I have been involved with accountancy now for nearly 20 years, and one of the most startling changes I have seen in that time is how the role of bookkeeping has changed. The ability to generate decent money while also gaining the flexibility and independence that you seek can be attained by working as a bookkeeper. A computer, an internet connection, and accounting software are the only pieces of hardware and software necessary in addition to the minimal initial setup. Although I am still relatively new to the area of retained profits, I am determined to carve out a niche for myself in this industry and achieve great success.
Get the Right Accounting Software
What does this mean for an accountant or an accountancy firm? Well, for one thing, it means that they will not be hiring any more bookkeepers in the near future. There’s no point having capacity for a service no-one wants from you.
Data Entry vs Bookkeeping: A Comprehensive Guide
I spend a lot of time talking to high school students, and what I really try to focus on is speaking about accounting as a skill set- and it’s a skill set that allows you to be entrepreneurial if you want to be. You can go work in a public accounting firm, you can go into a privately is bookkeeping a dying profession held company, you can go into a large organization, or you can start your own business. This is not something to bemoan, as it is good for accountants’ clients as well as for accountants themselves; we’re now liberated to focus on more profitable work and to take on more clients.
- COVID-19 has changed the way accountants work with technology.
- So a question may arise in your mind that how will you survive?
- The most effective strategy for this is to set up a virtual home office with a door that can be locked (restricted access).
- The majority of well-established businesses that seek to employ virtual bookkeepers demand, at the very least, a bachelor’s degree.
- A bookkeeper is skilled at keeping documents and tracks a wide net of financial information.
- A median salary of $36,460 (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics) for just a high school diploma doesn’t sound too bad, but this career is quickly disappearing.
Is Accounting a dying profession?
The projected growth hasn’t been measured, but it’s suspected that there will be a major decline in this profession. According to AmoMedia, more and more people are turning towards smaller doctors and those who can make house calls, so that they can save the expensive trip to the hospital. A $39,240 paycheck is nothing to turn your nose up at, but according to AmoMedia, data entry workers just aren’t https://www.bookstime.com/ that needed. AmoMedia projects that the jobs for data entry workers will decline by 5%, mostly thanks to the rise of technology. The same source also estimates that by 2020, almost 16,000 of these workers will have lost their jobs. A median salary of $36,460 (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics) for just a high school diploma doesn’t sound too bad, but this career is quickly disappearing.
How COVID-19 changed technology in accounting (and what the future looks like)
Bookkeepers who excel at their jobs are also sometimes promoted to accounting positions, even if they lack the level of education the company typically prefers. As said by the experts above, despite the decrease in demand, bookkeeping is not expected to die as a profession anytime soon. Companies still need someone who understands their costs and revenues, their employees, vendors, and customers. The granularity of this information requires someone able to work with the financial data and understand it. As a bookkeeper, I don’t believe our profession is dying, but it is undoubtedly evolving due to AI and technology.
The most important part is that the focus has shifted to the more creative and truly human activities in the department. Another thing is software cannot replace judgmental decisions. Whenever there is a judgmental call on any bookkeeping entry, you need manual interpretation.
Career Paths
This is not entirely disastrous; as profitable as bookkeeping may have been at one point, it was always a ‘low end’ product. The role of bookkeeping continues to be indispensable for businesses of all sizes. Aspiring bookkeepers should not fear the changes brought about by technology and shifting work patterns, but rather embrace them as opportunities for growth and specialisation. After all, being a good bookkeeper means that you’re adaptable, continuously learning, and always willing to address the needs of your clients.
AI Will Shift The Profession Towards Financial Management And Advisory Roles
- Kiplinger projects that the need for prefabricated home builders will fall by about 7.8% over the next ten years.
- As a financial auditor, you may work as an external or internal auditor.
- The ability to generate decent money while also gaining the flexibility and independence that you seek can be attained by working as a bookkeeper.
- It is important to possess sharp logic skills and big-picture problem-solving abilities, as well.
- Since the late ’90s, the need for mobile homes has shrunk consistently.