What Do Bookkeepers Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for bookkeepers?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what bookkeepers do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Bookkeepers Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about bookkeepers by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Bookkeepers compute, classify, and record numerical data to keep financial records complete. Perform any combination of routine calculating, posting, and verifying duties to obtain primary financial data for use in maintaining accounting records. May also check the accuracy of figures, calculations, and postings pertaining to business transactions recorded by other workers.
Popular Job Titles For Bookkeepers
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Accounts Payable Specialists
- Bookkeepers
- Accounting Clerks
- Accounts Payable Clerks
- Accounts Receivable Specialists
- Accounting Assistants
- Accounting Specialists
- Accounts Receivable Clerks
- Full Charge Bookkeepers
- Accounting Associates
- Accounts Payable Coordinators
- Accounting Technicians
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for bookkeepers can be found.
Best Industries for Bookkeepers
Bookkeepers Jobs By Industry
- Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services: 6.4%
- Management of Companies and Enterprises: 4.5%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 3.9%
- Religious Organizations: 3.6%
- Building Equipment Contractors: 2.5%
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 2.2%
- Other: 76.9%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of bookkeepers can be found working in the Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services sector. In 2022, about 6.4% of all jobs for bookkeepers were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Management of Companies and Enterprises (4.5%), Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (3.9%), Religious Organizations (3.6%), Building Equipment Contractors (2.5%) and Education and Hospitals (Local Government) (2.2%).
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Bookkeepers
Develop the foundational financial skills needed to keep business running successfully, including financial reporting and analysis, managerial accounting, and federal taxes, so you can start your career as an accounting technician, tax preparer, payroll assistant and more.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Turn a head for numbers into a career as a financial associate or analyst, and help businesses turn financial data into actionable insights that can maximize investments, improve cash flow, and impact decisionmaking.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Enter into or advance within the rapidly growing accounting industry and prepare for professional certifications like the CPA.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Master finance principles and develop all-inclusive corporate finance strategies for business firms and financial institutions.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Distinguish yourself as a knowledgeable accounting professional with advanced technical, research, and communication skills.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 17
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Grab a chair at the leadership table with Franklin’s 17-month M.S. in Accounting with a focus in Financial Operations. In this 100% online program, you’ll learn to think critically, communicate effectively and leverage technology in innovative ways.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Learn to decipher the numbers and communicate your findings with confidence and clarity in Franklin’s M.S. in Accounting with a focus in Taxation. The 17-month, online program is accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) and features interactive courses led by in-field practitioners.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Master financial analysis tools and tactics that provide the knowledge you need to contribute at a strategic level with Franklin’s 12-month online accredited MBA with a Specialization in Finance.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Do Bookkeepers Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what bookkeepers do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work bookkeepers do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that bookkeepers tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Bookkeepers
Top 5 Common Skills for Bookkeepers
Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
---|---|---|
Detail Oriented | 156,896 | 38% |
Communications | 145,012 | 35% |
Microsoft Excel | 128,918 | 31% |
Customer Service | 100,744 | 24% |
Management | 82,297 | 20% |
For common skills, detail oriented was the most desired skill found in job postings for bookkeepers, followed by communications, microsoft excel, customer service, management and microsoft office.
Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
---|---|---|
Detail Oriented | 156,896 | 38% |
Communications | 145,012 | 35% |
Microsoft Excel | 128,918 | 31% |
Customer Service | 100,744 | 24% |
Management | 82,297 | 20% |
Microsoft Office | 78,143 | 19% |
Research | 71,101 | 17% |
Collections | 69,714 | 17% |
Filing | 65,588 | 16% |
Multitasking | 64,047 | 15% |
Problem Solving | 58,259 | 14% |
Organizational Skills | 58,069 | 14% |
Writing | 55,713 | 13% |
Operations | 49,371 | 12% |
Microsoft Outlook | 46,264 | 11% |
Sales | 45,609 | 11% |
Spreadsheets | 43,956 | 11% |
Time Management | 41,913 | 10% |
Interpersonal Communications | 41,869 | 10% |
Clerical Works | 40,306 | 10% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Bookkeepers
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
---|---|---|
Accounts Payable Specialists | 104,203 | 13.8% |
Bookkeepers | 128,757 | 17.1% |
Accounting Clerks | 86,962 | 11.5% |
Accounts Payable Clerks | 78,992 | 10.5% |
Accounts Receivable Specialists | 62,336 | 8.3% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was accounts payable specialists, with 37,082 unique job postings. Bookkeepers were second, with 33,512 postings, followed by accounting clerks, accounts payable clerks and accounts receivable specialists.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to bookkeepers.
Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
---|---|---|
Accounts Payable Specialists | 104,203 | 13.8% |
Bookkeepers | 128,757 | 17.1% |
Accounting Clerks | 86,962 | 11.5% |
Accounts Payable Clerks | 78,992 | 10.5% |
Accounts Receivable Specialists | 62,336 | 8.3% |
Accounting Assistants | 54,465 | 7.2% |
Accounting Specialists | 36,478 | 4.8% |
Accounts Receivable Clerks | 37,623 | 5% |
Full Charge Bookkeepers | 28,430 | 3.8% |
Accounting Associates | 19,951 | 2.6% |
Accounts Payable Coordinators | 14,671 | 1.9% |
Accounting Technicians | 11,731 | 1.6% |
Quickbooks Bookkeepers | 17,705 | 2.3% |
Accountants/Bookkeepers | 12,544 | 1.7% |
Bookkeepers/Office Managers | 15,935 | 2.1% |
Accounts Payable Associates | 10,947 | 1.5% |
Accounting Coordinators | 9,371 | 1.2% |
Accounts Receivable Coordinators | 9,352 | 1.2% |
Accounts Payable Analysts | 7,237 | 1% |
Accounts Receivable Analysts | 7,053 | 0.9% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for bookkeepers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for bookkeepers.
How much do bookkeepers make?
Bookkeepers: How do you become one?
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