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Learn bookkeeping

A bookkeeper records and tracks a company's financial transactions and creates reports that track business performance. Read on to learn about educational courses, opportunities, and potential careers in bookkeeping.

What is bookkeeping?

Bookkeepers pay a company's bills, send invoices, prepare tax returns, provide monetary advice, and monitor key financial ratios. To succeed as a bookkeeper, you'll need to have organizational and communication skills and be good with numbers.

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Choosing the right bookkeeping program for you

Before you select a bookkeeping program, consider your skill level. If you are just beginning, an entry-level course may suffice. If you're seeking advanced bookkeeping knowledge, earning a degree could help you develop foundational knowledge. You may also need to consider the amount of time available to study, tuition costs, and any financial assistance options.

Here are a few paths to consider.

Courses

An introductory bookkeeping course lets you learn at your own pace while covering essential topics such as the double-entry system, types of business transactions, and banking processes, as well as ledger accounts, trial balances, and reconciliations. Courses typically last around six weeks, and require about eight hours of studying per week.

Certificates

Certificates are usually more in-depth than introductory courses and can last for months, rather than weeks. These programs will introduce you to more advanced elements of bookkeeping, such as asset disposal calculations and tax returns.

Once completed, you may be able to apply for a more advanced position, such as a payroll specialist.

Executive education programs

An executive education program may appeal to professionals already in the field looking to increase their skills or prepare for leadership opportunities. Programs in managerial finance or corporate finance can help you gain niche expertise to help you advance in your field.

Degrees

A bachelor's degree in a field such as accounting can help you pursue a long-term career in bookkeeping. Degree programs teach foundational accounting principles, taxation, auditing, financial reporting, and could even prepare you to become a certified public accountant.

A master's degree can prepare you for advanced roles in the industry with leadership responsibilities.

Jobs in bookkeeping

You'll find jobs in the bookkeeping field across all industries, from small businesses to multinational corporations. Here are some roles to consider:

Bookkeeper

In this role, you will help organizations record transactions and compile financial reports using established accounting practices.

  • Required education: High school diploma, some employers may require courses or certificates
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) median annual salary (2023): $47,440
Auditing clerks

Auditing clerks check data and documents to make sure that everything has the correct code, and that information is mathematically accurate.

  • Required education: Courses and certifications
  • BLS median annual salary (2023): $45,790
Cost estimator

Cost estimators collect data about materials, labor, money, or time to analyze whether a specific product or service is profitable.

  • Required education: Bachelor's degree
  • BLS median annual salary (2023): $74,740

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    FAQs about bookkeeping

    Why should I learn bookkeeping?

    Bookkeeping is necessary for businesses of all sizes. As such, it can provide you with a variety of stable career opportunities across industries.

    How long does it take to learn bookkeeping?

    Most entry-level bookkeeping jobs require you to hold a high school diploma. Some employers may prefer candidates who have taken courses, which typically last a few weeks. Certificates may take a few months, while a bachelor's degree in accounting could take about four years to complete.

    ow hard is it to learn bookkeeping?

    Bookkeeping is a relatively straightforward job that requires you to follow structured resources, employ consistent practice, and use the right tools. If you are organized and enjoy working with numbers, you may find bookkeeping to be easy to learn.