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Bookkeeper Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

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A Bookkeeper, or Accounts Clerk, keeps financial records for businesses. Their duties include processing financial documents, performing accounting work and completing basic administrative tasks.

Bookkeeper duties and responsibilities

Bookkeepers are responsible for several duties related to managing financial records these responsibilities may include:

  • Processing payments, invoices, income and receipts and entering data into accounting software or databases then filing hard copies
  • Preparing financial statements showing business income and expenditure
  • Paying vendor invoices and tracking bank account balances
  • Completing VAT returns
  • Verifying the accuracy of business accounts and alerting the Accountant of errors
  • Recording any inconsistencies to help the Accountants reconcile inaccuracies
  • Developing monthly financial statements including cash flow, profit and loss and balance sheets
  • Preparing employee wages
  • Managing employee expense claims
  • Helping the Accountant with administrative duties and preparing yearly accounts

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Bookkeeper Job Description Examples:

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Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

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What does a Bookkeeper do?

Bookkeepers maintain financial records, helping companies to understand their finances and manage their cash flow. They record financial transactions and ensure financial records and statements are accurate and up-to-date. This work involves using specialised software, including accounting programs and spreadsheets. Some Bookkeepers also track business income and spending. Bookkeepers who work at large companies often work for departments or on special projects. Bookkeepers at small to medium firms may work on financial records throughout the company. Bookkeepers may need to spend a portion of their day making phone calls to vendors or clients to settle balances owed.

Bookkeeper skills and qualifications

Bookkeepers use a variety of skills in their careers. A successful Bookkeepers candidate will have various prerequisite skills and qualifications that include:

  • Good attention to detail to enter correct data into financial records and recognise errors
  • Mathematics skills for accurate record-keeping
  • Administrative skills for filing financial records
  • Computer literacy, especially familiarity with spreadsheets, databases and accounting software such as Microsoft Office, Excel and QuickBooks
  • Multi-tasking and organisational skills to manage different financial duties, including the ability to prioritise tasks in order to meet deadlines
  • Interpersonal and customer service skills for dealing with customers, suppliers and other employees in the accounts department
  • Communication skills, including the ability to explain complex financial matters in accessible terms

Bookkeeper experience requirements

Completing an Accounts Assistant or Finance Assistant Intermediate Apprenticeship often provides the experience required for an entry-level Bookkeeper role. Some employers may hire graduates who have a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or a related field, without this experience. Other employers prefer candidates who have worked as an Administrative Assistant in an accounts department.

Bookkeeper education and training requirements

Employers may hire a person with a minimum of five General Certificates of Secondary Education (GCSEs) at grades 9 to 4, including mathematics and English. A-levels in mathematics, business studies, economics and similar subjects are also desirable. Certain GSCEs are also required for internships or for higher education courses.

Earning a relevant Level 2 Certificate at a higher education college can help aspiring Bookkeepers improve their knowledge and become more desirable job candidates. Certificates in bookkeeping, manual and computerised bookkeeping and accounting are some of the most common.

Bookkeeper salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Bookkeeper is £22,813 per year. This figure varies depending on factors, including experience, geographical location and company.

Job description samples for similar positions

Many jobs involve financial record keeping, so there are several similar positions using the same skills Bookkeepers have. Here are other job descriptions that may help you develop your own job posting:

Create a culture of innovation
Download our free step-by-step guide on encouraging healthy risk-taking
Get the guide

Bookkeeper job description FAQs

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