The world of finance is a sustainable one. Everything on this planet revolves around money, and nothing is without a cost. This misconception fuels young adults to take up a career in finance and other-related studies such as accounting and management. If you want to build a career or a business, it is crucial to be adept in basic bookkeeping.
Bookkeeping is the act of systematically recording financial transactions and information that concern the organization or business on a day-to-day basis. It must reflect financial records that are updated, correct, and comprehensive. Accuracy and organization is a must for any bookkeeping or payroll service or business. Here are some skills essential to become a successful bookkeeper.
Data Entry Skills and Computer Skills
Businesses in this era have already embraced the technology in automating their processes. The same goes for bookkeeping. If you have difficulties using a computer and are taking a lot of time to input data, it may be helpful to enroll in computer literacy enhancement programs.
Excellent Communication Skills
No, it doesn’t mean that you have to enrich your vocabulary with complex terms to speak with clients, business people, and staff. Instead, it’s the ability to communicate data effectively and efficiently. This means you have to interpret financial information to your audience that will let them understand the context comprehensively.
Knowledge of the Overall Bookkeeping Process
This is a no-brainer. If you want to have a successful career in bookkeeping, learn the process first and master it. There are a lot of resources available in schools, online, and special classes offered that you can enroll in or use as a reference.
Organizational Skills
Are you the type of person that feels completely satisfied from organizing your clothes according to color? If you said yes without hesitation, you’d like the bookkeeping process. Since you’ll be the one responsible for recording day-to-day financial transactions, you’ll have to organize financial documents first before you can even start.
Attention to Details
Although you need to produce reports whenever the management, shareholders, and clientele would demand it (which means you’ll have to work fast), being accurate is a trait that should never be compromised. Remember that you’re dealing with money. It is a resource that no one likes to be understated or overstated; it needs to be reflected for its real value related to the accounting process. One minor mistake from a single record will immediately mess the financial document you’re handling. It also takes a lot of time and effort to identify the error and make adjustments on your records.
The Ability to Look at the Bigger Picture
Being a bookkeeper is sometimes more than engaging in a task that you wanted to join. Sometimes, it goes beyond recording transactions. More often than not, you also have to look and analyze the implications of such actions and assess how these will affect the business.
Discipline and the Skills to Make a Follow-through
A bookkeeping job takes days and even months to complete, especially with the volume of transactions you’ll have to record, reconcile, and report. Taking a job is easy as most businesses need it. But establishing yourself as a reputable bookkeeper means finishing the task with minimal to zero errors within a specified time frame.
A Genuine Interest to Learn More
Once you’ve started taking on numerous bookkeeping tasks, it doesn’t mean you’ll have to stop learning new skills and technique that will improve your service delivery. You can even take short courses or a degree in accounting to solidify your credentials.
The Ability to Commit and Deliver
If you want to create a client base that is good for the long run, you’ll have to show that you’re not just committed to your job but to the organization as well. This will improve your work ethics and your relationship with your clientele.
Bookkeeping is an exciting task. Others may see it as boring or even mundane but if you like to build a career out of all the skills mentioned above, enroll in bookkeeping classes and be a bookkeeper. Once you’ve completed the requirements, you can offer payroll and bookkeeping services to small time business owners as a start.
