The BLS notes that job growth for accountants should track fairly closely with the broader economy. However, bookkeepers will face pressure from automation and technology that will reduce the demand for such workers. If you are interested in becoming an accountant, it may be beneficial to your career to become a certified public accountant (CPA), which has its own exam. You must have a minimum of 150 postsecondary education hours, or what amounts to a bachelor’s degree in accounting, and an additional 30 hours of graduate work. Some of the key tasks for accountants include tax return preparation, conducting routine reviews of various financial statements, and performing account analysis. Another key responsibility for accountants includes conducting routine audits to ensure that statements and the books are following ethical and industry standards.
Laura is a freelance writer specializing in ecommerce, lifestyle, and SMB content. As a small business owner, she is passionate about supporting other entrepreneurs, and sharing information that will help them thrive. If you’re a detail-oriented individual who enjoys working with numbers, then you might consider a career as a bookkeeper. Kelly is an SMB Editor specializing in starting and marketing new ventures.
How to Become a Bookkeeper (A Complete Guide)
At this point, you could confidently answer, “What does a bookkeeper do? ” You could also list their primary job duties and recognize the benefits of bookkeeping. https://intuit-payroll.org/the-founders-guide-to-startup-accounting/ If you’re thinking about hiring a bookkeeper or want to improve your business’s bookkeeping operations, consider your bookkeeping options.
- We provide third-party links as a convenience and for informational purposes only.
- If you’re new to business, you may be wondering about the importance of bookkeeping.
- By having access to this data, businesses of all sizes and ages can make strategic plans and develop realistic objectives.
- In bookkeeping, extra hours are typical during the busy tax season of January to mid-April.
- The responsibilities of a bookkeeper include a fair bit of data entry and receipt wrangling.
Outsourcing the work to a seasoned bookkeeper can allow you to focus on your business plan and growth. You may be hoping for the best and have a few college courses in your back pocket. Even with What is the best startup accounting software? these tools, you may not have the expertise you need to handle the responsibilities of a bookkeeper. Bookkeeping is just one facet of doing business and keeping accurate financial records.
The Job Hunt
While there are similarities between bookkeeping vs. accounting are similar, these two fields are not the same. A bookkeeper will handle the details of the day-to-day organization of a business, often processing the daily invoices or payroll. Bookkeepers keep an up-to-date record of a company’s current financial situation that can be accessed at any time. Whereas, an Accountant will handle larger scale ideas while making decisions regarding the financial future of a business.
Below is a sample bookkeeper job description that you can customize to meet the needs of your business. Let’s take a look at some of the typical responsibilities of a bookkeeper. We provide third-party links as a convenience and for informational purposes only.
Advanced bookkeeping responsibilities
Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals. Certifications aren’t necessary to become a bookkeeper but can signal to employers that you have the training and knowledge to meet industry standards. After you have a couple of years of experience, you can earn the Certified Bookkeeper designation from the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers by passing a series of exams. While it’s not always necessary to have a degree, some companies will look for candidates with coursework in accounting.
We recommend taking the time to find a bookkeeper you can trust a great deal. They can also usually take care of some of the tax preparation so that your accountant has less to do (which is a good thing, because bookkeepers are less expensive than a CPA). But they won’t be able to help you with tax planning or handling your tax return. You don’t need any special training to be a bookkeeper—you don’t even need a bachelor’s degree. If all your mental powers have been focused on getting your business off the ground, you might not yet fully understand what a bookkeeper does. In this guide we break down the day-to-day role of a bookkeeper, and why a good one is worth holding onto.
