Bookkeeper Apprenticeship

Bookkeeper Apprenticeship

Keeping track of incoming and outgoing finances is critical in any business. You’ll help with this as an apprentice bookkeeper.

In this role, you would help be in charge of a client’s or company’s financial data, keeping track of their money. You’d record money received, invoices, payroll, and transactions. It is vital to be thorough and precise and pay special attention to detail since any inaccuracies might substantially impact the account balance.

You’d collaborate with company clients to create budgets and keep their accounts up to date. You may also meet with their vendors and the bank if needed.

Accounting software and spreadsheets would most likely be used to update and maintain financial data on a computer.

Responsibilities

You may be responsible for various duties, such as maintaining an accurate record of financial transactions, updating and maintaining the general ledger, depending on your chosen route, qualifications, and future professional experience.

Regardless of where you work, you will help with the following tasks:

  • deal with sales invoices, income, receipts and payments
  • prepare statements to show income and payments
  • complete VAT returns
  • check that accounts are accurate
  • prepare wages and manage claims for expenses
  • help to prepare annual accounts
  • use computerised accounting systems
  • handle commercially sensitive and valuable information.

Salary

An apprentice bookeeper training salary typically is £18,000; however, once qualified, you can expect to earn up to £35,000 with experience.

However, pay varies widely depending on the industry, location, and individual’s experience. Larger organisations tend to pay more for bookkeepers due to the bigger volume of transactions and data. A big organisation may handle hundreds of transactions per second, but a small firm may handle just a few hundred daily.

Entry-level pay for both bookkeepers and accountants is often similar; however, an accountant’s earning potential improves as their career continues. It is rare for an experienced bookkeeper to go into accounting or another sector. Because they work with raw data, bookkeepers often thoroughly understand how a business runs.

Working hours

Working hours can vary, but usually full-time hours will be Monday to Friday around 37-39 hours per week.

Qualifications

Qualifications you can achieve as an apprentice bookkeepr include:

Level 2 Accounts AssistantEntry requirements for this level include some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship.

Skills

On an bookkeeper apprenticeship you’ll learn:

  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to work well with others
  • administration skills
  • customer service skills
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • maths knowledge
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently.

Employers

You might work in any sector and for any size business. You may find your perfect working environment with a choice of firms to pick from. Larger organisations, where job opportunities are concentrated, have offices throughout major cities and towns across the country and worldwide, while smaller businesses may be centred on a specific location.

Employers include those listed below:

  • Industry and commerce – including big commercial businesses in the manufacturing, retail, and telecommunications industries.
  • The public sector –  including local and national governments, educational institutions, charities, and non-profit organisations.

Professional development

Your firm will also provide in-house training on technical and general skills to help you succeed in your field. There may be opportunities to specialise in areas specific to the organisation for which you work.

You may decide to study for an accounting degree and qualify as an accountant.

Career prospects

With experience and training, you could become an accounting technician and take on more complex work.

You could also become self-employed and set up your own business.

Updated on November 10, 2022

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