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Bookkeeper Job Description Template

A thorough and well-written job description can spell the difference between attracting applicants who are qualified but nothing special, and pulling in top talent to your company. There are lots of places out there that provide instructions and helpful tips for writing a job description. These can be very helpful, but are often no substitute for seeing a good job description in action. That is why we have provided this bookkeeper job description sample that contains all essential information to include when you are looking for applicants.

This bookkeeper job description sample should be used as a reference so you can write your own. Be sure to craft your job description in a way that is unique to the position at your company. Give real thought to what you require and expect from applicants, then write and edit carefully so you can be sure you have communicated your ideas well.

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Job Summary

We are looking for a part-time bookkeeper for at a small office located downtown. Your primary duties would include recording all transactions, reconciling accounts, and creating financial reports to share with members of management. As the sole member of the accounting department, you might be asked to complete other financial tasks as they crop up. The position pays $18.00 per hour. You would be expected to work between 15 and 20 hours each week, with a flexible schedule.

To apply, submit a cover letter and resume in Microsoft Word format to boss@xyz.com.

Job Responsibilities

  • Record day-to-day monetary transactions, including purchases and incoming payments
  • Create an annual budget and identify areas of overspending
  • Keep accurate financial records and ledgers
  • Balance books and double-check accounts for errors
  • Complete tax forms and assist in the tax preparation
  • Process accounts receivable
  • Issue financial statements, including bills and receipts
  • Maintain a cordial relationship with customers
  • Manage payroll
  • Maintain a petty cash drawer
  • Follow up on delinquent accounts and ensure that receivables are collected in a timely manner
  • Create quarterly financial reports and submit them to the management

Job Requirements

  • At least two years of bookkeeping experience
    •BS or higher in finance, accounting or a related field
    •Excellent numeracy and mental math skills
    •Experience with Microsoft Excel and designated accounting software
    •Good written and verbal communication skills
    •Good attention to detail
    •Willingness to work in a small office environment and the ability to complete all tasks with little direct oversight

Company Profile

XYZ Corp is a supplier of wholesale building materials to local contractors and construction companies. We are family owned and operated, and have been since our founding in 1993. Our staff is a small but close-knit team, and we are always on he lookout for someone who fits our laid back workplace culture.

Job Description Best Practices

  • You can learn a lot from a well-written bookkeeper job description sample, but if some points are still unclear, these easy do’s and don’t will help ensure that you get everything just right

    • Do use clear and concise language that is free of jargon or buzzwords
    • Do write in present tense, using clear, specific action verbs when possible
    • Don’t use paragraphs where bullet points or lists would suffice
    • Do include instructions for submitting a resume and contact information for the hiring manager
    • Do anticipate and answer common questions, such as job salary and benefits, the location of the job, whether it is full-time or part-time, whether it is a supervisory position, and so on
    • Don’t say the salary is negotiable if it isn’t
    • Do be specific about what you want and about what skills and abilities the employee should have. If some skills are preferred but not essential, include them anyway
    • Do mention whether the job involves travel, telecommuting or working odd hours
    • Don’t use gimmicks or try to make your job description funny; easy to understand information is always preferable
    • Do “sell” the job by mention perks and explaining why your company is a great place to work
    • Don’t fill the Company Profile section with a lot of dry information; use it to explain what makes your company special

      The more clear you make your job description, the more likely you are to attract candidates who are exactly what you are looking for. An unclear job description wastes the time of applicants and hiring managers alike, so it’s important to get it right the first time.

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Bookkeeper Job Responsibilities

One of the most important sections in your bookkeeper job description is the responsibilities information. Because it is essentially telling readers what your expectations are, it is what potential candidates will use when deciding whether or not to apply. For this section, you should outline exactly what the daily bookkeeper job responsibilities will be. It is best to be as explicit and specific as possible when writing this section.

The responsibilities section in your bookkeeper job description should take the form of a bulleted list. If it is too long, it will be intimidating. Although if the section is too short, you may get too many unqualified applicants. The recommended length for this section is between six and eight bullet points. This should also make it the longest section in your job description. To help readers imagine themselves in the position, it is a good strategy to use a strong action verb for the first word in each bullet point.

Here are some examples of job responsibilities for bookkeepers:

  • Operate accounting software to record and store raw information
  • Check databases to identify and fix any errors, miscalculations or inaccuracies
  • Receive cash, credit or debit charges and accurately record amounts
  • Perform data analysis to gather meaningful information and compile it into accessible reports
Bookkeeper Job Specifications

The qualifications and skills section is one of the shortest in your bookkeeper job description, but that does not mean it is the least important. In fact, making this section as effective as possible is a complicated task. Remember that it is meant to outline bookkeeper job specifications so candidates that are over- or under-qualified will not apply. Take the time to carefully consider exactly what the minimum requirements for candidates are so you can clearly communicate them to readers.

One of the best approaches to start writing this section is to learn more about the qualifications from the hiring manager or employees that hold a bookkeeping position already. You should separate qualifications into preferences and absolute requirements. At the bottom of your bookkeeper job description, include one short bulleted list for mandatory qualifications and another for preferred skills. The mandatory qualifications may be primarily working or educational experiences.

The following are some examples of skills or experiences that may fall into either the mandatory or the preferred category:

  • Experience using accounting programs and financial analysis software
  • Minimum two years in position handling money and interacting with customers
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Previous experience as a bookkeeper preferred

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Writing Your Bookkeeper Job Description: Do’s and Dont’s

•Job Summary:

Begin with a brief summary of the job that is no more than three or four sentences in length. This should be the more important and relevant information of your bookkeeper job description. Include the job title and a description of the main duties. This is also a good place to mention essential information such as hours, location and compensation details.

•Responsibilities:

In the next section, list the main responsibilities associated with the job. Use bullet points to make the list east to read an understand, and begin each bullet with a verb in the present tense. Be thorough here, since no one likes to be surprised with additional duties once they start a new position. However, try to avoid making the list too long, as this has the potential to scare off qualified candidates.

•Requirements:

In the next section, list the educational and professional experience you want candidates to have. Once again, use bullet points and present simple tense. Many job descriptions include requirements such as “hard-working” or “self-starter.” While a few of these personality requirements are fine, the bulk of the list should be things that can be measured and objectively verified such as degrees, certification or work experience.

•Company Profile:

Close with a brief description of your company. This is your chance to sell yourself to candidates who may still be on the fence about applying. Mention your company’s size, industry, and a little bit about its official mission. Try to give an idea of the atmosphere at the office so potential employees can decide if their personality will be a good fit in addition to their work experience.