Bookkeepers: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of bookkeepers about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for bookkeepers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of bookkeepers expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for bookkeepers.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Bookkeepers?
Do bookkeepers need a degree? What kind of experience do bookkeepers typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for bookkeepers to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Bookkeepers
Jobs Postings for Bookkeepers By Education
- No Education Listed: 105,722 (40%)
- High School or GED: 76,702 (29%)
- Bachelor's degree: 70,177 (27%)
- Master's degree: 6,015 (2%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 2,790 (1%)
No education was listed by most employers of bookkeepers. According to job data, no education was required for 40% of positions. In 29% of job listings a High School diploma or GED was required and in 27% of postings a bachelor's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Bookkeepers
Jobs Postings for Bookkeepers By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 37,601 (25%)
- 2-3 Years: 85,645 (58%)
- 4-6 Years: 20,882 (14%)
- 7-9 Years: 1,755 (1%)
- 10+ Years: 1,606 (1%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for bookkeepers. In 58% of job postings for Bookkeepers, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 25% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 14% of job postings for bookkeepers.
What Kind of Degree Do Bookkeepers Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for bookkeepers, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 7 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective bookkeepers, and in 2023 a total of 85,220 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective bookkeepers.
Top Degree Programs for Bookkeepers
Top 5 Degree Programs for Bookkeepers (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Accounting. | 61,109 |
| Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping. | 16,810 |
| Accounting and Finance. | 3,492 |
| General Office Occupations and Clerical Services. | 1,645 |
| Accounting and Business/Management. | 1,214 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Accounting. | 61,109 |
| Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping. | 16,810 |
| Accounting and Finance. | 3,492 |
| General Office Occupations and Clerical Services. | 1,645 |
| Accounting and Business/Management. | 1,214 |
| Accounting and Related Services, Other. | 795 |
| Auditing. | 155 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Bookkeepers
Develop the foundational financial skills needed to keep business running successfully, including financial reporting and analysis, managerial accounting, and federal taxes, so you can start your career as an accounting technician, tax preparer, payroll assistant and more.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Turn a head for numbers into a career as a financial associate or analyst, and help businesses turn financial data into actionable insights that can maximize investments, improve cash flow, and impact decisionmaking.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Help organizations analyze financial statements and accounts to help prevent fraud, maintain data integrity, assess operational risk, and mitigate or remediate deficiencies as an accounting technician, assistant or bookkeeper.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Enter into or advance within the rapidly growing accounting industry and prepare for professional certifications like the CPA.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Master finance principles and develop all-inclusive corporate finance strategies for business firms and financial institutions.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Distinguish yourself as a knowledgeable accounting professional with advanced technical, research, and communication skills.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 17
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Bookkeepers Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by bookkeepers to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for bookkeepers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Bookkeepers
Based on 266,506 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Bookkeepers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting | 169,136 | 63% |
| Accounts Payable | 134,936 | 51% |
| Invoicing | 133,888 | 50% |
| Accounts Receivable | 108,446 | 41% |
| Bookkeeping | 86,666 | 33% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Bookkeepers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Detail Oriented | 98,455 | 37% |
| Communication | 91,291 | 34% |
| Microsoft Excel | 74,246 | 28% |
| Customer Service | 63,190 | 24% |
| Management | 55,770 | 21% |
Based on 266,506 job postings related to bookkeepers, accounting was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 63% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for accounts payable, invoicing, accounts receivable, bookkeeping and finance were also highly sought.
As for common skills, detail oriented was the most desired skill found in job postings for bookkeepers, followed by communication, microsoft excel, customer service, management and microsoft office.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting | 169,136 | 63% |
| Accounts Payable | 134,936 | 51% |
| Invoicing | 133,888 | 50% |
| Accounts Receivable | 108,446 | 41% |
| Bookkeeping | 86,666 | 33% |
| Finance | 61,117 | 23% |
| Auditing | 50,653 | 19% |
| Data Entry | 49,612 | 19% |
| Billing | 49,064 | 18% |
| Financial Statements | 48,359 | 18% |
| Accounting Software | 39,526 | 15% |
| General Ledger | 39,026 | 15% |
| Deposit Accounts | 31,106 | 12% |
| Reconciliation | 30,023 | 11% |
| Generally Accepted Accounting Principles | 29,980 | 11% |
| Month-End Closing | 29,456 | 11% |
| QuickBooks (Accounting Software) | 28,632 | 11% |
| Expense Reports | 23,128 | 9% |
| Account Reconciliation | 20,540 | 8% |
| Ledgers (Accounting) | 19,032 | 7% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Detail Oriented | 98,455 | 37% |
| Communication | 91,291 | 34% |
| Microsoft Excel | 74,246 | 28% |
| Customer Service | 63,190 | 24% |
| Management | 55,770 | 21% |
| Microsoft Office | 49,028 | 18% |
| Collections | 45,951 | 17% |
| Research | 44,678 | 17% |
| Organizational Skills | 39,051 | 15% |
| Filing | 38,955 | 15% |
| Problem Solving | 38,541 | 14% |
| Multitasking | 37,690 | 14% |
| Writing | 34,773 | 13% |
| Operations | 32,127 | 12% |
| Sales | 29,236 | 11% |
| Time Management | 28,716 | 11% |
| Microsoft Outlook | 27,658 | 10% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 26,003 | 10% |
| Spreadsheets | 24,347 | 9% |
| Clerical Works | 23,324 | 9% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about bookkeepers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for bookkeepers.
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.