How to Become a Bookkeeper

December 13, 2021

Bookkeepers serve an important role for nearly every organization, as it’s virtually impossible for businesses to be successful without tracking the financial information that bookkeepers are responsible for monitoring.
Bookkeepers are relatively well paid, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting that Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks earned an average median annual salary of $42,410 per year as of May 2020.
Bookkeeping is one of the best possible professions for starting a career in accounting.

Recording all financial transactions.
Posting the organization’s debits and credits.
Creating and sending out invoices.
Managing an organization’s payroll.
Maintaining and balancing an organization’s ledgers, accounts, and subsidiaries.

Solid Math Skills – Math skills are critical, as you’ll spend a great deal of your time recording or calculating financial figures, using addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and more complex math to determine exactly what your organization is spending, earning, etc.
Excellent Organization Skills – Because bookkeeping requires managing large sets of information, you’ll need to be organized if you’re to keep your head above water. Coming up with a good system to remain organized will be critical to achieving success in this fast-paced industry.
Communications Skills – Calculating accurate financial figures won’t matter much if you aren’t able to share them with others, including your organization’s accountants and executive leadership team. You’ll need solid written and verbal communication skills to become an effective bookkeeper.
Attention to Detail – Because bookkeeping hinges on accuracy, you’ll need extreme attention to detail to succeed in this complex role. Basic and simple mistakes can lead to incredibly inaccurate numbers, so make sure that you’re truly interested in this type of work before attempting to break into the industry.
Discipline – Being the person responsible for calculating an organization’s finances could be draining, and tedious, so you’ll need a great deal of discipline to remain successful in the field.
Commitment – Bookkeeping is an excellent career opportunity for anyone who wants to become an accountant; remember that! As you’re working on your bookkeeping skills, remember that they could serve the greater picture by helping you gain an accounting role down the line. Be patient, and do a good job as a bookkeeper to increase the odds that you’ll be able to eventually become an accountant.
Computer Skills – Nearly all bookkeeping work in the modern economy will require computer skills, including extensive use of accounting systems, like Quickbooks or Sage, two of the most popular systems for modern bookkeepers. Learning to use these systems will be critical to your career success.
Problem-Solving Skills – Odds are high that you’ll run into issues and problems regularly as a bookkeeper. You may find data that doesn’t align with expectations, and you’ll need to be able to determine where things went wrong, so problem-solving skills might be paramount to your success.
Expertise in the Field – You may be able to balance your own budget and track your own expenses, but doing it at the corporate level is another beast altogether. If you’re serious about breaking into the industry, you’re going to need to develop knowledge of the field’s best practices, procedures, etc., to launch a successful career in bookkeeping and accounting.

Preparing, analyzing, and confirming the accuracy of an organization’s or an individual’s financial records.
Ensuring that taxes are paid properly and on time.
Organizing and maintaining accurate and clear financial records.
Identifying ways to increase value, reduce costs, and improve profits.

Economics.
Business intelligence.
Finance.
Leadership.
Marketing.
Qualitative decision-making.

Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
Certified Financial Analyst (CFA).
Certified Management Accountant (CMA).
Enrolled Agent (EA).
Certified Financial Services Auditor (CFSA).
Certified Internal Auditor (CIA).
Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).
Chartered Global Management Accountant.

No requirements to show up at set times or in physical locations.
Monthly class starts.
Accelerated courses.

A #2 ranking for Best Online Bachelor’s in Accounting Degrees by Great Business Schools.
A #2 ranking for Best Online Accounting Degrees from College Choice.

A Top 10 ranking for Best Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs and Top 7 ranking for Best Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans from U.S. News & World Report.
A #3 ranking for Best Colleges in Colorado from Best Value Schools.

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