A bookkeeper is responsible for managing a company’s financial ledger (or “books”). This includes a variety of tasks, such as handling incoming and outgoing payments; creating financial and annual reports and working with financial institutions to ensure accounts are in good standing. A bookkeeper is a necessity for most small businesses, as they help to ensure that the financial aspect of the company is well-managed, leaving management to focus on other tasks.
A bookkeeper can be found working in a variety of industries. Most small businesses need their skills, as do not-for-profits. These skills can be used in any industry, whether it be food service, consumer goods or service industry. Depending on the company you work for, opportunities may exist to work remotely. You can expect to work during business hours, however, you may have to work overtime or weekends at busier times of the year, such as fiscal year-end.
Most bookkeepers go on to other roles within the realm of finance. This could include roles in the finance department, or, with further schooling working as an accountant. Some bookkeepers also choose to work on a freelance basis, offering their services to several different companies.
A bookkeeper in Victoria can earn as much as $42,900 per year once they have gained experience. Here is a more detailed breakdown of bookkeeper salaries in Victoria:
annual: $37,500
monthly: $3,125
weekly: $781
hourly: $19.53
lowest salary: $32,400 per year
average salary: $37,500 per year
highest salary: $42,900 per year
junior salary: $32,400-$37,700 per year
intermediate salary: $34,600-$40,300 per year
senior salary: $36,800-$42,900 per year
Bookkeepers ultimately own a company’s financial ledger. There are a lot of smaller tasks that go into maintaining these records on an ongoing basis, including:
Bookkeepers tend to work for smaller companies or not-for-profits. However, they can be found working in every industry you can think of. The skills you will gain after a few years in the role will be transferable to any industry of your choice, and therefore your role will always be in demand.
Bookkeepers need a variety of soft skills beyond accounting knowledge to be successful in their role. Employers are looking for bookkeepers with the following skills:
Most bookkeepers need only a high school diploma or equivalent. However, employers will give preference to those who have previous experience, or additional relevant training.