How to become a bookkeeper

Bookkeepers are friendly, highly organized, and have strong verbal and written communication skills. Bookkeepers are the silent but powerful heroes of every business. They keep tabs on everything and anything to make sure that your company’s finances stay intact, including cash flow statements, bank reconciliations and loss statements.

Some bookkeepers earn $100 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Many of these bookkeepers work from home, making their own hours. People often confuse bookkeepers and accountants—and with good reason. While there are certain similarities and overlaps between the two, there are distinctions that set these two roles apart. Bookkeepers don’t necessarily need higher education in order to work in their field while accountants can be more specialized in their training. Because bookkeepers tend to work for smaller companies, they may not be paid as much as accountants.

Basic Math Skills

The primary method of tracking involves creating documents that easily show clients where their funds come from, where the money is spent, and how much they are actually making each month. These reports are essential to assisting businesses in growing and succeeding. Bookkeepers should have an understanding of accounting jargon and have some drive to keep educating themselves and getting certifications to move into higher-level, big picture positions. Bookkeepers should be accustomed to using accounting platforms like QuickBooks, Spreadsheets, Deltek Costpoint, Accounting Suites, and databases. Bookkeepers are hired by every single kind of business, non-profit and government agency. Many accountants, CPAs and tax preparers also work with bookkeepers to help support their clients. Also, make sure to update your LinkedIn profile to reflect your bookkeeping skills and desire for work.

Develop the analytical skills needed to not only become an accountant—but to continue your evolution. Another free resource, the Accounting Jobs Today board features a powerful and precise search tool.

What advice would you give to students considering becoming a bookkeeper?

A growing business that decides to hire its own bookkeepers or accounting clerks may seek out the services of experienced bookkeepers to help them educate and train their staff. Lauren Colson is a numbers geek with over 11 years of financial experience. From large publicly traded companies to high-growth startups, these industries cultivated her passion. Now the owner of Colson Strategies, Lauren’s rockstar team provides accounting and finance services ranging from bookkeeping to CFO. They take the “scary” out of your finances so you can focus on what matters most. Her purpose is to empower entrepreneurs with the tools to make the best decisions for their business. She is a mother of two, a coffee lover, and a book-reading, beach-loving, mindset enthusiast.

Larger companies will likely be hiring you to work alongside an accountant. In those scenarios, it helps to practice how you’ll explain how you’ll do work within their team. Finding a mentor, role model, or meetup group can also be instrumental in getting a job like this. If you’re looking to freelance or work on a contract basis, networking is even more important. The best clients are usually referral clients which typically come to you from people you’ve networked with or worked for.

What is the job outlook for bookkeepers?

However, all NACPB courses are self-guided, so you could realistically complete any course in less time. Experience with accounting software https://www.bookstime.com/ such as Xero, Quickbooks, or MYOB. At least 2 years of bookkeeping experience, preferably within a business-services environment.

Experience is key in any job market, and bookkeeping is no exception. Aspiring bookkeepers will benefit from finding a paid internship or an entry-level bookkeeping position like a bookkeeping assistant while they complete their training. The free course is taught by Ben Robinson, CPA, founder of bookkeepers.com.

The University of Montana

Bookkeepers must be detail oriented, have strong math skills, and be efficient. A CFO is one of the top executives of a corporation and is a critical leader of the organization.

There are preparation courses available online and at colleges to prepare you for certification. Taking software-specific certifications can also enhance your credibility. These will help prove your expertise on specific accounting and bookkeeping software to clients. These exams test you on your knowledge around analyzing business transactions, payroll taxes, financial statements, how to become a bookkeeper and more. Once you’ve learned how to become a bookkeeper and have two years of work experience, you can become a certified bookkeeper. Becoming a certified bookkeeper requires you to pass an exam to get a bookkeeping certificate. This is a great route to gain some real-world experience as you become a bookkeeper and, potentially, a bookkeeping business owner.