Bookkeeping jobs are one of the most plentiful jobs in the nation. In fact, there are over 2 million bookkeepers, accountants, and auditors in the United States, and they work in almost every industry. Typically, there are bookkeeping jobs available for people with all levels of education from high school diplomas to college degrees. Because of the vast number of positions in this industry, there are normally several job openings for job seekers including those who prefer to work part time.
Description of Bookkeeping Jobs
A bookkeeping job is one where people work as financial record keepers. Someone with a bookkeeper job will be responsible for the following tasks:
- Maintaining account records
- Calculating expenses
- Filing receipts
- Tracking billing
- Calculating profits and losses
Find Available Bookkeeping Jobs Near You
Depending upon the size of the company, these professionals may be responsible for different tasks. For instance, at a small company, a bookkeeper may be in charge of all of the company’s financial records. At a large company, on the other hand, a bookkeeper may be required to focus on a small and specific aspect of a company’s bookkeeping department. Regardless of the tasks for which they are responsible, all bookkeepers must do mathematical computing every day. In addition, they will spend a large portion of each day using a computer to do sums and track data.
When you see job listings for bookkeeping jobs, it may not be immediately possible to tell exactly what sort of work the job will entail. Thus, it is important to read the ad carefully to ensure that you have the applicable skills or speak with the employer to ascertain what they expect. Some bookkeepers will keep the ledger for a company. In the ledger, they will track all of the company’s transactions, post all of their costs, and post all of their incoming monies. They will also work at preparing deposits and making sure that receipts are balanced. In many cases, their jobs are very similar to accounting jobs. Like accountants, they may take care of payroll, draft invoices, and organize late accounts.
Recent Changes to Bookkeeping Jobs
The most recent changes to this industry have been due to changes in technology. For instance, most bookkeepers now use software to organize their data.
Average Day of a Bookkeeper
People who are interested in finding employment in this industry may be pleased to learn that most bookkeepers work standard business hours. Normally, that consists of a forty-hour workweek that runs from Monday to Friday. However, in some cases, people may have to work an extra evening or on the weekend. Many people who are interested in the flexibility of part-time positions also pursue these jobs. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008, a quarter of all bookkeeping jobs were help by people who worked part-time.
Because bookkeepers deal with the finance side of a company’s records, they may have to work longer hours during tax season. This runs from approximately the end of the calendar year to mid April. The number of extra hours that a bookkeeper works during this season will depend upon how closely they are involved with filing their company’s taxes. They may also work extra hours near the end of the year or end of the month when the company decides to perform yearly or monthly audits.
Bookkeepers who work with the hospitality industry may also work extra hours in the peak season of their industry. For instance, those working for a ski lodge may work longer hours during the winter while those who work at resorts may work longer hours during the summer season.
Education Necessary for Bookkeeping Jobs
Most employers will require that their bookkeepers hold at least a high school diploma. However, more and more employers are looking for people with at least some post-secondary education. An associate’s degree in a business related or accounting field can be extremely advantageous. Some people with bachelor’s degrees also take a bookkeeping position with the intention of moving up in the company and getting a job that is more in line with their degree.
Some professionals opt to become certified. Although it is not required for employment, a certification can help to bolster a resume. In order to get a CB (Certified Bookkeeper) title, individuals must prove that they have all the skills that are needed to work in this industry. To prove this, they must show that they have worked in the field for at least two years, and they must pass a four part exam. There are several colleges and universities that offer people courses that help them prepare to pass their CB exam. To maintain their certification, they must meet an education requirement every 3 years.
Average Salary of Bookkeeping Jobs
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average wage of bookkeepers, accounting clerks and auditing clerks in 2008 was $32,000. Most of these professionals earned between $26,000 and $40,000 per year. The top wage earners in this field made almost $50,000 per year while the earners on the bottom of the spectrum made just under $21,000 per year.
In conclusion, this industry is attractive to many job seekers for a number of reasons. For more information on this industry and other things, please explore the rest of our website. The industry is expected to grow by ten percent over the next ten years, which is similar to the job growth that is evident in most other industry. Thus, bookkeeping jobs will remain plentiful, fairly flexible, and should continue to pay reasonable wages.