Bookkeeper Job Description and How To Start A Career In The Industry

A bookkeeper job can be a really rewarding thing, particularly if you make sure to skill up before entering the industry. There’s an impressive salary on offer, as well as the opportunity to work for an established firm or go solo. So, it’s a career path that’s well worth considering if you’re good with numbers and interested in finance.

Whether becoming a bookkeeper and accountant is your end goal, or you’d like to eventually take on a related role such as an accounts assistant, cost accountant, or account coordinator, you should keep an eye out for your ideal job posting. With businesses of all types in need of someone to manage their day to day financial transactions, there’s a good chance you’ll find a role that suits you.

But first, you might be wondering what exactly a bookkeeper does. Or, you may just want to know what it’s going to take for you to get a job in the industry. Whatever you’re looking for, we’ve got the answers for you right here.

Bookkeeper job description

You can expect a job description for a bookkeeper to include salary guides and entry level requirements. They will also highlight the specific bookkeepers responsibilities that each firm will expect you to be able to carry out.

Generally speaking, all hiring managers will be looking for people who are able to record and maintain financial transactions, including outgoings, expenses, and revenue. Knowledge of budgeting and financial planning are also likely to be necessities.

So, you should be able to understand balance sheets and other financial statements. You must have a good grasp of essential accounting methods, too, as well as an understanding of basic accounting terminology. In addition, many businesses will expect you to have good communication skills.

Beyond what you can expect to see in typical bookkeeper job description examples, this article will delve deeper into what you need to do to be considered for a role. With more experience and qualifications behind you, you’re far more likely to show up in executive search results.

How to get a job as a bookkeeper?

If the above job description sample sounds right up your alley, then it’s time to start looking into the hows and whys of getting a job as a bookkeeper.

For one thing, your resume objectives should speak to each role that you apply for. So, if one firm is looking to hire someone who will primarily concern themselves with accounts payable and accounts receivable, then put your experience in that area front and center.

Or, they might be on the lookout for someone with experience as an accounting clerk for an entry level bookkeeping role. Just remember that firms advertising roles will have figured out exactly what they want from their candidates prior to the posting process, particularly those driven by business intelligence.

In other words, there’s not much point in applying to roles that don’t suit your experience. Beyond anything else, you’re far more likely to come unstuck when faced with interview questions if you do that.

However, if you’re unsure about the requirements of any particular job role, then you could always call up human resources to find out more information. In fact, this could be advisable even if you already think you’re right for the job. It might just give you an edge over your competitors when answering bookkeeper interview questions.

Why study a bookkeeping course online?

Don’t worry too much if you don’t have a great deal of bookkeeping experience or a relevant formal education. That’s because, if you have experience as an office manager, credit analyst, data analyst, or something similar, then you could always include the transferable skills from your past roles in your cover letter.

However, if the jobs you’ve had in the past are completely removed from bookkeeping, then you might want to consider undertaking a bookkeeper education online.

Take our Basic Bookkeeping Online Certificate course as an example. It includes 12 modules that cover everything you need to know about accounting best practices. And, as with all Courses for Success online courses, you’ll get a certificate of completion at the end, to prove you really know your stuff.

Beyond giving you a solid foundation of important information, the course will also give you an advantage over competitors when you’re looking for internships or work experience opportunities.

Understand and implement basic bookkeeping principles

Job boards will be looking for people who know the ropes, because good bookkeeping practices are underpinned by a wealth of knowledge.

While you may have a solid understanding of what it takes to manage your own day to day financial affairs, there’s more at stake when it comes to doing the same for a firm or business. With the Basic Bookkeeping Online Certificate course, you will:

• Learn basic and advanced accounting terms.
• Understand different accounting methods.
• Familiarize yourself with accounts payable and accounts receivable.
• Be taught data entry skills so you can document financial business movements.
• Understand different financial statements.
• Understanding the importance of budgets.
• Learn the principles of internal and external auditing.

It will also give you an insight into what accounting software you might require for any given bookkeeping role (hint: Microsoft Excel won’t always cut it).

With everything that the course gives you, you won’t just learn to be a great bookkeeper. You’ll also learn skills that you can take on and apply to more advanced roles in the future, say, for example, project manager roles.

What are the requirements for studying a basic bookkeeping online course?

The good news is that, no matter what your background is, the Basic Bookkeeping Online Certificate course offered by Courses for Success is available to you. So long as you have internet access and basic literacy and numeracy skills, you’ll be good to go.

Start to understand the world of financial data and make sure your skills match the accounting job descriptions you find, by taking on an online short course. It takes between just six and eight hours of study to complete, so what are you waiting for? Get learning in your free time, and start yourself out on an exciting new career path.

Basic Bookkeeping Online course facts

The Basic Bookkeeping Online Certificate course is structured for ease of comprehension, which means that students are able to complete it in a timely manner. And, not only that, but the course materials are available to students 24 hours a day, seven days a week, both while they are doing the course and after, too.

With quick, lifetime access to course materials, students are able to complete the Courses for Success short course wherever and whenever they choose. So, it’s perfect for a job seeker who is already employed elsewhere.

Basic Bookkeeping Online Certificate course modules

The course will give you a beginner’s look at what job duties you might be expected to carry out as a bookkeeper or account manager. It starts out with modules on basic bookkeeping terminology, before delving deeper into what the terms actually mean.

During the course, you will learn all about financial records and financial reports. For example, you will find out what tax forms are, how a balance sheet works, and what an income statement is for.

You will also be given an insight into financial transactions, with an introduction to cash flows, accounts payable and accounts receivable, processing accounts, trial balance, bank deposits, and time reports.

So, basically, over the course of the 12 modules, you will receive a thorough and comprehensive overview of what a bookkeeper does and how they do it. This will give you a great starting point for securing further experience or even looking for entry level jobs.

Why Courses for Success?

Courses for Success offers over 10,000 online courses, all of which aim to help you in your personal development and career progression. Not only that, but you can also study them anywhere and at any time, and take them at your own pace, too.

The Basic Bookkeeping Online Certificate program is no exception. Helping aspiring bookkeepers on their job search, it offers engaged students the chance to upgrade their bookkeeper resumes and get themselves established on a new career path.

Who knows where one of our courses might take you? You might get the job of your dreams in an area that’s just right for you. Or, you could go on to learn more about your chosen area than you ever imagined.

Why not consider skilling up in corporate finance or something similar once you’ve received your certificate? Or, you could look up some other jobs to find out what you’d need to learn to fit a coordinator job description, or even a manager job description. With easy access to Courses for Success, you have a whole world of practical knowledge at your fingertips.