Bookkeeping, accounting, AP, AR, data entry, fiscal, financial, Quickbooks, CPA, invoicing, collections, CFO, Reports, reconciliations

Each term has a story to tell. Bookkeeping is a world of it’s own.

Let’s chat with an experienced bookkeeper to make sense of it all.

1-Are there different kinds of bookkeepers? or are all bookkeeping jobs the same?

The basics are the same. Each industry has its nuances. General bookkeepers/accountants perform bookkeeping and accounting tasks. Staff bookkeepers work under the supervision of a senior bookkeeper or accountant.

2- What background knowledge or skills are needed to be a successful bookkeeper?

Like in any profession, someone who is eager to learn and work, conscientious, and has a good work ethic. A great bookkeeper is someone who likes numbers and is good with them. Being that most everything is online, a basic understanding of a software, QuickBooks, Sage or the like. Additionally, the better your excel skills are, the more valuable you become in the financial department.

3- What’s the difference between bookkeeping and accounting?

While they both are related in managing a business‘s finances, they serve different functions. Bookkeeping involves recording and organizing financial transactions. Accounting analyzes and interprets the financial data on a deeper level and includes tax prep, financial forecasting and more. Bookkeeping is generally a lower level and less education, however, I have found many excellent bookkeepers, who with time and experience make progress to learn accounting.

4- If someone wasn’t good at math in school, can they still be a bookkeeper?

Generally, when children are not good at a subject they don’t like it as a child. Therefore, in my humble opinion, if the candidate is not a math person, which requires one to be detail oriented, would likely not be a good fit for bookkeeping. However, I am sure there are exceptions.

5- Does your job involve only computer work and working with data? Is there any interaction with people or phone time?

Depends on the job description and needs of the company. For example, if the customers are paying on time , then the accounts receivable task entails entering the information into the software. However, if the customers are late, and the bookkeeper is also responsible for collections, interpersonal professional skills are crucial in that scenario.

6- What advice would you give someone who is starting out in this career?

Depends on the job description and needs of the company. For example, if the customers are paying on time , then,the accounts receivable task entails entering the information into the software. However, if the customers are late, and the bookkeeper is also responsible for collections, interpersonal professional skills are crucial in that scenario.

7- What’s the potential for growth for someone starting out as an entry level bookkeeper?

It all depends on motivation, determination, time and the ability to learn and retain information combined with a good work ethic and sense of responsibility. The sky is the limit.

8. What is most fulfilling about your job?

To see the numbers line up! Press reconcile and it matches the first time. Also, to pull reports that help the company and make moves and changes so that they can improve and expand.