Bookkeeping skills: what they are and how to show them on a resume
Bookkeeping is recording a business's financial transactions accurately: what came in, what went out and what is owed. O*NET lists mathematics, active listening, critical thinking, reading comprehension and speaking as the top skills for bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks, plus accounting software and spreadsheets.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Skill | Bookkeeping |
| Source of the occupation data | O*NET OnLine (US Department of Labor), accessed 31 October 2026 |
| Occupations in this guide that list it | 3 |
| Where to learn more | Our career guides and the O*NET pages linked below |
What is Bookkeeping?
Bookkeepers keep the books that accountants later use to prepare statements and returns. The work involves entering transactions, reconciling accounts and keeping records organised. Our career guide covers pay, education and outlook from BLS.
Which jobs use it?
The occupation pages on O*NET OnLine list technology skills and top essential skills. These occupations from our career guides include this skill or closely related ones:
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks (O*NET 43-3031.00): accounting software (Intuit QuickBooks, Sage 50 Accounting, SAP Concur), Microsoft Excel and enterprise resource planning.
- Accountants and Auditors (O*NET 13-2011.00): accounting and compliance software and spreadsheets.
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive (O*NET 43-6014.00): accounting software including QuickBooks and Sage 50.
O*NET examples are illustrative, not a requirement for every employer. Read the postings for the role you want.
How do I show it on a resume?
- Name the software and the tasks: "reconciled bank accounts and entered vendor invoices in QuickBooks".
- State the cycle you handled: monthly close, payables, receivables, payroll inputs, if you did.
- Do not list confidential client or employer figures.
- Add any certificate by its exact name and issuer, only if you hold it.
See the accountant resume example and administrative assistant resume example for layout, and our guide to an ATS-friendly resume.
On LiveRec, employers who find candidates for a job see up to five of your skills on your card, with the ones that match the job first. Use the exact name of the skill, as in which skills to put on a profile.
Where can I learn it?
We link only official sources we could verify. The O*NET Skills Search shows skills and examples, and each career guide above explains typical education from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ask your employer or school what training it offers, then add what you complete to your profile.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between bookkeeping and accounting? Bookkeeping records transactions. Accounting also analyses, reports and files, as in our accountant guide. BLS profiles bookkeeping clerks and accountants separately.
Which software should a bookkeeper list? List what you have used. O*NET names Intuit QuickBooks, Sage 50 Accounting and SAP Concur for bookkeeping clerks.
Is a degree required to be a bookkeeper? See the BLS profile linked in our bookkeeper guide for typical education. Postings vary, so check those you want.
Related guides
When you are ready, search jobs on LiveRec.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine, Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks, 43-3031.00: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/43-3031.00 (accessed 31 October 2026)
- O*NET OnLine, Accountants and Auditors, 13-2011.00: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/13-2011.00 (accessed 31 October 2026)
- O*NET OnLine, Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive, 43-6014.00: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/43-6014.00 (accessed 31 October 2026)
- O*NET OnLine, Skills Search: https://www.onetonline.org/skills/ (accessed 31 October 2026)