Is Bookkeeping the Dream Career you’ve been Looking for?

Boris Dzhingarov

Accountants are among the few professionals who wear many hats. Consequently, a career in bookkeeping is versatile and offers very many opportunities. The primary role of a bookkeeper is to keep track of a company`s financial spending so that when it comes to preparing the financial accounts, there is an accurate trail of all transactions. Bookkeepers are the lifeline of many businesses; they help the managers keep accurate financial records that are used in decision-making. Bookkeeping is a highly regarded career in the business world; but how do you know if it is your dream job?

What does bookkeeping offer me?

To help you determine whether bookkeeping is your dream career, you need to understand what it offers. The work done by bookkeepers revolves around ensuring financial efficiency and profitability of firms. Sometimes, your analytical thinking and leadership skills may be required to complete some tasks – especially in cases where you have to interpret some financial information. Some of the specific tasks that a bookkeeper is required to do is balance accounts, complete VAT returns, prepare invoices, check the company`s bank states and prepare cash flow statements among other responsibilities. Do you think these responsibilities are what you want to do for a living? Do you have high accuracy and keen eye for detail? If the answer to these two questions is yes, then bookkeeping is probably the career for you.

How to manage a career as a bookkeeper

Now, to the nitty-gritty of your work and life balance, a job in bookkeeping in most cases will need you to be at work from 9am to 5pm during business days. There may be instances when you will have a pile of work to go through, and you will need a few extra hours to finish the job. Most of the time will be spent at your desk answering enquiries or processing requests; especially if you are an internal employee in an organisation. If you do not find a permanent work, temporary employment is usually available too. This profession also has opportunities for job sharing, part-time gigs or freelance accounting work.

Is it worth it?

If you are looking for a well-paying career with excellent prospects for career advancement, then bookkeeping can be a real consideration. In the Australian job market, average pay for bookkeeper’s ranges in the sum of AU$25.38 per hour. The best thing is that the pay for bookkeepers does not vary much from new bookkeepers and experienced ones. There is also a lot of flexibility in the profession, for this reason, it is possible to take up part-time jobs in areas of consultancy if your organization’s policy is not against it. Job security in this sector is almost guaranteed because even with all the numerous accounting software, there is still a substantial need for human beings to monitor them.

How do I become a bookkeeper?

To become a qualified bookkeeper, you must go through four years study in an accredited institution of higher learning in Australia or any other part of the world. The entry points for such a course are not very high, with the applicant only being required to have average grades in Mathematics, English and computer skills. However there are online courses for bookkeeping, and this will be a great choice if you need to fit studies around a family, or other job.

Bookkeeping is a versatile career, and virtually all businesses require the services of a bookkeeper. If you are looking forward to working for a large organization, you will have to start as a junior accountant where you can learn from the more experienced staff. In this career, training is not much of an issue; rather, most firms will want to know whether you are accredited by the necessary bodies regulating the profession. If you have good concentration, the ability to work quickly and are discrete, honest and trustworthy, then bookkeeping is the career choice for you.

Author: Boris Dzhingarov is passionate about blogging. He writes for several sites online.