- 1,532,400 bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerk jobs in the US (BLS, 2025)
- Employment projected to decline 6% from 2025 to 2035 (BLS)
What does a bookkeeper do?
A bookkeeper records the day-to-day financial transactions of the business and keeps the books accurate. In a company with 11 to 200 employees, that usually means accounts payable and receivable, bank and credit card reconciliations, payroll support and month-end close tasks. Many also prepare information for an outside accountant or CPA.
Do you need a bookkeeper or an accountant?
A bookkeeper keeps the records. An accountant interprets them: financial statements, tax planning, budgets and advice. Many small businesses hire a bookkeeper on staff and use an outside CPA firm for tax and year-end work.
If you need someone to own month-end close, produce reports for the owner and manage the bookkeeper, you are likely hiring a staff accountant or controller instead.
What should you pay a bookkeeper?
Pay varies by state and city. It depends on the cost of living, local demand, the size of the books and whether the role includes payroll or full-charge duties. Contact us for a current salary benchmark for your state and role.
Check BLS figures for your metro area before setting a range.
Will bookkeepers be harder to find?
The BLS counts 1,532,400 jobs in this occupation and projects employment to decline 6% from 2025 to 2035. A shrinking occupation still has a large pool of experienced people. Hire for judgment and accuracy, not just data entry.
What should the job description say?
State the accounting software you use, the size of the books, such as the number of entities or monthly transactions, and whether payroll is included. Say who the bookkeeper reports to and whether the role is on site every day. Put the pay range in the post, so candidates who need more don't waste your time.
What skills should you look for?
- Experience with your accounting software, or one close to it
- Bank and credit card reconciliation, done monthly without being chased
- Accounts payable and receivable, including collections follow-up
- Payroll support, if the role includes it
- Comfort with spreadsheets for reports and checks
- Discretion: they will see every salary and every bank balance
How do you test a bookkeeper in an interview?
Give a 30-minute exercise: a short bank statement and a ledger with three or four planted errors, and ask them to reconcile it. Watch how they find the differences and how they explain them. Then ask how they ran month-end in their last job, step by step.
What should you ask references?
- Were the books ready on time every month?
- Did the outside accountant or auditor raise issues with their work?
- How did they handle a mistake they found, including their own?
- Would you hire them again?
Should you use a recruiter to hire a bookkeeper?
For a straightforward role with plenty of local applicants, you may not need one. A recruiter helps when the role needs full-charge experience, when you need someone quickly after a departure, or when the search must stay confidential. With RecruitJet, you typically meet a shortlist of interviewed, reference-checked local candidates within 10 business days of kickoff, and direct hire has no upfront fee.
Sources
Hire a staff accountant
Local direct hire: interviewed, reference-checked candidates, and one fee when your hire starts.
