What Is an Entry-Level Bookkeeper?
An entry-level bookkeeper is a bookkeeper at the start of their career. They handle the day-to-day financial record-keeping of a business: recording transactions, entering invoices and receipts, reconciling bank accounts, and keeping the books accurate and up to date. It is one of the most realistic ways to start an accounting career in Canada — you do not need a university degree, and you do not need a licence, because bookkeeping is not a regulated profession in Canada.
Most entry-level bookkeepers work in small businesses, accounting firms, or the finance department of a larger company. With practical training in bookkeeping and software such as QuickBooks, you can be job-ready in a matter of months, not years.
What Does an Entry-Level Bookkeeper Do?
An entry-level bookkeeper keeps a business’s financial records complete and accurate. On a typical day, you will:
- Record financial transactions — enter sales, purchases, receipts, and payments into the accounting software.
- Process accounts payable and receivable — enter supplier bills, send customer invoices, and follow up on overdue accounts.
- Reconcile bank and credit card accounts — match the books against bank statements and investigate differences.
- Maintain the chart of accounts — keep income, expense, asset, and liability accounts organised and correctly categorised.
- Handle payroll support — record hours, prepare payroll entries, and help with remittances under supervision.
- Track sales tax — record GST/HST collected and paid, and prepare the figures for filing.
- Prepare basic reports — produce simple profit-and-loss and aged receivables/payables summaries for the owner or accountant.
- Keep records organised — file source documents and maintain records the Canada Revenue Agency requires businesses to keep for six years.
The work is detail-heavy and routine, but it is the foundation of every accounting career. The accuracy of the books depends on the person entering the data — which is why employers value careful, organised beginners who double-check their work.
Entry-Level Bookkeeper vs Full-Charge Bookkeeper
Bookkeepers are often described as either entry-level or full-charge. The difference is scope, not a different profession:
| Entry-Level Bookkeeper | Full-Charge Bookkeeper | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical tasks | Data entry, invoicing, bill payments, bank reconciliations | All of the above, plus payroll, month-end close, financial statements, and supervising junior staff |
| Supervision | Works under an accountant or senior bookkeeper | Works independently and reports to the owner or accountant |
| Experience needed | Little to none — training is enough to start | Several years of bookkeeping experience |
| Pay | Lower end of the bookkeeping range | Upper end of the range |
Most full-charge bookkeepers started as entry-level bookkeepers. The path is straightforward: learn the daily tasks well, take on more responsibility, and add payroll and month-end work as your confidence grows.
How Much Do Entry-Level Bookkeepers Earn in Canada?
Bookkeepers in Canada fall under National Occupational Classification (NOC) 12200, accounting technicians and bookkeepers. According to Job Bank’s 2025 wage data for this group, the median wage in Canada is $28.02 per hour, with a range from $19.55 to $45.07 per hour. In Ontario, the median is $28.50 per hour (range $19.23 to $46.15), and in Toronto the median is $29.22 per hour.
Entry-level pay sits at the lower end of that range. Indeed reports an average of about $20.37 per hour for entry-level bookkeepers in Ontario (October 2026), and Randstad puts entry-level bookkeeper earnings at roughly $38,730 per year, rising above $55,000 a year with experience. Your actual pay depends on the employer, the city, and how much responsibility you carry — a bookkeeper who also runs payroll and month-end earns more than one who only does data entry.
Job Bank rates the employment outlook for bookkeepers as balanced through 2033, with job openings roughly matching the number of job seekers. Demand comes mostly from retirements and from small businesses that always need their books kept — bookkeeping is steady work, not a boom-and-bust field.
Do You Need a Licence or Certification?
No. Bookkeeping is not a regulated profession in Canada — there is no licence you must hold to call yourself a bookkeeper or to be hired as one. What employers actually ask for is a certificate or diploma in bookkeeping or accounting, practical software skills, and evidence you can do the work accurately.
That said, certification helps you stand out. The national designation is the Certified Professional Bookkeeper (CPB), awarded by CPB Canada. Its pathway runs from Apprentice (about one year of experience) to Technician (about two years) to the full CPB designation (three or more years of experience), with a national exam, a code of ethics, and annual continuing education. You do not need the CPB to get your first job — it is a goal to work toward once you have experience.
For a first job, employers care far more about these three things: can you record transactions correctly, can you use QuickBooks or Sage 50, and can you produce clean, reconciled books?
Skills Employers Look For in an Entry-Level Bookkeeper
You do not need to be a maths genius. You need to be careful, organised, and comfortable with numbers and software:
- Attention to detail — a misplaced decimal or a wrong account code creates real problems.
- Organisation — you will juggle invoices, receipts, statements, and deadlines at the same time.
- Basic accounting knowledge — debits and credits, the chart of accounts, and how a trial balance works.
- Accounting software — QuickBooks is the most commonly requested; Sage 50 and Xero are also used. Excel is expected everywhere.
