Free Online Bookkeeping Courses

1. Diploma in Effective Bookkeeping and Payroll

Do you know what special journals and subsidiary ledgers are? This popular course explains the basics of bookkeeping including keeping track of cash flow and payroll.

2. Payroll Computation and Bookkeeping

Being able to accurately calculate employees’ salaries, deductions and taxes is an important part of running a successful business. This course is well worth doing if this is a role that interests you.

3. QuickBooks: Bookkeeping Software for Freelancers and Sole Proprietors

If you run your own business or work for yourself, you may not be able to afford to employ a bookkeeper to keep track of your income and expenses. This helpful course shows you how to use a popular software program that does the job for you.

Very simply, bookkeepers maintain all the financial records while accountants interpret them. So bookkeepers keep track of income and expenditure while accountants will be able to see if a profit or loss is being made, how much tax is due and where investments can be made. The term ‘bookkeeper’ comes from ‘keeping the books’, which in the past were literally ledgers in which all in the incomings and outgoings were recorded.

Sometimes disparagingly referred to as ‘bean counters’ because they need to keep track of every last cent, bookkeepers have an important job and need lots of sought-after skills:

• Attention to detail
• Maths ability
• Stickler for correctness
• Discipline to do daily captures
• Discretion not to reveal employer’s or clients’ financial standing
• Confidentiality not to reveal salaries and payroll
• Trustworthiness not to steal or embezzle money
• Ability to keep perfect records
• Ability to file invoices, receipts and other necessary documentation