basic bookkeeping skills

If you’re organised and enjoy working with numbers, a job as a bookkeeper could be a good fit. According to Talent.com [1], the median salary for bookkeepers in the UK was £26,000 per year as of May 2024. Bookkeepers can sometimes choose between full-time and part-time positions, and they may work in an office or from home. Regardless of how organized or tech-savvy you may be, if https://www.bookstime.com/ you consistently fail to meet your deadlines, there’s a good chance that your client will end your contract. Remember that you are considered as one of the pillars of your client’s financial system, so you must finish your tasks on time. If you want to become successful in this industry, you need to show your existing and potential clients that you are trustworthy and reliable.

Top Technical Skills for an Accountant

basic bookkeeping skills

Understanding the distinction between the two is crucial for small business owners. Knowing these nine bookkeeping basics is essential for any bookkeeper to perform their job well. They apply to almost any business type and size, which makes having these basic bookkeeping skills valuable. The average salary for a bookkeeper in the United States is about $43,000 per year. Bookkeeping can be a great side hustle if you’re good at it and enjoy the work.

basic bookkeeping skills

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These are some of the bookkeeping skills that will not only help you gain the trust of your clients but will also boost your reputation in the industry. If you want to succeed in this profession, you must grab every learning basic bookkeeping skills opportunity that comes your way so that you can improve your bookkeeping skills and expertise. Since you will be presenting crucial data to your clients, it is important that you can do it coherently and effectively.

Perform Journal Entries to Debit and Credit Accounts

Since we live in the digital age, bookkeepers are expected to be tech-savvy or at least proficient with using various software. There are still some bookkeepers who prefer to use manual methods of recording data. However, if you choose to do it this way, you may end up with fewer clients as most of them favor efficient and technically adequate bookkeepers. Being able to adapt quickly to technology can significantly benefit you in the long run. One of the first decisions you have to make when setting up your bookkeeping system is whether or not to use a cash or accrual accounting system. If you are operating a small, one-person business from home or even a larger consulting practice from a one-person office, you might want to stick with cash accounting.

basic bookkeeping skills

Grasping the basics will help you handle your personal or business finances like a pro. In bookkeeping, assets and liabilities are the bread and butter of understanding a company’s financial standing. If you want to be a great asset to the company you work for, you need to think long-term so that you can see the bigger picture.

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Since the information gathered in bookkeeping is used by accountants and business owners, it is the basis of all the financial statements generated. Most accounting software allows you to automatically run common financial statements such as an income and expense statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement. Business owners or accountants can then use these statements to gain insight into the business’s financial health. Having the ability to prepare an accurate financial picture of an enterprise and keep records organized is essential for being a bookkeeper.

Recommended experience

  • You can take this exam from anywhere, as long as you have a reliable internet connection.
  • The BLS expects the field to have a 5 percent decline in growth from 2021 to 2031.
  • Her work has been featured on US News and World Report, Business.com and Fit Small Business.
  • While a degree is not always necessary, some companies will look for candidates with coursework in accounting.
  • Bookkeeping doesn’t require certification to practice, meaning you can teach yourself and start right away if you’re confident.
  • Meeting deadlines for financial reporting, tax submissions, and other obligations requires effective time management.

Finding the right person to suit your business’s needs may also take some time and effort. Revenue is all the income a business receives in selling its products or services. Costs, also known as the cost of goods sold, are all the money a business spends to buy or manufacture the goods or services it sells to its customers. The purchases account on the chart of accounts tracks goods purchased. Look for important features to your business, such as invoicing, expense tracking, bank reconciliation, and financial reporting.

  • Both assets and liabilities show up on the company’s balance sheet, giving a snapshot of the business’s financial health at any moment.
  • Making an effort to hone these skills gives you more confidence in your bookkeeping career.
  • They record and organize financial statements, ensure compliance with important tax rules, and facilitate all ingoing and outgoing payments on specific business accounts.
  • However, depending on a bookkeeper’s location, niche, and clients, they may command a higher salary, sometimes reaching $50,000 per year or above.
  • Posting debits and credits to the correct accounts makes reporting more accurate.

Create financial reports.

basic bookkeeping skills

While a degree is not always necessary, some companies will look for candidates with coursework in accounting. The work of a bookkeeper may vary depending on the needs of the business. The use of material found at skillsyouneed.com is free provided that copyright is acknowledged and a reference or link is included to the page/s where the information was found.

  • To maintain certification, you need to earn at least 60 continuing education credits every three years.
  • One of the first decisions you have to make when setting up your bookkeeping system is whether or not to use a cash or accrual accounting system.
  • Steer clear of common mistakes like not keeping receipts, miscategorizing expenses, and mixing personal finances with business ones.
  • As a bookkeeper, one of the vital skills that clients expect you to have is organizational skills.
  • The chart of accounts may change over time as the business grows and changes.

Why Bookkeeping Is Important for Small Businesses