Hire the best Bookkeepers

A skilled bookkeeper plays an important role in a company’s financial planning and decision-making while maintaining compliance. Bookkeepers handle day-to-day financial transactions, such as invoices, expense tracking, and payments. 

If your business needs to hire a bookkeeper, understanding details of an effective job post, requirements of the role, the current market demand, hiring costs, and other essential information is important. Taking an informed, strategic approach to hiring a bookkeeper can help you find the right professional based on your business requirements and budget. 

As you determine your business needs, consider whether a full-time, in-house employee or freelance bookkeeper is the right fit for your organization. Engaging an independent bookkeeper on Upwork is an efficient, cost-effective, and flexible option. Bookkeepers with diverse experiences and educational backgrounds are available from around the globe. 

Writing a compelling bookkeeper job post

Composing an engaging and concise bookkeeper job post can help you reach and attract qualified candidates. Below, we’ve identified key elements to include in an effective bookkeeper job post. 

Job post title

Create a simple title that clearly conveys your needs and what you’re looking for in a bookkeeper. Examples include:  

• Bookkeeper. Healthcare provider seeking a bookkeeper to oversee patient billing, accounts receivable, and payroll while maintaining legal compliance. 
• Bookkeeping clerk. Manufacturing company in need of a bookkeeper to handle data entry, process invoices, and support the finance team with expense tracking. 
• Senior bookkeeper. Technology startup looking for an experienced bookkeeper to implement new accounting software and facilitate day-to-day financial operations.

Project description 

Include the following details in the project description to ensure a successful bookkeeper job post

• Scope of work. List the scope of work and all the deliverables you’ll need from the ideal bookkeeper candidate, such as processing payroll and preparing financial statements.
• Project length. Clearly state whether you’re looking to hire a bookkeeper for a short-term or long-term project. 
• Background. If you’re looking for a bookkeeper with experience in a certain industry or accounting software, list the background or experience requirements in this section. 
• Budget. Set a budget and include whether you’re offering an hourly or fixed-price contract.

Bookkeeper responsibilities

Here’s a list of common bookkeeper responsibilities to keep in mind for your job post:

• Timely processing of accounts payable and receivable 
• Maintaining accurate financial records and preparing financial reports
• Supporting basic financial analysis 
• Processing payroll while maintaining compliance with tax requirements 
• Assisting with annual tax preparation
• Verifying deposits and other transactions
• Overseeing payments for everyday business expenses 
• Keeping track of day-to-day business expenses
• Balancing business bank accounts 
• Billing clients or customers for products and services 
• Staying updated on bookkeeping trends and best practices 

Bookkeeper requirements and qualifications

Develop a list of requirements and qualifications you’re looking for in prospective bookkeeper candidates. Sharing these details in your job post can help you reach professionals with the skills and experience you need and weed out individuals who may not be a good fit.

Typical bookkeeper requirements and qualifications include:

• Previous bookkeeping or accounting experience
• Certified Bookkeeper (CB) certification from the American Institute of Professional bookkeepers or a similar certification
• High school diploma or GED, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance
• In-depth understanding of accounting software such as QuickBooks or Xero
• Knowledge of payroll processing software like ADP or Paychex
• Strong mathematical and numerical skills
• Basic to advanced knowledge of accounting principles and practices 
• Understanding of federal, state, and local tax regulations, along with other compliance requirements 
• Soft skills including organization, attention to detail, communication, and time management

Helpful information to know before you hire a bookkeeper

In addition to writing a compelling job post, having a grasp on what the role of a bookkeeper entails, along with market demand and associated hiring costs can be helpful. Learn more about what to expect when hiring a bookkeeper so you can identify the right candidate for your team. 

The role of a bookkeeper 

If you’re looking to reduce the administrative overhead of tracking financial records for your business, a bookkeeper can help you get organized and balance the books. Experienced bookkeepers can help ensure your numbers are accurate by reducing errors while logging receipts, filing taxes, and handling other financial tasks.

A bookkeeper handles more clerical work than an accountant, although their services overlap and people in the two roles often collaborate on projects. Bookkeepers record and deliver day-to-day transactions and expenses and generate important financial data, which is typically then handed over to an accountant for more high-level analysis.

