Bookkeeping Career at a Glance
Whether managing an organization's general ledger or performing as accounts receivable clerks, bookkeepers are responsible for financial recordkeeping. The size and nature of the business often determines the types of jobs available. A company selling goods through the Web may employ an online bookkeeper, while an organization with a large staff may require payroll bookkeeping services. Effective bookkeepers possess the following skills: detail oriented, well organized, possessing integrity and aptitude for numbers. Furthermore, bookkeepers who interact with members of the public should have good communication and customer service skills.
What to Know about Bookkeeping Programs and Degrees
Many employers require a high-school diploma for entry-level bookkeeping programs, but a two-year associate's bookkeeping degree can give you an edge in the job market. Classes in accounting and financial management can provide a good base of knowledge for work in the field. Furthermore, many bookkeepers choose to become a Certified Bookkeeper (CB), a designation that requires two years of work experience, a qualifying examination, and adherence to a code of ethics. Many bookkeepers learn skills on the job. Someone with a bookkeeping degree and experience as a clerical bookkeeper may move into computerized bookkeeping or double entry bookkeeping simply by performing well in the workplace.
Bookkeeping Career Outlook
As of May 2008, median annual wages for bookkeepers were $32,510. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that jobs will grow about as fast as the national average--approximately 10 percent from 2008 through 2018. Bookkeepers with the widest range of skills, such as in payroll bookkeeping, online bookkeeping, and computerized bookkeeping, will have the best job prospects.
