How to Become a Bookkeeper

Bookkeeping is a great career choice because it offers consistent and reliable employment opportunities and the choice of working for a company or from home. Bookkeeping skills are valued the world over, so if you want to travel and work overseas this is a great way to do it.

The guide looks at the main duties you’ll be expected to perform, such as accounts payable and receivable, stock control, credit control, payments, receipts, banking, the general ledger and the preparation of accounts to trial balance.

Several interviews with professional bookkeepers are included in the Guide and we discuss their qualifications, how they got started, the type of workplace they have and their general and specific responsibilities. We consider the personal attributes you need and look at what you can expect to be paid, both when you start out and as you progress in your career. You’ll learn essential information about the bookkeeping profession and you’ll have a handy reference tool full of useful tips, contacts and expert advice.

Table of Contents

Welcome to the Topjobguide®: How to Become a Bookkeeper

What's In This Guide?

About The Author

The Bookkeeping Industry

What Is A Bookkeeper?

What Is The Trial Balance?

The Balance Sheet and Profit And Loss Statement

The Main Responsibilities of a Bookkeeper

Accounts Payable

Accounts Receivable

Stock Control

Credit Control

Cash Payments

Cash Receipts

Bank Reconciliations

Banking

General Journal Preparation

General Ledger

Trial Balance

Personnel

The Working Environment

The Small Company Environment Working In a Larger Office

A Day in the Life of a Bookkeeper

The Freelance Bookkeeper

The Home-Based Bookkeeper

An Introduction to Bookkeeping

Double Entry Bookkeeping

The Chart of Accounts

The General Ledger

Subsidiary Ledgers

Cash Books

Forms That a Bookkeeper Will Need To Be Familiar With

Internal Forms

External Forms

How Much Can a Bookkeeper Expect To Earn?

Interviews with Bookkeepers

How to Find a Bookkeeping Position

A Resume or a CV

What Do You Need To Become A Bookkeeper?

Qualifications

Experience

Finding Clients

Personal Attributes for Bookkeeping

Is Bookkeeping The Right Career For You?

Useful Contacts and Websites

The Australian Taxation Office

The Office of Fair Trading

Department of Industrial Relations

Australian Securities & Investments Commission