The Bookkeeper is the one who is responsible for the records of financial transactions for the business.
Primary Responsibilities:
- The Bookkeeper is responsible to post business transactions
- The Bookkeeper is responsible to verify that all transaction is real.
- The Bookkeeper maybe responsible for both Accounts Receivables and Accounts Payables.
The Bookkeeper is the one who is responsible for business transactions on a day-to-day, month-to-month basis. The Bookkeeper is the one who is responsible to verify, allocate and post transaction into the proper journals making sure that there are documents to back up any transaction. The following are the type of documents required for a bookkeeper:
- Sales slips
- Invoices
- Receipts
- Check Stubs
- Computer Printouts
The Bookkeeper summarizes details in the specific ledgers, keeping things in order and providing accurate statements for the owner or manager of a company. The Bookkeeper is responsible to mail out monthly statements to customers, pay vendors and do payroll for the company. Many of the duties performed by the bookkeeper are done on a daily basis. Some of these functions are:
- The Bookkeeper is responsible to make daily deposits
- The Bookkeeper is responsible to maintain personnel files.
- The Bookkeeper is responsible to watch over petty cash expenditures.
- The Bookkeeper is responsible for daily entries in both Accounts Receivable and Account Payable Journals.
The Bookkeeper is the person who is responsible for many functions that are performed once or twice monthly. The Bookkeeper processes Payroll and Accounts Payable accounts to insure that there are enough funds in the appropriate accounts to cover the expenses of the Payroll and Accounts Payables. The Bookkeeper must reconcile bank statements and keep the Accounts Receivables up to date. The Bookkeeper is usually the one who receives and distributes supplies. Farther, the Bookkeeper is responsible perform quarterly, bi-annually and annually certain functions on the job. Some of these functions include things like assisting with physical inventory, assisting with the procurement of goods and services and helping with the filing of all government taxes.
The Bookkeeper needs at least two years of college or university studies depending on the size of the company that they will be working for and the entailment of work assignment. Most Bookkeepers take a four year course of studies going into the field of accounting. A Bookkeeper usually does internship within an accounting office to help prepare them for outside duties with a company. The field of Bookkeeping is so close to becoming an Accountant that most Bookkeepers maintain their studies getting a Bachelor’s degree and then testing to become a CPA. While other Bookkeepers are planning on operating their own business or a family business and do not feel the need to continue their education.
The Bookkeeper must have good communication skills, not only the ability to make reports but explain them verbally and in writing. The Bookkeeper must have the capability of holding meetings and demonstrating financial facts to the one’s in the company who need this information. The Bookkeeper works with many different departments and must be able to get along well with others. Also the Bookkeeper must have the ability to work well in a team.
Computer skills are a must and knowing different accounting programs is essential in most all Bookkeeping jobs. You need knowledge in the word program because you will be sending out invoices and letters to clients. The Bookkeeper has constant use of hands and arms to input data into computer, use the adding machines, and in some case the cash registers. The job requires you to sit long periods of time and of course you are concentrating long periods of time on financial operations. Your capability of being patient is required to perform the duties of a Bookkeeper. You are also required to move file boxes from one location to another so some lifting is involved with your job function. You are the person who everyone comes to when it comes to any financial problems. You need to be able to resolve issues quickly and with certainty that others will accept. It is necessary for you to remain on top on all the important functions of the company’s financial status in order to report to your superiors when they need facts and figures from you.