Virtual bookkeeper jobs are everywhere, and you can certainly land in one if and only if you got what it takes to be one. Of course, another thing is, you got to find it in the right place.
Are you good with numbers? Do you like working with numbers? How about solving puzzles and untangling knots? If your answer to these questions is a resounding yes, then you might just be interested to work as a home-based bookkeeper.
Bookkeeping is a great career to get into because the skills are considered entry-level. Needless to say, it is one of those jobs that easily adapt to working from home.
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Over the years, the industry, particularly virtual bookkeeping from home has become in-demand. Thanks to more businesses hiring and providing virtual bookkeeper jobs. What’s even better about it is that apart from freelancing, you can also eventually put up your own bookkeeping business. If you want to get employed in a more traditional model and work remotely as a bookkeeper for a company, that is possible, too!
You see, the possibilities in this industry are endless.
In 2018, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics provided data on bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing jobs. In the data they presented, it was found that in that year alone, there were over 1.7 million jobs that have been provided in this industry. This only means that there is so much in-store for people in this industry and that jobs never run out.
So, if you are interested in the land a job in this industry – particularly virtual bookkeeping job, then stick with us as we answer some of the common questions of bookkeeping hopefuls, which include:
- What is virtual bookkeeping?
- What is a virtual bookkeeper?
- What do virtual bookkeepers do?
- What are the skills and qualities required for virtual bookkeeping jobs?
- How much do virtual bookkeepers make?
- Where to find virtual bookkeeper jobs?
If you are ready, then, let’s begin.
WHAT IS VIRTUAL BOOKKEEPING?
First and foremost, it is important that you understand what virtual bookkeeping is all about before you start searching for virtual bookkeeper jobs. It’s basically knowing all about what you are getting yourself into so you know how to sell yourself to potential employers or clients.
So, virtual bookkeeping basically refers to the act of doing bookkeeping jobs by telecommuting or by working at home instead of working physically in a client’s office. Apart from the work location, there is not much difference between a regular bookkeeping job that is done in an office setting, and a virtual arrangement.
Virtual bookkeepers normally use computerized or digitalized bookkeeping software to post financial transactions, review, as well as updating of financial statements, and reconciling accounts.
This is made possible by businesses or clients granting the virtual bookkeeper remote access to its server, software, and of course, their financial documents.
Oh, wait! Before moving on, we thought you might want to watch this video by Bookkeeper Bootcamp wherein she shares about how to work from home as a bookkeeper with little or without a budget at all. If you are interested, just click the play button below:
WHAT DO VIRTUAL BOOKKEEPERS DO?
Generally, bookkeeping is part of the accounting process. However, it is more on staying on top of the clerical tasks instead of analyzing reports, preparing taxes, as well as setting budgets.
Normally, what a bookkeeper does is to input receipts and invoices, as well as count inventories, classify expenses and income.
It is safe to say that a bookkeeper’s scope of work is limited, which is why in most cases, being a bookkeeper does not necessarily require a degree in accounting.
Now, speaking of responsibilities, a bookkeeper’s scope of work varies on a case to case basis depending on the client’s needs. However, a typical bookkeeper’s job description according to Career Builder includes the tasks below:
- Enter business expenses and income received into physical ledgers or accounting and office software
- Receive, process, and record receipt of cash, checks, and vouchers for clients
- Send cash, checks, and payment in other forms to employer or clients’ financial institutions
- Prepare and distribute invoices to collect money owed to business clients
- Notify people who owe business clients money
- Receive invoices and verify delivery of listed products and services
- Match invoices to contracts and purchase orders
- Ensure correct and prompt payment processing
- Calculate payroll to make sure all business clients’ salaried, hourly, and contracted employees receive prompt, accurate wages
- Reimburse employees for business expenses
- Distribute petty cash to employees
- Withhold funds for employee benefits and wage garnishments
- Process and file payroll taxes
- Order office supplies, products, and merchandise
- Record inventory levels
- Produce monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports, including balance sheets, income statements, totals by account, outstanding payables reports, and outstanding receivables reports
- Verify the accuracy of all expenses and income figures, bank postings, and financial reports
- Reconcile any discrepancies in financial records
- Communicate with business clients or employers about their financial situations, budget needs, and budget constraints
- Make quarterly income and payroll tax deposits
- Process W-9 and 1099 tax forms
- Prepare and file annual municipal, state, and federal tax returns
There are certain instances though, mostly among small employers and clients wherein they give bookkeepers a significant number of tasks, which includes processing payroll.
