Become A Bookkeeper
Where do you want to work?
Working As A Bookkeeper
- Getting Information
- Interacting With Computers
- Processing Information
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
Mostly Sitting
Repetitive
$39,395
Average Salary
What Does A Bookkeeper Do
How To Become A Bookkeeper
Most bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks need some postsecondary education and also learn some of their skills on the job. They must have basic math and computer skills, including knowledge of spreadsheets and bookkeeping software.
EducationEmployers generally require bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks to have some postsecondary education, particularly coursework in accounting. However, some candidates can be hired with just a high school diploma.
TrainingBookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks usually get on-the-job training. Under the guidance of a supervisor or another experienced employee, new clerks learn how to do their tasks, including double-entry bookkeeping. In double-entry bookkeeping, each transaction is entered twice, once as a debit (cost) and once as a credit (income), to ensure that all accounts are balanced.
Some formal classroom training also may be necessary, such as training in specialized computer software. This on-the-job training typically takes around 6 months.
Licenses, Certifications, and RegistrationsSome bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks become certified. For those who do not have postsecondary education, certification is a particularly useful way to gain expertise in the field. The Certified Bookkeeper (CB) designation, awarded by the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers, shows that those who have earned it have the skills and knowledge needed to carry out all bookkeeping tasks, including overseeing payroll and balancing accounts, according to accepted accounting procedures.
For certification, candidates must have at least 2 years of full-time bookkeeping experience or equivalent part-time work, pass a four-part exam, and adhere to a code of ethics.
The National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers also offers certification. The Uniform Bookkeeper Certification Examination is an online test with 50 multiple-choice questions. Test takers must answer 75 percent of the questions correctly to pass the exam.
AdvancementWith appropriate experience and education, some bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks may become accountants or auditors.
Important QualitiesComputer skills. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks need to be comfortable using computer spreadsheets and bookkeeping software.
Detail oriented. These clerks are responsible for producing accurate financial records. They must pay attention to detail in order to avoid making errors and recognize errors that others have made.
Integrity. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks have control of an organization’s financial documentation, which they must use properly and keep confidential. It is vital that they keep records transparent and guard against misappropriating an organization’s funds.
Math skills. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks deal with numbers daily and should be comfortable with basic arithmetic.
Show More
Show Less
Bookkeeper jobs
Bookkeeper Career Paths
-
Charge Bookkeeper/Office Manager 6.1 years
-
Charge Bookkeeper 5.1 years
-
Office Administrator/Bookkeeper 4.2 years
-
Bookkeeper 4.0 years
-
Payroll Bookkeeper 3.8 years
-
Receptionist, Bookkeeper 3.1 years
-
Bookkeeping Assistant 2.8 years
-
Office Manager 19.2%
-
Administrative Assistant 11.3%
-
-
Cashier 5.8%
-
-
Accounting Clerk 5.4%
-
Accountant 4.9%
-
Office Assistant 4.0%
-
Assistant Manager 3.9%
-
Staff Accountant 3.8%
-
Secretary 3.8%
-
Receptionist 3.8%
-
Sales Associate 3.5%
-
Accounting Assistant 3.4%
-
Manager 3.0%
-
Charge Bookkeeper 2.7%
-
Teller 2.6%
-
-
Tax Preparer 2.2%
-
Accounting Manager 2.1%
-
Office Manager 16.2%
-
Administrative Assistant 10.6%
-
-
Accountant 7.5%
-
-
Staff Accountant 5.9%
-
Accounting Clerk 5.3%
-
Cashier 4.6%
-
Sales Associate 3.6%
-
Accounting Assistant 3.5%
-
Assistant Manager 3.3%
-
Office Assistant 3.2%
-
Accounting Manager 3.1%
-
-
Receptionist 2.9%
-
Owner 2.7%
-
Manager 2.7%
-
Billing Specialist 2.7%
-
Charge Bookkeeper 2.5%
-
Secretary 2.5%
Average Length of Employment
Top Careers Before Bookkeeper
Top Careers After Bookkeeper
Bookkeeper Demographics
Gender
-
Female
82.9% -
Male
15.2% -
Unknown
1.9%
Ethnicity
-
White
79.3% -
Hispanic or Latino
11.1% -
Asian
7.6% -
Unknown
1.6% -
Black or African American
0.5%
Languages Spoken
-
Spanish
50.9% -
French
8.1% -
Chinese
6.7% -
Mandarin
6.3% -
Russian
4.6% -
Portuguese
3.2% -
Cantonese
3.1% -
German
2.3% -
Arabic
2.0% -
Hindi
1.7% -
Japanese
1.5% -
Vietnamese
1.5% -
Italian
1.5% -
Polish
1.3% -
Korean
1.1% -
Armenian
1.1% -
Tagalog
1.0% -
Ukrainian
0.9% -
Hebrew
0.8% -
Urdu
0.6%
Bookkeeper
Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.
