CERTIFIED BOOKKEEPER—GES202

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Job Outlook for Bookkeepers

According to PayScale.com, bookkeepers earn on average $17.37 per hour. Bookkeeper positions in the Bay Area often pay twice this amount per Indeed.com. Top bookkeepers’ earnings exceed $56,900. CareerBuilder.com cites bookkeeping skills as highly transferable to financial supervisory, analysis, or managerial roles. The site calls bookkeeper an “ideal choice” for those who are motivated to keep organizations on track with regard to their finances.

Technology is highly relevant to the bookkeeper’s role. Mastery of bookkeeping software applications is the key to matching bookkeeping skills with expanding requirements for analysis, visual data presentation, and reporting that provides value-added to the traditional bookkeeper’s duties.

Certified Bookkeeper FAQs

WHAT DOES THE BOOKKEEPER ROLE INVOLVE?

Bookkeepers serve on the front lines of a person, company or organization’s financial health. Strong bookkeepers set up, deploy and manage systems that record the flow of funds into and out of an entity’s coffers. Using reporting tools and systems, bookkeepers help individuals and operational managers stay aware of and improve an entity’s financial status and performance.

HASN’T TECHNOLOGY REPLACED BOOKKEEPERS?

Technology has had a huge impact on the bookkeeping field. However, the bookkeeper’s underlying organizational skills and precise attention to detail are as valuable as ever to their employers and clients. Programs like QuickBooks® or Microsoft Excel® have widely replaced the manual entry functions of traditional bookkeeping. However, the organization, reporting, and use of financial data still rely heavily on human input and processing.

IS CERTIFICATION IMPORTANT FOR BOOKKEEPERS?

Certification in any profession signals to employers, colleagues, and clients that a professional is committed to the highest standards of excellence and accountability. Certified bookkeepers meet the AIPB’s highest standards for financial accounting, business practices and ethical conduct.

HOW DO I BECOME A CERTIFIED BOOKKEEPER?

To earn your AIPB Certified Bookkeeper designation, you must pass the AIPB certification exam and be able to submit proof of at least two years of full-time or 3,000 hours of part-time experience.

IS BOOKKEEPING A GOOD OPTION FOR REMOTE WORK?

Because bookkeeping relies heavily on technology and can be done almost entirely using digital tools, it is considered an excellent prospect for remote, contract, and work-at-home career opportunities.

Course Objectives

• Prepare to take and pass the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB) certification exam
• Understand eligibility requirements, code of ethics, and maintenance requirements for bookkeeper certification
• Apply the concepts of accrual accounting to transactions that span fiscal periods and trace the effect of accrual and deferral transactions
• Record book and tax depreciation, using various methods of calculating depreciation
• Perform basic payroll duties, including paying wages, handling payroll deposits, and reporting taxes
• Know how to value inventory, record costs, make entries and report inventory on financial statements
• Use basic internal controls to prevent theft, embezzlement, or check and credit card fraud by employees, customers, or vendors

Curriculum

Please click here to see the curriculum outline, course details, and frequently asked questions.