Accounting technicians and bookkeepers (NOC 1311)

Accounting technicians and bookkeepers:

• Keep financial records and establish, maintain and balance various accounts using manual and computerized bookkeeping systems
• Post journal entries and reconcile accounts, prepare trial balance of books, maintain general ledgers and prepare financial statements
• Calculate and prepare cheques for payrolls and for utility, tax and other bills
• Complete and submit tax remittance forms, workers' compensation forms, pension contribution forms and other government documents
• Prepare tax returns and perform other personal bookkeeping services
• Prepare other statistical, financial and accounting reports.

Key aspects of the work in this occupation:

• work in an office environment, typically during a regular Monday Friday workweek.
• are employed in small to large offices and some may also work from home offices.
• work can involve long hours using a computer, which may cause muscle strain, eye strain and occasional headaches.
• Bookkeepers who work for smaller firms have a wider range of functions to perform, some that may not be directly within the scope of bookkeeping.
• In a larger company, a bookkeeper s tasks may be restricted to bookkeeping only.

Education, training & qualifications

• completion of secondary school is required
• completion of a college program in accounting, bookkeeping or a related field 

or

• completion of two years (first level) of a recognized professional accounting program (e.g., Chartered Accounting, Certified General Accounting) 

or

• courses in accounting or bookkeeping combined with several years of experience as a financial or accounting clerk are required

Skills

• Clerical Ability
• Numerical Ability
• Detail-Oriented
• Finger Dexterity

View skills definitions

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

For more information about programs offered specifically for this career, visit EducationPlannerBC.