Bookkeeper Job Description
Recruit a reliable bookkeeper to keep financial records accurate, support month-end routines and provide timely management information.
What does a Bookkeeper professional do?
A Bookkeeper records daily financial transactions, reconciles accounts, prepares basic reports and supports the finance function with routine accounting tasks.
Bookkeeper job description template
Use this employer-ready example as a starting point, then replace the placeholders and adjust the content so it accurately reflects your vacancy.
Bookkeeper
About the role
[Company name] is looking for a detail-focused Bookkeeper to manage day-to-day financial records and support our finance team. You will process sales and purchase invoices, reconcile bank and ledger accounts, assist with VAT and month-end routines, and prepare reports for the management accountant. This is a [full-time/part-time] role based in [Location] with [hybrid/on-site] working and an expected start of [start date or notice period].
Key responsibilities
- Record daily financial transactions including sales, purchases, receipts and payments using the organisation's accounting system.
- Reconcile bank accounts, credit cards and supplier statements on a regular basis.
- Process and post sales invoices, purchase invoices and supplier payments, ensuring supporting documentation is filed.
- Prepare and submit VAT returns where required, or collate information for the accountant to submit.
- Support month-end routines: posting accruals/prepayments, journal entries and producing trial balances.
- Maintain the fixed asset register and process depreciation schedules as required.
- Prepare periodic management reports and summaries for the finance manager or external accountant.
- Liaise with suppliers, customers and the external accountant to resolve reconciliation queries.
Essential skills and experience
- Practical bookkeeping experience (minimum 1–2 years) in a small business or practice environment.
- Good numeracy and attention to detail with a methodical approach to reconciliation and record-keeping.
- Confident use of cloud accounting software and spreadsheets; ability to learn new systems quickly.
- Clear communication skills for liaising with colleagues, suppliers and external advisors.
- Right to work in the UK and willingness to comply with employer checks and data-protection procedures.
Desirable
- Formal bookkeeping or accounting qualification (for example AAT, ICB) or working towards one.
- Experience preparing or supporting VAT returns and familiarity with UK VAT rules.
- Experience with payroll processing or RTI submissions.
- Previous use of common packages such as Xero, QuickBooks, Sage or similar cloud platforms.
- Strong Excel skills including use of formulas, pivot tables and data cleaning techniques.
What we offer
- Competitive salary (enter band or range)
- Employer pension contribution
- Flexible or hybrid working arrangement
- Annual leave allowance (enter entitlement)
- Training and development budget
- Seasonal closure or additional paid leave (enter details)
How to apply
Apply with your CV and any additional information requested. Make the interview process, closing date and any assessment stages clear where known.
Use this as a starting point rather than a final advert. The strongest version will reflect the real role, salary, location, systems, responsibilities, benefits and working arrangements.
What is a Bookkeeper role?
A Bookkeeper maintains an organisation's financial records by recording transactions, reconciling accounts and preparing routine reports for management and tax compliance. They ensure day-to-day bookkeeping tasks are completed accurately and on time, supporting payroll, VAT and month-end processes as required. Bookkeepers typically work closely with finance managers and external accountants to provide clean ledgers for financial reporting.
Core duties
Transaction recording, reconciliations, invoice processing, petty cash and routine reporting.
Who they work with
Internal colleagues across operations and sales, external accountants, suppliers and HMRC contacts where necessary.
Typical tools
Cloud accounting packages, spreadsheets and bank portals; familiarity with common systems reduces onboarding time.
Hours & patterns
Often full- or part-time; seasonality around month-end, quarterly VAT and year-end can require occasional peaks in workload.
Typical Bookkeeper responsibilities
Responsibilities should reflect the real scope of the vacancy rather than every task someone in this profession might ever complete.
Record daily financial transactions including
Record daily financial transactions including sales, purchases, receipts and payments using the organisation's accounting system.
Reconcile bank accounts
Reconcile bank accounts, credit cards and supplier statements on a regular basis.
Process
Process and post sales invoices, purchase invoices and supplier payments, ensuring supporting documentation is filed.
Prepare
Prepare and submit VAT returns where required, or collate information for the accountant to submit.
Support month-end routines: posting accruals/prepayments,
Support month-end routines: posting accruals/prepayments, journal entries and producing trial balances.
Maintain the fixed asset register
Maintain the fixed asset register and process depreciation schedules as required.
Prepare periodic management reports
Prepare periodic management reports and summaries for the finance manager or external accountant.
