Occupation
Bookkeeper
Bookkeepers keep the day-to-day financial record of a business accurate and up to date, so that accounts, tax filings, and decisions rest on something reliable. The work is detail-heavy and cyclical, and in small organisations it often stretches across invoicing, payments, and payroll support.
Also known as: Accounts clerk · Accounting clerk · Bookkeeping clerk · Accounts assistant
Occupation content
Part of Finance, accounting and insurance
What the work involves
- Record sales, purchases, receipts, and payments in the accounting system.
- Reconcile bank, credit card, and supplier statements and chase what does not match.
- Maintain the sales and purchase ledgers and keep supporting documents filed.
- Compile the figures needed for sales tax or VAT returns and remittances.
- Produce a trial balance and hand over working papers to an accountant.
How people commonly enter
- A short bookkeeping course or college certificate covering double-entry and common software.
- On-the-job training in an accounts or administrative role, learning the system in place.
- A bookkeeping association's certification route taken while working.
- An apprenticeship or trainee position within a finance team or practice.
Typical training: Certificate or college diploma
Licensing: Certification common, not usually required
Pathways: Apprenticeship route
Typical work context
Desk based · Works independently · Remote capable · Predictable routine
Related interests
Conventional (organizing) · Investigative (analytical)
Related aptitude preparation
These are preparation links only. They do not measure eligibility for this occupation and no score here qualifies or disqualifies anyone.
Skills to practise
Practice suites
Related learning
Family-level learning links for Finance, accounting and insurance.
Official sources
Labour-market facts such as pay and employment projections are not reproduced here. Open an official source below for figures, with its own geography and reference period.
- O*NET OnLine — Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks (43-3031.00) · United States
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- UK National Careers Service — Bookkeeper · United Kingdom
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- Canada Job Bank — Explore careers (occupation search) · Canada
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Labour-market context (not part of exploration match)
This is broad family-level context for Finance, accounting and insurance in Canada, not a figure for Bookkeeper. It does not affect matching scores and is not an eligibility determination.
This is a broad Finance, accounting and insurance family. Explore the official profile for the chosen occupation; entry education and training can differ within the family.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Finance, accounting and insurance: education pathways
Some roles in Finance, accounting and insurance may be regulated. Confirm whether the specific role requires registration, certification, or a jurisdiction-specific licence.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Finance, accounting and insurance: licensing
Find jobs
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- Search Canada Job Bank · Canada
- Search USAJOBS · United States federal
- Search EURES · European Union / EEA
- Search Indeed · International (choose location on Indeed)