What is Bookkeeping and How Can it Help my Career?

Are you financially savvy? No matter what career you have, an understanding of bookkeeping could be a game-changer. These skills can help you in your day-to-day life and your job. So, if you have some spare time on your hands, what are you waiting for? 

Learning essential bookkeeping skills may help you supercharge your career. Whether it’s getting to grips with that tricky accounting software, managing financial statements, or dealing with financial data, there’s a lot to get your head around. If you’re a complete newcomer to this, you’ve come to the right place. In the following guide, we will take a look at what bookkeeping is, why you should learn about it, and how it could help you out.

Are you a total novice when it comes to bookkeeping? If the answer is yes, let’s kick things off with a quick bookkeeping definition. This is the practice of keeping financial records on behalf of an individual (usually a sole trader) or a business. It may include the following: 

When you have the above bookkeeping skills, you will find that they help you to manage a business’s finances. If you are self-employed and have to deal with your own budget, this skill set will be strikingly useful. However, it is also handy if you are an employee. 

There are a great many benefits to adding this feather to your cap. Whether you’re looking at bookkeeping jobs or want to bolster your existing skill set, learning this talent could be the way to go. 

Working for a small company or self-employed? If the answer is yes, you may find that becoming a qualified bookkeeper enhances your career. It’s not simply about doing your own tax returns. When you learn this skill, you can be involved at all levels of the business finances. Accounting and bookkeeping tend to come in handy when it’s a small company or startup business. These types of companies typically need more financial support. 

Are you considering a career change? When you’re ready to take the leap, an expanded skill set will help you along the way. Learning this new skill will open the door to bookkeeping jobs, but your scope won’t end there. You may also want to go for a role as a general ledger, an accountant, or an administrative assistant. If you think that you’d excel in a financial-based role, there are plenty of expansive options you can consider here. 

Can you imagine launching your accounting career at a top accounting firm? If that idea doesn’t sound too wild to you, taking an online course in bookkeeping is a no-brainer.

Your annual salary matters when it comes to your quality of life. So, how can you increase it? When you’re a qualified bookkeeper, you become a more valuable employee regardless of your sector. That is good news when it comes to your salary. 

The truth of the matter is that your average salary will increase when you start to learn more skills. If you want to find more lucrative work, learning new talents will help you along the way. You can better align with the business needs of your chosen company. 

You may already have a bachelor’s degree under your belt. That’s a good start. However, by adding a bookkeeping certification into the mix, you will expand your career options. That may mean going for higher-paying roles or even getting that all-important promotion.

Looking to start your own business? Want to take the leap and become self-employed? Before you go it alone, gaining a foundational understanding of bookkeeping is a wise move. This can make the notion of starting your own company seem more affordable. The skills that you learn will also help you demystify areas of the business world too. 

Choosing to take your career into your own hands means that you have all the power. You will be responsible for the accounting and financial health of your company. That may sound like a tall order. However, with the help of the right bookkeeping courses, you will gain the skill set you need to grow and develop any business financially.

Now that you understand how bookkeeping skills can support your career development, it’s time to talk about how you can become qualified. Whatever level of education you currently have, bookkeeping courses in Ireland will suit your needs. 

Not only will these in-person or  online courses simply give you an insight into the best bookkeeping software, but they will also equip you with the skills to succeed. Whether you want to specialise in a specific area of this sector or learn how to keep basic accounts, there’s a course for you.

If you want to take your career further, taking online courses in the bookkeeping software Xero can help you find new career opportunities.

If you want to develop your skills in this area further, pursuing courses in Accounting can help you achieve that goal.

Need some inspiration and want to explore some exciting courses in this field? Below is a list of great online courses to choose from that can help you take your next step in your professional development:

• Introduction to Bookkeeping Basics
• Certificate in Bookkeeping
• AAT Qualified Bookkeeper Pathway​
• Bookkeeping to Business Pathway
• AAT Accounting Technician Pathway for Bookkeepers