WHAT ARE THE SKILLS AND QUALITIES REQUIRED FOR VIRTUAL BOOKKEEPING JOBS?
When finding virtual bookkeeper jobs, it is important to be well-aware of the skills that clients or potential employers are looking for. This will also help you gauge if you are right for the job.
To give you an idea, some of the common skills and qualities that employers or clients look for in a virtual bookkeeper applicant are:
- Organized
- Strong attention to detail
- Hardworking
- Can handle multiple tasks all at the same time
- Compassionate and personable
In addition, according to the International Career Institute, here are the skills needed to become a successful bookkeeper:
- Great data entry skills
- Good communication skills
- Knowledgeable in bookkeeping principles
- Understands the bigger picture
- Disciplined
- Committed
- Interested in furthering your education
The last one is essential especially if you want to make it big in the industry or you want to build up your own bookkeeping business.
HOW MUCH DO VIRTUAL BOOKKEEPERS MAKE?
Of course, apart from the skills and responsibilities, knowing how much one makes as a virtual bookkeeper is also very important. By knowing the average virtual bookkeeping rate, it makes it easier for you to answer employer questions like how much are you expecting from the job or how much is your rate?
Anyway, to give you an idea, a virtual bookkeeper normally makes between $18 and $50 per hour. As a virtual or work-from-home bookkeeper, you have the choice to either work as a contractor of an online bookkeeping firm, or work freelance handling your own clients.
Having said that, the salary of a virtual bookkeeper depends largely on the type of employment you are into, plus the number of clients you are handling, and also, other factors like specialty, work experience, as well as education.
If you are looking at freelancing, most freelance bookkeepers with multiple clients normally charge on a per hour basis and usually makes around $50.
In the US Bureau of Labor Statics data though, based on their 2018 report, the median annual pay for bookkeepers is $40,240, while the per hour rate is averaged at $19.35.
Again, the salary varies depending on your employment status, and how many your clients are. If you have a lot of clients, then you can earn more. Also, in some cases, if you are working for a big client, you are likely to earn more as well.
So, basically, what we are trying to say is, how much you make for virtual bookkeeper jobs will depend solely on you.
WHERE TO FIND VIRTUAL BOOKKEEPER JOBS?
Now, we are done with all the data and information that are essential as you start your virtual bookkeeping career, so what’s next?
Of course, finding a virtual bookkeeping job!
So, we compiled some of the most popular sites where you can look for virtual bookkeeper jobs. The list includes the following:
– Accounting Department
The Accounting Department website was launched in 2007. Initially, it was called “Balance Your Books”. The site offers full-time work from home jobs with benefits.
Accounting Department takes pride in hiring amazing bookkeepers and controllers, and the full benefits package that they offer to their full-time employees. Benefits include paid holidays, generous vacation package, 401(k) plan, as well as group medical, dental, life, vision, and accident insurance.
For anyone looking or aiming to land in virtual bookkeeping jobs, this is definitely one of the first places you should apply. However, to land in a full-time post, you must be a CPA.
Tasks required from bookkeepers range from processing payroll to preparing general ledgers.
As an employee, you are required to work from 8 am to 5 pm, pretty much like working in an office.
– BookMinders
BookMinders is a Pennsylvania-based company. It is known to have been providing bookkeeping services around Philadelphia, Baltimore, South Jersey, as well as Pittsburg over the last 25 years.
BookMinders is home to many bookkeepers, accountants, and other finance professionals working either part-time or full-time.
The company provides bookkeeping and accounting services with an emphasis on Quickbooks, which means, you have to have an idea of how this works if you intend to work for them.
Unlike other companies, most of BookMinders clients are in non-profit, which makes it ideal if you have experience in this field.
When it comes to requirements, the company is a bit lax with it. In fact, they require at least 2 years of bookkeeping experience. Although not required, having an AA degree would be an advantage.
If you land in a virtual bookkeeper job, you will enjoy a flexible work schedule, a ton of training and career development programs, as well as incentive-based income with a potential of an increase depending on your performance at work.
– Belay Solutions
Belay Solutions is a virtual assistance company that was launched in 2010. The company has a wide range of opportunities available including virtual bookkeeper jobs.