- Communication — you will ask clients and colleagues for missing invoices and explain figures in plain language.
- Discretion — you handle private financial information, and employers need to trust you with it.
- Reliability — bills, payroll, and tax filings all run on deadlines.
How to Become an Entry-Level Bookkeeper in Canada
There is no single required route, but this is the fastest honest path for someone starting from zero:
Step 1: Learn the fundamentals
Take a bookkeeping course that teaches double-entry bookkeeping, the chart of accounts, accounts payable and receivable, bank reconciliations, payroll basics, and GST/HST. A course built around real cases beats a theory-only course, because employers test you on what you can actually do.
Step 2: Learn the software employers use
Get hands-on with QuickBooks and Excel. Practice entering real transactions, reconciling a bank account, and producing a profit-and-loss report. Being able to say “I have done this” matters more than listing software on a resume.
Step 3: Get practical experience
Experience is the hardest part of the first job, and the honest way to get it is through practical training, a co-op, or volunteering to keep the books for a small business or community organisation. A short placement where you handle real files gives you something concrete to talk about in interviews.
Step 4: Build a results resume
Lead with skills and what you can do, not with a long list of unrelated jobs. Name the software, the tasks you have performed, and any training. Keep it to two pages and tailor it to each posting.
Step 5: Apply for the right first roles
Look for titles such as bookkeeping assistant, accounting clerk, accounts payable clerk, and junior bookkeeper. Small accounting firms and small businesses hire beginners more often than large corporations, and they teach you faster.
Career Path and Progression
Entry-level bookkeeping is a starting point, not a dead end. With experience and training, you can move into full-charge bookkeeping, then into roles such as accounting technician, payroll specialist, or staff accountant. Some bookkeepers go on to the CPA path; others build their own bookkeeping practice and serve several small-business clients.
The accounting field keeps changing — cloud software, automation, and new CRA rules — so the bookkeepers who keep learning stay employable. A short course every year or two, plus the CPB pathway once you have experience, keeps your skills current and your pay moving up.
Your 90-Day Plan to Your First Bookkeeping Job
Days 1–30: Enrol in a practical bookkeeping course and start learning double-entry bookkeeping and QuickBooks. Set up a practice company file and enter transactions daily.
Days 31–60: Finish the course, complete a practical placement or volunteer bookkeeping work, and build a two-page results resume. Ask your trainer or placement supervisor for a reference.
Days 61–90: Apply to 5–10 entry-level postings a week — bookkeeping assistant, accounting clerk, accounts payable clerk. Prepare for interviews by practising how you would explain a reconciliation and a GST/HST return. Follow up every application.
Start Your Bookkeeping Career
If you want a stable, practical start in accounting, entry-level bookkeeping is one of the best doors in. At Get Trained Get Hired, you will learn bookkeeping on real cases — not just theory — and then work on your resume and interview preparation, with job placement support through our network. Book a free 30-minute career counselling meeting and take the first step toward your first bookkeeping job. You can also read whether you can become a bookkeeper with no experience, what you actually learn in bookkeeping, and how to gain accounting work experience in Canada.
Call us at 647-276-7150 or email salman@gettrainedgethired.com.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is intended to provide general information. The information does not consider your situation and is not intended to be used without consultation from professionals. Salman Rundhawa and Gettrainedgethired.com will not be held liable for any problems that arise from the usage of the information provided on this page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an entry-level bookkeeper do?
An entry-level bookkeeper records daily financial transactions, enters invoices and bills, reconciles bank accounts, maintains the chart of accounts, and prepares basic reports — working under the supervision of an accountant or senior bookkeeper.
How much does an entry-level bookkeeper make in Canada?
Job Bank reports a median wage of $28.02 per hour for accounting technicians and bookkeepers in Canada (2025 data), and $28.50 per hour in Ontario. Entry-level pay is lower: Indeed reports about $20.37 per hour for entry-level bookkeepers in Ontario, and Randstad puts entry-level earnings at roughly $38,730 a year, rising above $55,000 with experience.
Do I need a degree to become a bookkeeper in Canada?
No. Bookkeeping is not a regulated profession in Canada, and no university degree is required. Employers look for a bookkeeping certificate or diploma, practical software skills (especially QuickBooks), and evidence you can keep accurate books.
Is bookkeeping a good first job with no experience?
Yes, for the right person. It is one of the few accounting roles open to beginners, the outlook is balanced through 2033 according to Job Bank, and it builds directly toward full-charge bookkeeping, payroll, and accounting roles.
How long does it take to become a bookkeeper?
With a practical bookkeeping course and hands-on practice, most people can be job-ready in a few months. The full CPB designation takes longer — about three or more years of experience plus a national exam — but you do not need it for your first job.
What is the difference between an entry-level and a full-charge bookkeeper?
An entry-level bookkeeper handles basic tasks such as data entry, invoicing, and reconciliations under supervision. A full-charge bookkeeper handles the complete books — including payroll, month-end close, and financial statements — and works independently.
