How long does it take to qualify as a Bookkeeper?

As you are reading this blog, we can presume that you have already decided to study to become a qualified bookkeeper.  We at the ICB are here to assist you in your journey to achieve your aspirations and answer that elusive question of how long does it take to qualify as a Bookkeeper.

As you embark on your journey, you will need to decide what level of accounting profession you want to achieve.  For example, the ICB’s programmes will provide you with the knowledge and competence to become either a Junior Bookkeeper or a Senior Bookkeeper, a Technical Financial Account or a Financial Accountant, after which you may further your studies through one of the many organisations that recognise our programmes for exemptions and/or professional membership.  See here for more details.

To help you decide on which stage of the profession you want to aspire to, we provide the following as guidance.

Junior Bookkeeper

• Monitors creditor and debtor accounts and undertakes related routine documentation. May work in a call centre.
• Calculates and investigates the cost of wages, materials, overheads and other operating expenses.

Senior Bookkeeper

• Maintains and evaluates records of financial transactions in account books and computerised accounting systems.
• Prepares budgets and financial statements, monitors an organisation’s financial performance, and maintains internal financial control and accounting systems.

Technical Financial Accountant

• Accounting associate professionals maintain complete records of financial transactions of an undertaking and verify the accuracy of documents and records relating to such transactions.
• Maintains and evaluates records of financial transactions in account books and computerised accounting systems.
• Prepares budgets and financial statements, monitors an organisation’s financial performance, and maintains internal financial control and accounting systems.
• Reviews completed tax records, prepares and submits taxation returns and documents and verifies accuracy.

Financial Accountant

• Determines whether the annual financial statements of a company or close corporation are in agreement with the accounting records of the company or corporation.
• Reviews the appropriateness of the accounting policies represented to the accounting officer as having been applied in the preparation of the annual financial statements.
• Drafts reports in respect of these tasks to the company or corporation.
• Produces, prepares, and analyses financial statements supporting a business as a going concern and provide advisory services in this regard.

 

Now that you have a better understanding of the job roles of the various accounting occupations that you can obtain with an ICB-registered qualification, we will endeavour to provide guidance on the recommended duration of study for each qualification, but this is dependent on the type of tuition chosen, for example, face-to-face, part-time, distance-learning or self-study, as well as the amount of time you set aside for your studies taking into account your other commitments like work, family etc.

The ICB financial programme stream

 The ICB’s financial programme stream comprises four registered qualifications ranging from Junior Bookkeeper to Financial Accountant.  These qualifications are registered on the National Qualifications Framework from Level three to level six.

To qualify as a Junior Bookkeeper, you must complete the National Certificate Bookkeeper comprising four modules or subjects.  Depending on the route or study options chosen, and by this, we mean college, tuition, distance learning or self-study, the qualification could take between nine and twelve months to complete.

The next stage is the Senior Bookkeeper. You will be required to complete two additional modules, after which you will be awarded the Further Education and Training Certificate Bookkeeper.  These two additional modules should take between six to nine months to complete.

After completing these six modules, you can further your studies to become a Technical Financial Accountant by completing two additional modules, which will take six to nine months.  After completion, you will be awarded the National Diploma Technical Financial Accounting qualification.

Finally, by completing an additional four modules, which we estimate should take between nine to twelve months to finish, you will achieve the National Diploma Financial Accounting qualification and be able to perform the duties of a Financial Accountant.

Therefore, you should be able to qualify as a financial accountant after about three years.  To study towards one of the ICB-registered qualifications, you do not need a grade 12 school–leaving certificate, nor do you need prior knowledge in accounting.

Get started on your journey, by submitting your details here and have a College contact you.