Bookkeeper Education
-
University of Phoenix
29.0% -
Liberty University
6.8% -
Southern New Hampshire University
6.2% -
Strayer University
6.1% -
Kaplan University
5.7% -
Ashford University
4.6% -
American InterContinental University
3.7% -
Northern Virginia Community College
3.6% -
University of Houston
3.3% -
Grand Canyon University
3.1% -
Florida Atlantic University
3.0% -
Troy University
2.9% -
University of Central Florida
2.9% -
Greenville Technical College
2.9% -
Suffolk County Community College
2.8% -
Colorado Technical University
2.8% -
Texas State University
2.8% -
San Jose State University
2.7% -
San Francisco State University
2.6% -
California State University - Fullerton
2.6% -
Accounting 42.2%
-
Business 27.1%
-
Finance 3.9%
-
-
Psychology 2.6%
-
Management 2.1%
-
General Studies 2.0%
-
Criminal Justice 1.9%
-
Nursing 1.8%
-
Education 1.7%
-
Computer Science 1.4%
-
Liberal Arts 1.3%
-
-
English 1.2%
-
-
Marketing 1.2%
-
-
Elementary Education 1.1%
-
-
Communication 1.0%
-
Bachelors
36.7% -
Other
28.4% -
Associate
17.8% -
Masters
9.0% -
Certificate
5.6% -
Diploma
1.7% -
License
0.5% -
Doctorate
0.4%
Schools
Majors
Degrees
Bookkeeper
Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.
Real Bookkeeper Salaries
Job Title
|
Company
|
Location
|
Start Date
|
Salary
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | Artviz, LLC | Miami, FL | Jan 07, 2016 | $85,984 - $87,863 |
| Bookkeeper | Monolith Materials | Redwood City, CA | Jan 03, 2016 | $73,045 |
| Bookkeeper | Helping Hands Adult Day Health Care Center | Alta, CA | Aug 10, 2015 | $63,066 |
| Bookkeeper | Helping Hands Adult Day Health Care Center | Alta, CA | May 19, 2016 | $63,066 |
| Bookkeeper for East European Programs | Cultural Homestay International | San Anselmo, CA | Dec 14, 2016 | $57,304 |
| Bookkeeper | Momentum Education Inc. | New York, NY | Jan 04, 2016 | $55,000 |
| Bookkeeper | 7-Eleven Store #23450C | NY | May 05, 2016 | $54,163 |
| Bookkeeper | L&B Universal, Inc. | Chantilly, VA | Apr 12, 2015 | $53,206 |
| Bookkeeper | Koryo Books Enterprise Inc. | New York, NY | May 25, 2016 | $52,154 |
| Bookkeeper | Junee Commercial and Company Inc. | Islandia, NY | Aug 16, 2016 | $52,154 |
| Bookkeeper | Dream Nj Inc. | Little Ferry, NJ | May 07, 2016 | $52,154 |
| Bookkeeper | L & N Dental Laboratory | Wallington, NJ | May 12, 2016 | $51,979 |
| Bookkeeper | Sam Hee International | New York, NY | Oct 08, 2016 | $51,979 |
| Bookkeeper | Airwaves Wireless, LLC | Houston, TX | Dec 27, 2016 | $43,500 |
| Bookkeeper | KOAM Physical Therapy, PC | NY | Aug 18, 2015 | $43,500 |
| Bookkeeper | C&S Specialty, Inc. | Norwood, NJ | Jun 26, 2015 | $43,140 |
| Bookkeeper | A.W. Ross Inc. | Passaic, NJ | Jun 03, 2015 | $43,139 |
| Bookkeeper | All State Printing | Clifton, NJ | Jul 08, 2015 | $43,139 |
| Bookkeeper | The Crystal Evangelical Church of New York | NY | Aug 07, 2015 | $43,139 |
| Bookkeeper | Cititicket Inc. | Fort Lee, NJ | Jul 06, 2015 | $43,139 |
| Bookkeeper | World Ambulette Transportation, Inc. | NY | Nov 20, 2015 | $43,139 |
| Bookkeeper | 5 Star Taxes & Accounting, Inc. | Chicago, IL | Aug 04, 2015 | $40,165 |
| Bookkeeper | Touch of Beauty Supply, Inc. | Harvey, IL | Sep 10, 2015 | $40,165 - $46,675 |
| Bookkeeper | New Age Realty Inc. D/B/A Century 21 Universal | Chicago, IL | Sep 12, 2015 | $40,165 |
| Bookkeeper | 5000 Years Food, Inc. | Chicago, IL | Nov 12, 2015 | $40,165 |
| Bookkeeper | Apex Tax Services Inc. | Austin, TX | Sep 19, 2016 | $40,000 |
| International Bookkeeper | Contractors USA | Manassas, VA | Aug 01, 2015 | $40,000 |
No Results
To get more results, try adjusting your search by changing your filters.
Top Skills for A Bookkeeper
Show More
Top Bookkeeper Skills
- Payroll Tax Returns
- Quickbooks Pro
- General Ledger Accounts
- Posted daily activity, oversaw budgets and reconciled bank accounts Produced monthly financial statements and processed quarterly sales and payroll tax returns
- Used QuickBooks Pro to reconciled monthly bank and credit card statements and updated the financial reports.
- Balanced monthly general ledger accounts to accurately record cost and month end accruals.
- Handled all accounts payables and receivables for twelve different entities.
- Answer phones, customer service, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, union reporting, office management skills.
Top Bookkeeper Employers
Accountemps
Safeway
Show More