If you like working with numbers and managing money, then choosing a career in bookkeeping might interest you. The bookkeeping role is an important one in any business. Companies depend on their bookkeepers for financial reasons. They need someone to monitor and manage their income and expenses. They also need bookkeepers to ensure that they are fulfilling all the financial requirements to which the law expects them to adhere. A bookkeeper salary and job requirements are considerably less than that of an accountant.

Bookkeeper Job Description

The exact work that you will do as a bookkeeper will vary from company to company. The size of the business will also make a difference. In a small company you might work alone and manage nearly all the financial affairs of your employer. In a larger business, there might be a bookkeeping team and you will be in charge of only one aspect of bookkeeping.

In general, people earning a bookkeeper salary maintain the financial records of a business and ensure their accuracy. However, various businesses will often assign other financial duties to their bookkeepers. These financial professionals may also be put in charge of purchasing, controlling inventory, accounting and certain clerical functions. Bookkeepers can also get involved in making and managing budgets, depositing money, paying bills, preparing financial statements and more.

Bookkeeper vs Accountant

A bookkeeper should not be confused with an accountant, though many of their roles are similar. Accountants have college degrees and are also licensed to perform certain tasks. They often set up as independent workers who take clients on in order to process their taxes and maintain correct transfers of information with the government. Besides having a higher education, accountants earn much more than bookkeepers do and are also responsible for matters that are both financial and legal because of their interaction with the government. Many times, an accountant will lead a team of bookkeepers and essentially be responsible for the accuracy and efficiency of their work.

Education

In contrast to an accountant, a person does not need to have a college degree to qualify for bookkeeper jobs. However, the bookkeeper career has been changing over the last few decades, especially due to the advances in accounting software. Some bookkeepers acquire an associate degree in accounting or other financial subjects. Certain companies may even require or prefer that their bookkeepers have such an education.

Certification

Some businesses will require that their bookkeeping applicants have certification in bookkeeping. An exam is made available to people interested in bookkeeping by various organizations around the country. This test is multiple choice in nature and costs somewhere in the realm of $200 to take, depending on the location and the administering entity. Passing this test obtains an official certification in bookkeeping for the person who took the test.

It is not a legal requirement to acquire certification as a bookkeeper. However, just like additional education, this extra qualification on your resume may help you get a bookkeeping job or help with advancement in your bookkeeping career. Do not overlook this opportunity to increase your salary.

Average Bookkeeper Salary

The actual salaries awarded to bookkeepers depend on the employer, but the average bookkeeper salary is around $38,000 per year. This is a base salary and does not include the bonuses about which a prospective employer will inform you. Some bookkeepers, with more education and experience in the bookkeeper career, earn as much as $50,000 per year. It is possible to go beyond this upper limit in this line of work, but only by advancing your education and becoming a full-fledged accountant.

Best Payscale

• If you are able to move around in search of the best bookkeeper salary, then you might consider California, where bookkeepers are in high demand and the average salary is closer to $40,000. San Francisco leads the way in this state, paying and average salary of $46,000 to its bookkeepers.
• In New York City, a bookkeeper can earn $39,000 on average every year.
• Boston has a similar record of achievement with their average bookkeeper salary. The average yearly salary in this city is nearly $39,000.
• You will have to go out west to Seattle to find bookkeepers so well paid. In this northwestern city they pay their bookkeepers an average of $38,000 as an annual salary.
• Without question, the best entity to work for in the bookkeeping career is the federal government. That is why bookkeepers in the District of Columbia earn more than $48,000 per year on average.

Acquiring a Bookkeeper Salary

If you want to become a bookkeeper, then you should immediately look into taking the bookkeeping exam offered in your area. Do not simply rush into taking it. Find out what sort of knowledge is necessary to pass the test. You may need to take some college level courses to prepare yourself for this exam.

It is also possible to start out from the bottom in this career and quickly earn a better bookkeeper salary. If you are comfortable with numbers and capable of keeping good records, you are cut out to work as a bookkeeper. Try getting a job as an assistant to a bookkeeper or even working for a small company that needs someone to focus on record keeping but does not have anyone to spare for the job. They will be happy to put you to work. You should be aware ahead of time, though, that this sort of bookkeeping job will pay less than the average for your area.