Liaise with suppliers
Liaise with suppliers, customers and the external accountant to resolve reconciliation queries.
Bookkeeper skills and experience to look for
Keep the essential list focused on what the person really needs to perform the role. Move useful-but-trainable experience into desirable criteria.
Usually worth prioritising
- Practical bookkeeping experience (minimum 1–2 years) in a small business or practice environment.
- Good numeracy and attention to detail with a methodical approach to reconciliation and record-keeping.
- Confident use of cloud accounting software and spreadsheets; ability to learn new systems quickly.
- Clear communication skills for liaising with colleagues, suppliers and external advisors.
- Right to work in the UK and willingness to comply with employer checks and data-protection procedures.
Useful where relevant
- Formal bookkeeping or accounting qualification (for example AAT, ICB) or working towards one.
- Experience preparing or supporting VAT returns and familiarity with UK VAT rules.
- Experience with payroll processing or RTI submissions.
- Previous use of common packages such as Xero, QuickBooks, Sage or similar cloud platforms.
- Strong Excel skills including use of formulas, pivot tables and data cleaning techniques.
See our guide to what to include in a job advert before publishing.
How to write a Bookkeeper job advert
Small role-specific details can make the advert much easier for suitable candidates to assess.
Be specific about scope
State whether the role is transactional bookkeeping only or a full-charge position handling ledgers, VAT and liaison with accountants.
List software expectations
Name the accounting package(s) you use and whether experience is essential or you will provide training.
Give clear hours and flexibility
Specify working pattern, hybrid options and any predictable peak periods so candidates can assess fit.
Distinguish essential from desirable
Keep required skills realistic; include qualifications as desirable unless they are genuinely mandatory for the role.
Include progression or training
Highlight opportunities for training, certification support or progression to assistant accountant roles to attract ambitious candidates.
Bookkeeper salary considerations
Bookkeeper pay varies by experience, responsibilities and employer. Rather than a single market figure, consider the role’s breadth (transactional vs full-charge), the organisation’s size and sector, local labour market conditions and whether the post is permanent, temporary or freelance when setting a salary.
depending on experience
- Use a genuine range
- Separate variable pay
- Avoid “competitive” alone
- Match salary to seniority
What Bookkeeper candidates will want to know
Practical details can influence whether a suitable candidate applies, even when the title and salary are attractive.
Which accounting software do you use?
Experienced bookkeepers want to know systems to assess fit and training needs.
Is this a full-charge bookkeeping role or transactional only?
Clarifies responsibility for VAT, month-end journals and liaising with accountants.
What are the typical working hours and are there peak periods?
Candidates need to plan for month-end, quarterly VAT or year-end workloads and any overtime expectations.
Who will I report to and how large is the finance team?
Helps applicants understand supervision, collaboration and development opportunities.
Is training or support for professional qualifications available?
Many bookkeepers value employers who support AAT/ICB study or software training.
Where to post a Bookkeeper job
Use a mix of general UK job boards and channels that reach accounting professionals. Post on professional networks such as LinkedIn, advertise on specialist accounting and finance job sites or local college noticeboards for trainees, and consider industry forums or local business groups for small-business roles. For temporary or contract requirements, include contractor platforms or accountant networks to reach freelance bookkeepers.
Related accounting & finance job descriptions
Recruiting for a slightly different role? These templates may be a closer fit.
Bookkeeper job description FAQs
Do bookkeepers need formal qualifications?
No legal qualification is required, but recognised certificates (AAT, ICB) and demonstrable software experience are commonly expected and make candidates more competitive.
When should I hire a full-time bookkeeper instead of outsourcing?
Hire in-house when transaction volume, the need for timely internal reporting, or day-to-day cash management requires regular on-site attention. Outsource or use a contractor for intermittent workloads or specialist tasks.
How can I assess a candidate’s bookkeeping ability?
Ask for examples of systems used, typical month-end tasks they performed, and request a short practical exercise or scenario-based questions about reconciliations and error resolution.
Should a bookkeeper handle payroll?
Bookkeepers can process payroll if they have relevant experience and training; however, payroll carries compliance responsibilities, so clarify scope and controls before assigning it.
How do I protect financial controls with a small finance team?
Segregate duties where possible, use approval workflows for payments, retain electronic audit trails, and schedule periodic reconciliation and review by a manager or external accountant.
Ready to hire a Bookkeeper?
Customise the advert to reflect your systems, hours and responsibilities, then post to the channels that best reach bookkeeping talent for your organisation.
