Bookkeeper
Keep track of company income and outgoings. Use accountancy software to organise and record any purchases, invoices and sales they make.
Also known as: financial administrator
About the job
Salary
Source: National Careers Service
Weekly
£346
Entry level
£673
Experienced
Monthly
£1,500
Entry level
£2,917
Experienced
Yearly
£18,000
Entry level
£35,000
Experienced
30,400
people are currently employed
Low growth
No change in number of jobs in 5 years
These figures refer to this job and similar ones with comparable skills and qualifications. They only apply to Scotland. Source: Oxford Economics
What it's like
Keeping a record of incoming and outgoing money is vital in any business. As a bookkeeper, you’d be responsible for doing just that.
In this job, you’d oversee a client or company’s financial data by keeping track of their accounts. You’d record payments received, invoices, payroll and transactions. It’s important to be thorough, accurate and pay great attention to detail as any mistakes could have a huge impact on the account balance.
You’d liaise with your clients to set budgets and keep them up to date with their accounts. You might also meet with their suppliers and the bank when needed.
Using accountancy software and spreadsheets, you’d likely work on a computer to update and maintain financial records.
What you might do:
Record client payments, invoices or transactions on an electronic database
Balance accounts and manage budgets on a daily or weekly basis
Oversee company payroll systems
File relevant documentation
Liaise with clients, suppliers and banks
Work with accountants to handle VAT returns
Make copies of receipts and other important documents for reference
Summarise information and producing reports to analyse data
Maintain any petty cash
Hours
Environment
Travel
Explore more information about this job
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Related industries
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Here are some of the skills you'll need to do this job:
- reliable
- ethical
- time management
- attention to detail
- working with numbers
- problem solving
- written communication
- working with technology
- building relationships
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore the sections shown for more information about getting into this career.
You might have qualifications which are not shown here but will allow you access to a course. You can compare your qualifications by looking at their SCQF Level. For more information about this, check out the SCQF website.
Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Accounting
Mathematics
Skills for Work: Financial Services
Foundation Apprenticeship: Accountancy
Applications of Mathematics
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
There are a number of ways to get qualified for this job, via college/university study or through work-based qualifications, such as apprenticeships.
Although there are no fixed entry routes, most employers would prefer a selection of subjects at National 4/5 level or above, including maths and English, demonstrating strong written and verbal communication skills.
Most employers look for relevant experience – this could be gained through college or university courses such as NQ, HNC, HND in business, accounting or finance, or through work-based experience and qualifications.
Not all employers list specific qualification requirements but they might ask for relevant (usually work based) experience that demonstrates a range of transferable skills.
Qualifications and experience that show your employability, business and ICT skills such as Skills for Work Financial Services (SCQF Level 5) can be helpful.
Having experience/knowledge of accounting software such as Sage would be valued by employers.
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