When it comes to virtual bookkeepers, the company is always on the lookout for individuals with at least 5 years of accounting or bookkeeping experience, as well as advanced skills in QuickBooks, which is a commonly used software among companies hiring bookkeepers.
In addition, since this is a virtual bookkeeping post, applicants are expected to have a home office setup with a computer and a webcam, a reliable and fast internet connection, as well as installed the current version of QuickBooks.
Belay ensures that both employers and employees are protected from bogus ones. Thus, be ready to agree with a background check as well as a reference check during the application process.
As a Belay bookkeeper, you are expected to do tasks like reconciling bank statements and credit/debit cards, preparing 1099, managing cash flow, processing payroll, maintaining charts of accounts, as well as producing weekly, monthly, and yearly balance sheets, income statements and other vital financial documents.
– Click Accounts
Click Accounts is a business process outsourcer company. It aims to provide accounting as well as bookkeeping services.
As a BPO company, their job is to help other businesses by doing tasks like calculating accounts receivables, bill payments, and reconciling bank account for them.
The company only hires accountants and bookkeepers all-year-round. To apply, just forward to them your resume and a cover letter.
– ClickNWork
ClickNWork is a website that hires all kinds of professional roles like analysts, paralegal, writers, dancers, and of course, bookkeepers.
Unlike other sites, what ClickNWork does is that they match the applicant’s profile to clients who are looking to fill booking services. Some of the usual tasks involve creating economic papers, building company profiles, writing market reviews, and bookkeeping.
How much you make vary depending on your experience and work a specialty. Basically, you can earn anywhere between $40 and $150 or $40 and $150 per hour depending on your job and credentials.
Please take note though that tasks can either be paid on a commission-share term or a fixed rate.
– Bateman & Co.
Once you land on their website, you will most likely feel like its dated. Well, who are we to judge? After all, the people behind the site are certified public accountants and not webmasters.
Anyway, the thing is, Bateman & Co. offers bookkeeping jobs in either part-time or full-time positions — all are work from home posts.
The downside though is that they are only accepting applicants with CPA or at least three years on bookkeeping experience. Also, the company prefers hiring local individuals. They are from Texas, by the way. So, if you are a Texas resident, then, Bate & Co. is ideal for you.
If hired, bookkeepers working at Bateman & Co. are expected to do tasks like preparing corporate, partnership, and individual tax returns, as well as accounting records.
– BIDaWIZ
BIDaWIZ was established in 2008. It’s a trusted company that is run by accounting professionals (which, again, is probably why their website looks the way it does).
The primary reason why it was launched is to help fellow tax and finance professionals in the field with skilled help when they need one.
BIDaWIZ does have regular home-based jobs available for accountants and virtual bookkeepers. However, they are a bit stricter when it comes to credentials, which means, you have to make sure you are exactly what they are looking for.
One of their requirements is to have at least 2 years of a professional accounting background or Enrolled Agent Licensure. Also, the company has a third-party company that verifies applicant information, license, and more. So, make sure that you only provide legit information.
– TAD Accounting
Unlike the previous companies we mentioned, TAD Accounting is just a small accounting firm. In fact, they rarely open their employment page. That is why if you are lucky enough and you get to find a slot, make sure to immediately send in your resume.
TAD Accounting offers home-based accounting jobs — bookkeeping included — for those with at least two years of work experience.
If interested, you may send your resume at [email protected] or visit their LinkedIn account for more updates and details regarding work opportunities.
– Intuit
Intuit’s mission is to “power prosperity around the world” by “attracting the world’s top talent, bringing vital partners into our global platform, and leaving the world a better place through exceptional corporate citizenship”.
The company hires remote workers regularly to fill different types of positions, including virtual bookkeeping.
If you are curious about what’s currently available, all you have to do is to click on “Job Search” and then choose “USA Remote” from the dropdown list.
Apart from the US, there are several other countries available with remote jobs.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON VIRTUAL BOOKKEEPER JOBS
Bookkeeping is one of the most promising jobs when it comes to the virtual job industry. This, in particular, is ideal for those who love dealing with numbers with or without a certified public accountant qualification.
Thanks, indeed, to the birth of the digital age and the internet, today, even bookkeeping jobs can be done outside the usual office setting. Today, you can do bookkeeping tasks wherever you may be.
Have you been thinking of becoming one? If your answer is yes, well this we have to say…
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