It’s a way to show your skill set to potential employers and others in your professional network. You can earn a bookkeeping certification through a college, a university or an accredited professional program. The answer depends on where you are in your career, along with a few other factors. If you’re just starting out as a bookkeeper, earning a certification can help you stand out from the competition. Keep reading to discover what else a bookkeeping certification can offer. As a financial auditor, you may work as an external or internal auditor.
Here are a few things to consider before obtaining a bookkeeping certification. You can also complete additional certifications to demonstrate your proficiency in advanced subtopics related to bookkeeping. If you are proficient and comfortable using mathematics and computing figures, plus punctual, organized, and detail-oriented, it is not hard to learn how to be a bookkeeper. Of course, a background in accounting practices will help you ride out a learning curve as a new bookkeeper.
The Difference Between a Bookkeeper Vs Accountant
However, accounting assistants often have more administrative responsibilities than bookkeepers. For example, an accounting assistant might prepare invoices, manage sales transactions or organize travel arrangements for executives. Bookkeepers typically handle only tasks related to the accounting bookkeeper vs accountant salary department, such as processing receipts and payments and maintaining records. A career in accounting or bookkeeping can be both challenging and rewarding. If you’re interested in working with numbers and keeping financial records organized, then one of these positions may be a good fit for you.
The NACPB offers credentials to bookkeepers who pass tests for small business accounting, small business financial management, bookkeeping and payroll. It also offers a payroll certification, which requires additional education. People often confuse bookkeepers and accountants—and with good reason. While there are certain similarities and overlaps between the two, there are distinctions that set these two roles apart. Bookkeepers don’t necessarily need higher education in order to work in their field while accountants can be more specialized in their training.
Bookkeeper vs. Accountant: Salary and Growth Trends
Compared to other major employment sectors for bookkeepers, they host relatively few jobs. As such, candidates should expect a more competitive landscape if applying for available openings. These industries generally provide specialized services to clients that do not employ bookkeepers internally.
- Finally, the data science team calculates a weighted average of these inputs to create an average pay for bookkeepers by state.
- Instead of graduate degrees, bookkeepers can earn professional certifications that indicate greater ability.
- However, master’s degrees in accounting are usually designed for professionals in more advanced or technical positions.
- A bookkeeping certification can yield a high return on investment, depending on a few factors.
- If you are good at math and have an eye for detail, bookkeeping is not too hard to learn.
- Enrolling in one of the best online bookkeeping classes is a smart way for those interested in this career to bolster their existing financial knowledge.