Knowing the daily tasks of someone in any given industry can be an enlightening view into how they price and time projects. A bookkeeper, for example, works with numbers day in and day out, particularly with accounting skills to help businesses keep financial records. Some specifics depend on who their clients are and what scale of work they’re doing. However, most responsibilities are universally true. Here’s what a bookkeeper typically is responsible for in their position.
Here’s a glimpse into the daily life of a bookkeeper.
Keep Financial Records
The primary responsibility that any bookkeeper has is to maintain and update the financial records for a business. Usually, this includes balancing and updating bank info and ensuring that any payments, deposits, or other transactions have been accurately reported. This also includes seeing if any payments need to be remitted and, if so, submitting those payments and recording them somewhere, like a financial ledger or spreadsheet.
Bookkeepers also typically receive payments from various clients, customers, or patients, where they then deposit those payments into the business’ financial institution and keep record of it.
Regular Communication
Because their work involves so many moving parts, it is a position that requires a bookkeeper to be extremely communicative. Being able to speak to colleagues, clients, and customers is key: it’s important to make sure that their records are up to date and to know who to ask for whatever documentation they may need. This is especially important when working with their coworkers, as a bookkeeper is responsible for managing any employee expenditures or petty cash needs.
Inventories and Budgets
Since a bookkeeper works with every department, they may also need to act as a liaison between department heads to help determine any financial needs. This may include budgeting for new employees, stocking up on products, or just ordering the right office supplies needed to keep everyone going. This aspect of the job can vary, as some department heads manage these tasks themselves depending on the company.
Background
To become an experienced bookkeeper, one doesn’t need a specific certification. Some people get the job with a high school diploma. That said, most in the field have a background in finance to some degree, specifically business, economics, finance, or any other postsecondary degree that would give them the necessary experience. These days, much of this work is done through computer software, so familiarity with that software is also important for any successful bookkeeper to maintain.
Contact Bowman & Company Today
Bowman & Company CPA, PC provides all of our individual and small business customers with experienced, accurate, and affordable financial services. Our financial services aim to decrease your taxes and increase your net worth through responsible, timely, and accurate record keeping. We offer our services to clients throughout the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, including Maryland and Baltimore County, Columbia, and Howard County. For more information on our offerings, contact us online or call us at (410) 381-8121. You can also find us on Twitter, Linkedin, Facebook, and Youtube.