How to Become a Bookkeeper?
It is not mandatory to be a certified bookkeeper, however, being an accredited bookkeeper means you the necessary skills to effectively manage companies' books of accounts.
Some individuals learn bookkeeping skills on the job, but seeking further education to become an experienced bookkeeper is always helpful. This also helps to bolster your list of professionals accomplishments.
As a bookkeeper, you are responsible for maintaining accurate financial records and handling all the accounting processes for a business.
Some employers may require you to have only a high school diploma or a certificate for an entry-level bookkeeping position. Most employers, however, will expect you to have additional education and some work experience.
So, in order to advance your career as a bookkeeper, you can consider the following:
Obtain a Degree
Many bookkeeping jobs only require a high school diploma, but some employers will require candidates to have an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree.
There are a host of programs available in the field of business administration and accounting.
Associate Degree in Accounting
An associate degree in accounting is a two-year degree that helps candidates to begin their careers in accounting. This type of degree is often offered by community colleges, technical colleges, universities and online programs.
The common types of associate degrees in accounting include an Associate of Science (AS) in Accounting and an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Accounting. This type of degree provides foundational knowledge to prepare candidates for entry-level jobs in the industry.
Jobs For Associate Degree Candidates
An Associate Degree in Accounting is the foundational step toward attaining higher degrees, including a bachelor's or masters. However, this degree does not prepare students to take up an accounting license program, like a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination.
So, candidates who have an associate degree in accounting may take up entry-level positions, including:
- Bookkeeper
- Accounting Assistant
- Administrative Assistant
- Payroll Clerk
- Auditing Clerk
- Tax Preparer
Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting
A Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting can provide you with the fundamental knowledge for advising businesses, individuals and organizations on financial and accounting matters. This is the minimum degree required for accounting license programs, such as a CPA examination.
The following are options for a bachelor’s degree in accounting:
- Bachelor of Science in Accounting (BS)
- Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
- Bachelor of Arts in Accounting (BA)
Undertake Training
Some employers prefer hiring bookkeepers who possess a proper degree, and others employers pefer to hire candidates with a high-school diploma and train them on the job.
Training in bookkeeping involves:
- Double-entry bookkeeping
- Online accounting software
- Managing payroll
- Accounts payable and accounts receivable
- Learning hard skills like analytics
- Technology skills
- Functional accounting and finance skills
- Leadership or management training
- Soft skills like writing negotiations and presentation