How to Become a Bookkeeper

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that jobs for bookkeepers, accountants, and auditing clerks will decline by 5% from 2021 to 2031. However, the profession will still add 197,600 openings annually to fill roles held by retirees or job changers. First of all, bookkeeping doesn’t require obtaining a college diploma, unlike accounting. To become a bookkeeper, a high school diploma or equivalent and some basic bookkeeping knowledge are enough.

  • What is the full charge bookkeeper’s role in comparison to an accountant’s, then?
  • Additionally, you will assist leadership with reporting and regulatory requirements.
  • Accountants and auditors are typically required to hold at least a bachelor’s degree (BLS, September 2022).
  • You must handle day-to-day bookkeeping tasks along with full-cycle accounting duties.

Full charge bookkeepers perform all the tasks regular bookkeepers do, along with full-cycle accounting duties, except for those that can be done only by a certified public accountant. Even though they are not as well-paid as accountants, full charge full charge bookkeeper bookkeepers definitely earn more than regular bookkeepers. Depending on the level of education, years of experience, certifications, and additional skills, the full charge bookkeeping salary in the United States ranges from $37,770 to $47,250.

Salary Prospects

For success in this role, you should also have strong communication, organization, and attention to detail skills. Now, let’s take a look at full charge bookkeeper vs. bookkeeper job descriptions and compare them. Let us know what type of degree you’re looking into, and we’ll find a list of the best programs to get you there. By clicking the button above, I agree to the ZipRecruiter Terms of Use and acknowledge I have read the Privacy Policy, and agree to receive email job alerts. Opinions expressed on the pages of this website belong to the author and do not represent the views of companies whose products and services are being reviewed.

  • As part of our finance team, you will manage all company ledgers, process payroll, and reconcile invoices, accounts payable, and accounts receivable.
  • Like regular bookkeepers, they keep records of finances, bank transactions, income and expenses, create monthly or weekly statements, and run payroll and timesheets.
  • Enrolling in a certificate or degree program offers an education-based option.
  • With this Full Charge Bookkeeper job description sample, you can get a good idea of what employers are looking for when hiring for this position.

The AIPB and NACPB also provide resources about how to become a bookkeeper, as well as suggestions that might make you more competitive in your search. For instance, you may decide to pursue additional licenses or certifications. Aspiring bookkeepers don’t need work experience to apply for entry-level roles. Also, unlike accountants, full charge bookkeepers generally do not provide tax planning advice or act as financial advisors. If you’re just starting out with your small business, you’ll probably be satisfied with the services of a regular bookkeeper.

Optional Certifications and Degrees

Your earnings could differ based on factors like location, experience, education, certifications, the client’s size, and whether you work in-house. But because full charge bookkeepers go beyond the typical responsibilities bookkeepers have, you may be confused about the difference between them and accountants. We’ve already mentioned some of the skills that full charge bookkeepers should possess, but we’d like to focus more on their educational background. Even though we’ve gone through the main full charge bookkeeping responsibilities, let’s delve deeper into how an FC bookkeeper’s career differs from that of an accountant.

  • For instance, they must understand how to produce balance sheets and income statements, as well as record organizational debits and credits.
  • For example, a billing clerk, payables clerk, or payroll clerk may report to the bookkeeper.
  • While full charge bookkeepers mostly deal with maintaining the ledger, they also perform full-cycle accounting duties in the company.
  • Although FC bookkeepers do provide accounting services, they usually don’t act as financial advisors or deal with auditing and tax reports.

Explore programs of your interests with the high-quality standards and flexibility you need to take your career to the next level. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site. Get up and running with free payroll setup, and enjoy free expert support. For more specific salary information, consider researching average full charge bookkeeper salaries in your area.

Responsibilities of a Full Charge Bookkeeper

Knowing what is included in full charge bookkeeping services makes you aware that a degree, skills, and certifications sometimes aren’t enough. Due to the higher level of responsibilities that FC bookkeepers have, some employers insist that candidates have prior bookkeeping and accounting experience. A full charge bookkeeper is a finance professional who oversees all accounts for a company or organization. As a full charge bookkeeper, your responsibilities and duties include managing all ledgers, including accounts payable, receivable, and payroll, as well as billing and invoicing. Smaller organizations may hire a full charge bookkeeper to oversee all financial information and records. In this role, you work on all aspects of a company’s financial transactions and ledgers.

Leave a Reply