source documents to the ledger accounts and produce an initial trial balance.

• The majority of bookkeepers work in the professional, scientific, and technical services industry.
• Bookkeeping offers much lower barriers to entry, and the competition you face in the job search is less fierce.
• Passing the examination and fulfilling the work experience requirements qualifies applicants to apply for a state license.
• To become one, you have to either have worked at the IRS or pass an EA examination.
• The American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers offers a similar credential.
• You’ll need some training and certification to become a professional bookkeeper.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in professional bookkeeper degree from Bridgewater State University and helps develop content strategies for financial brands. Greg DePersio has 13+ years of professional experience in sales and SEO and 3+ years as a freelance writer and editor. This qualification is being withdrawn and has a final assessment date of September 2023, with a certification end date of March 2024. Maintains general ledger by transferring subsidiary account summaries.

How to Become a Bookkeeper

https://www.bookstime.com/‘s Occupational Handbook, some of the most in-demand accounting jobs include comptroller, accounting manager, senior tax accountant, and internal auditors. Bookkeeping is a great starting point if you are interested in the field but not fully committed and want to test the waters. You may also be an ideal bookkeeping candidate if you want a good job with a respectable wage and decent security but may not be looking for a long-term career. Bookkeeping offers much lower barriers to entry, and the competition you face in the job search is less fierce. For a long-term career, accounting offers much more upward mobility and income potential. The education required to be competitive in the field is greater, but the payoff down the road can be considerably higher. It is not an unusual career move for a bookkeeper to gain experience at a job, study, get certified, and work as an accountant.

After completing your education, you can seek an internship and get on-the-job training to become a bookkeeper. However, it helps to have a two- or four-year degree in accounting, finance or related discipline.