skills needed to be a bookkeeper

Bookkeeping serves as more of a preliminary function through the straightforward recording and organizing of financial information. Accounting takes that information and expands on cash flow forecasting it through analyzing and interpreting the data. When you apply for a job you can show your bookkeeping skills on your resume and cover letter, as well as during the job interview.

  • Customers schedule an appointment to have a bookkeeper review their transactions, and  multiple schedules are available to choose from.
  • This communication may be face-to-face or electronic; nevertheless, it is very much important.
  • Every one of your abilities would be useless if you can’t divide your tasks properly when the timing is right.
  • Furthermore, accounting measures the outcomes of an organization’s economic actions and communicates this information to management, investors, creditors, and regulators.

The best way to apply for a decent bookkeeper position is to highlight your bookkeeper skills. In your resume, you should mention good time management skills, flexible work schedules, and the ability to work with different company departments. It will make your hiring process more accessible and more pleasant for your managers. Integrity and transparency may not be a part of bookkeeper skills per se, but they are an essential part of bookkeepers‘ job ethics.

Intuit Talent Acquisition

Keep an organization’s financial data confidential and be transparent about your bookkeeping activities. A bookkeeper checks for errors when creating reports and managing the general ledger. You will check bank deposits for fraud, fix balance sheet errors, and maintain accurate payroll records. The size and scope of a business will determine whether the company needs a part-time bookkeeper, full-time specialist bookkeeper, or an entire accounting department. In researching bookkeeping or bookkeeping accounting, you may come across information on accounting or find that bookkeeping and accounting are used interchangeably. While there is some overlap between bookkeeping and accounting, several factors distinguish these processes, as we explore in the table below.

skills needed to be a bookkeeper

Besides, you will learn valuable tips on how to craft a winning resume for a bookkeeper position and list your accomplishments and work experience. Whereas for more relevant information on classes at Potomac Workforce Training & Development Center, visit potomac.theknowledgebase.org. This is the number one quality you will need to succeed as a bookkeeper.

Bookkeeping vs. accounting

Get started by signing up for the Intuit Bookkeeping Certification program today. Bookkeepers are not required to have certifications or specific education unless required by a specific employer. Therefore, there are often opportunities opening up for in-house bookkeepers, remote bookkeepers, or freelance bookkeepers. The skills that certifications inculcate in you can help you in all phases of your career. For instance, you may have to use the elementary concepts of document management and finance to make smart decisions in a different job role. You may need several iterations of your resume to show your bookkeeper skills accurately.

The most highly organized people will even know how to create and develop systems to meet their goals. The power combination is when they also have the discipline to follow through. Organized bookkeepers can efficiently manage a variety of duties responsibly, even on more complex projects. They can perform multiple tasks while remaining focused on the core aspects of the job to meet deadlines.

Step 2: Gain bookkeeping skills

Prior to joining ICI Gladys led a multifaceted career with key roles in the banking and business process outsourcing industries. If you like looking at the details of a project and making sure no leaf is left overturned, this is definitely going to help you in your role as a bookkeeper. Paying attention to detail not only makes for accurate workings and numbers, it also means less issues and hassles in the future for both yourself and your colleagues.

Some companies might mention they need only certified candidates in their vacancy ad, so earning a certification can increase your job opportunities. With an industry certification, you can show up in more searches when companies are actively hiring and can also get more attention in the preliminary application phase. Hiring managers and recruiters often review hundreds of resumes every single day. To streamline their work, they scan for differentiating features, like advanced degrees, experience, or certifications. When you mention that you are a certified bookkeeper, it automatically makes your resume more prominent, and recruiters may pay closer attention to your application. Are you looking for a job in finance, accounting, or business administration?

skills needed to be a bookkeeper

Being able to say that you will take on a project and complete it within a timeframe specified means that you can be reliable in your position. When an effective bookkeeping system is in place, businesses have the knowledge and information that allows them to make the best financial decisions. Tasks, such as establishing a budget, planning for the next fiscal year and preparing for tax time, are easier when financial records are accurate. At the end of the course, you’ll receive a professional certificate, which you can put on your resume to demonstrate your skills and accomplishments to potential employers.

As a bookkeeper, you will need to learn how to create balance sheets, invoices, cash flow statements, income statements, accounts receivable reports, and more. Although software and calculators do most of the math, basic skills such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are essential to helping you catch errors quickly. If you are passionate about working as a bookkeeper, there are certain skill sets you need to have under your belt in order to succeed in the field and become a professional.

The Support to Grow your Tax and Bookkeeping Career, Your Way

So if you’re looking to hire a bookkeeper, it is essential to create a bookkeeper job description that fills your recruitment funnel with ideal candidates as quickly as possible. Yes, I said bookkeepers don’t really need any special education or certification. However, the best ones will know at least the basic accounting principles, too. If they don’t know the set guidelines and rules, they can’t prepare the information properly. A bookkeeper needs to plan well to make sure that they update all the records in a timely fashion. Otherwise, you, as the business owner, won’t be able to get an accurate picture of your business’s financial health.

Bookkeepers are important professionals in today’s economic and financial fields. Every company, even a small one, requires bookkeeping to maintain a healthy financial position. Some aspiring professionals may pursue internships or practicums while pursuing postsecondary degrees or certificate programs.

The Most Important Bookkeeping Skills (With Examples)

As a bookkeeper, you will verify and balance receipts, keep track of cash drawers, and check sales records. Bookkeepers also deposit money, cash checks, and ensure correct credit card transactions. Managing the general ledger is part of your daily responsibilities as a bookkeeper. You may determine if any payments are due, submit them, and record them in the financial ledger.