Daily bookkeeper tasks

• Accounts payable and receivable. Paying, creating, and sending invoices, managing cash flow, tracking payments, and managing customer or client accounts. 
• Payroll processing. Keeping track of wages, processing payments, and maintaining compliance with tax requirements. 
• Data entry. Recording transactions and other financial data accurately using accounting software. 
• Bank reconciliation. Comparing internal financial records and statements with bank statements to confirm accuracy. 
• Financial reporting. Organizing and preparing financial statements for the accounting team, such as income statements, balance sheets, general ledgers, and cash flow statements. 
• Data backup. Maintaining data security by backing up all critical financial records. 
• Budget preparation. Helping to create and monitor budgets for departments or projects across the business. 
• Expense tracking. Monitoring business expenses to stay on budget and maintain accurate financial records. 
• Tax preparation support. Gathering essential information for accurate tax preparation. 
• Audit preparation. Preparing financial records and assisting during internal or external audits.

Common bookkeeper projects

Depending on their experience or specific skill set, bookkeepers can handle a variety of projects or tasks. Common bookkeeper projects include: 

• Accounting software implementation. Identifying and setting up new financial or accounting software to improve accuracy, efficiency, and productivity. 
• Payroll system update. Similar to accounting software, a bookkeeper may identify and implement a new payroll platform to drive efficiencies and maintain compliance. 
• Cash flow forecasts. Developing projections for future cash inflows and outflows to support short- and long-term financial planning. 
• Financial backlog cleanup. Organizing outdated financial records to keep accounts and other critical information up to date. 
• Year-end closing. Reviewing and reconciling accounts and preparing financial statements to accurately close out a company’s books at the end of the fiscal year.
• Financial training. Educating staff on how to accurately record hours worked, expenses, and other financial information to ensure accuracy across the business. 

Bookkeeper hiring demand in 2024

Bookkeepers are essential to keeping financial records organized for businesses across industries; the market shows continued demand for bookkeeping professionals in the coming years. 

While the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks will decline by six percent through 2032, about 183,900 job openings are still expected each year. Many of the job openings can be attributed to the need to replace workers who transition to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire, take a sabbatical, or take parental leave. 

Industries hiring bookkeepers

A bookkeeper is an important role for businesses across industries. While bookkeepers handle many of the same responsibilities no matter the business, the role can offer unique benefits depending on the industry.

Industries include: 

• Legal. Law firms often engage bookkeepers to manage client billing, keep track of billable hours, oversee trust accounts, and help maintain compliance with legal and accounting regulations. 
• Non-profit. Organizations in the non-profit space rely on bookkeeping professionals to track donations, oversee administrative paperwork related to grants, and support financial reporting requirements specific to tax-exempt businesses. 
• Real estate. Bookkeepers at real estate agencies manage property income and extensions, track commissions for agents, and help maintain compliance with property transaction regulations. 
• Technology startups. Companies in the tech startup space employ bookkeepers to track revenue, expenses, and investor funding, and maintain accurate financial records for potential future investors or acquisitions. 
• Small businesses or entrepreneurs. Small business leaders don’t always possess financial expertise so they hire bookkeepers to manage day-to-day transactions, prepare financial statements, and support tax preparation. 

Average cost of hiring a bookkeeper in 2024

The costs associated with hiring a bookkeeper can vary given many factors, such as expertise, educational background, software knowledge, location, and market conditions.

• An experienced bookkeeper may charge a higher hourly rate or project-based fee and also likely works more efficiently, has more specialized expertise, and possesses advanced knowledge of accounting or payroll software. 
• A professional who is early in their career or in the process of building a freelance client base may offer more competitive pricing for their bookkeeping services.
  

Rates typically charged by bookkeepers on Upwork are:

• Beginner. $10 per hour
• Intermediate. $25 per hour
• Advanced. $40 per hour

If you’re weighing the costs and other factors between hiring an independent professional or a full-time, in-house bookkeeper, data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the median annual salary for this role is $47,440. 

Hire a skilled bookkeeper for your business

Hiring a reliable, experienced bookkeeper can drive increased efficiency and reduce the risk of errors with your financial records. By understanding important information related to hiring a bookkeeper, along with best practices for writing an effective bookkeeper job post, you can find a professional with the skills and experience you need. Consider engaging an independent bookkeeper on Upwork. Whether you need support maintaining your day-to-day financial records, managing payroll, preparing for an audit, or any other bookkeeping tasks, you can reach a global talent pool of skilled professionals and drive cost savings and operational efficiencies compared to hiring a full-time employee. Hire the right bookkeeper on Upwork and start getting your books in order today.