A free, editable bookkeeper job description template — job summary, essential functions, required and preferred qualifications, and a pay-range example to replace with your own. Use it to prefill the generator, tailor it to your organization, and download a formatted Word doc or PDF.
Role snapshot
The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks this occupation as Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks (SOC 43-3031), with about 1.7M workers and median annual pay of $50,670. Pay data: BLS OEWS May 2025.
That’s the scale this template is built for: a full essential-functions list, separated required and preferred qualifications, and a pay-range placeholder for your actual range. The range stays a placeholder deliberately — posting requirements differ by state, so the finished pay language should reflect where you’re hiring, not just the national figures above.
Use the template to prefill the generator, or check it against your state’s pay-transparency law first.
Job Summary
Keeps the organization's day-to-day financial records accurate and up to date. Records transactions, reconciles accounts, and processes payables and receivables so the books are always ready for close, reporting, and review.
Essential Functions
Record day-to-day financial transactions, including receipts, invoices, and journal entries, in the accounting system
Reconcile bank, credit card, and petty cash accounts on a monthly basis
Process accounts payable, including vendor invoices, payment runs, and expense reimbursements
Manage accounts receivable, including customer invoicing, collections follow-up, and cash application
Assist with payroll processing by preparing payroll data, timesheet summaries, and related filings
Support the month-end close by preparing reconciliations, schedules, and adjusting entries
Maintain the chart of accounts and ensure transactions are coded consistently and accurately
Prepare periodic financial summaries and reports for the Controller and department leaders
Safeguard confidential financial and payroll information and follow internal control procedures
Qualifications
Required:
2+ years of bookkeeping or full-charge accounting experience
Proficiency with accounting software such as QuickBooks or Xero, plus Microsoft Excel
Working knowledge of basic GAAP and standard bookkeeping procedures
High attention to detail and the ability to meet recurring monthly deadlines
Preferred:
Associate's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
Experience processing payroll (e.g., Gusto, ADP, or similar)
Education & Certifications
Associate's degree in Accounting or a related field, or equivalent bookkeeping experience
Pay range example: $50,000–$65,000 per year (adjust to your market)
Pay transparency verdict for this template
15 states require a pay range
This template ships with a pay-range example — replace it with your approved range before posting. Here's what the states in our dataset require in the posting itself:
15
states require a pay range in the posting
7
also require a benefits description
1
also require an application deadline
Plus 2 states require pay information later in the process (on request or before an offer) rather than in the posting. Browse every state's requirements →
Bookkeeping titles cover very different duty sets — confirm the FLSA classification and the pay range against the role's actual responsibilities before posting. Posting requirements vary by state and change over time: 15 of the jurisdictions in our state-by-state coverage require a pay range in job postings. This template ships with a pay-range example placeholder — replace it with your actual range, then run the finished posting through the free pay-transparency checker for each state you're hiring in.
Is a bookkeeper exempt or non-exempt under the FLSA?
Bookkeepers are typically classified as non-exempt, which is how this template marks the role. Routine recording, reconciling, and processing work generally doesn't meet the administrative exemption's duties test — confirm the classification against the actual responsibilities before you post.
What should a bookkeeper pay range look like?
Post the hourly or salary range tied to the experience and software skills you're hiring for — bookkeeper pay varies widely between small-business and industry roles. Replace the template's pay-range placeholder with your real range.
What should a bookkeeper posting list?
Name the accounting software (QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite), month-end close duties, AP/AR responsibilities, and reconciliation work. Specifics here filter for the right candidates far better than generic 'detail-oriented' language.
Do bookkeeper postings need to follow each state's rules?
Yes — posting requirements differ by state, and bookkeeper roles are frequently posted remote across many states. Check the rules for each state you're hiring in, and run the finished posting through the free pay-transparency checker before you post.