The duties of this position will depend on the size and sector of the company, with the main responsibility the tracking of the organization’s expenditures and income. The bookkeeper is expected to work closely with the accounts receivable and payable department and, in smaller companies, may be responsible for these duties. Regular updates to relevant departments on all financial activities must be prepared, using spreadsheets or accounting software.
In Canada, this job is not regulated, with qualifications and experience requirements set by individual employers. However, a college diploma at the least, a first-level professional accountancy qualification or previous experience as an accountancy clerk can prove useful. If the applicant is seeking an entry-level bookkeeper job, most companies will encourage study for higher qualifications.
The bookkeeper may also be responsible for maintaining the payroll, filing annual tax returns and monitoring the company’s bank accounts to ensure they match with financial records. A crucial responsibility is the preparation of financial statements for the annual report, including cash flow charts, a balance sheet and income statements. Salaries vary according to experience and qualifications, starting at around C
$30,000 and rising to a maximum of C
$50,000 with 20 years’ experience.