Job description

Bookkeepers carry out similar tasks and retain the same responsibilities as an accountant or accounts assistant. In smaller organisations, bookkeepers are responsible for the whole finance function and play an important part in the day to day running of a business.

Bookkeepers often work alone and sometimes provide outsourced services for small companies, providing full financial accounting support for a portfolio of small clients. For some people, bookkeeping offers the opportunity to work from home in a rewarding profession.

Typical duties include:

• Double entry bookkeeping - recording all of the financial transactions of a company or organisation.
• Maintaining ledgers.
• Producing profit and loss accounts.
• Recording sales, issuing invoices and processing payments.
• Managing petty cash and expenses.
• Bank reconciliations.
• Producing cash flow statements.
• VAT returns and corporation tax computations and payment processing.
• Producing company accounts and financial statements.

Qualifications

The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers offers professional training and certification, although some bookkeepers are qualified by experience. This is sometimes the first step to becoming a qualified accountant, although for many people bookkeeping offers a rewarding career choice.

All Bookkeepers need to be comfortable using computers, in particular accounting software.

Salary Snapshot

Recent salaries advertised on TopFinancialJobs (November 2009) include:

• £18-25,000 for a hands-on Bookkeeper working for an expanding company in York.
• £17-20 per hour for a qualified Bookkeeper working temporarily as a Year End Accountant for a leading Insurer in London.
• £20,000 per annum pro rata for a qualified Part Time Accountant/Bookkeeper working for a charity in Central London.

Are you a Bookkeeper? Would you like to contribute to our "Day in the Life of..." series? Email us at info@topfinancialjobs.co.uk for more details.