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Bookkeeper CV example and template (South Africa)

Bookkeepers record every rand that moves through a business and keep the books ready for the accountant, the auditor and SARS. Small businesses, accounting and tax practices, property managers, schools and body corporates all need them, either full-time or as an outsourced bookkeeper for several clients. A bookkeeping CV is judged on two things: how far you can take the books on your own (only capturing, or all the way to a trial balance), and which accounting packages you know well.

The example below is for a bookkeeper with about seven years of experience who now runs the books for a group of small business clients at an accounting practice. Show your qualification path clearly, such as your Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) certificates and their NQF levels, and name each package you use, such as Sage Pastel Partner, Xero or QuickBooks. If you submit returns for clients, say which ones, for example the VAT201 and EMP201 on SARS eFiling, because that tells an employer you can work to SARS deadlines without being watched.

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Bookkeeper CV example

Shireen Adams

Bookkeeper with 7 years' experience, full books to trial balance for small business clients

041 555 0137 · shireen.adams@example.co.za · Gqeberha, Eastern Cape

Profile

Accurate, deadline-driven bookkeeper with seven years' experience, now handling the full books of 18 small business clients at an accounting practice in Gqeberha. Takes each client from source documents to trial balance every month on Sage Pastel Partner, Xero or QuickBooks, reconciles bank accounts, manages debtors and creditors, and submits VAT201 and EMP201 returns on SARS eFiling on time. Holds the ICB National Diploma in Technical Financial Accounting (NQF 5).

Work experience

Bookkeeper

Newton Park Accounting and Tax Services, Gqeberha | Jul 2022 – Present

  • Write up the monthly books for 18 small business clients to trial balance on Sage Pastel Partner, Xero and QuickBooks
  • Reconcile more than 30 bank accounts a month and clear suspense accounts before month-end close
  • Prepare and submit VAT201 returns for 12 VAT vendors on SARS eFiling, with no late submissions
  • Submit monthly EMP201 declarations and help prepare the six-monthly EMP501 reconciliations
  • Post month-end journals for accruals, prepayments and depreciation, and prepare year-end files for the accountants
  • Moved four clients from desktop Pastel to Xero, including bank feeds and opening balances

Creditors and Debtors Clerk

Eastern Cape Auto Spares (Pty) Ltd, Gqeberha | Mar 2019 – Jun 2022

  • Captured about 400 supplier invoices a month on Sage Pastel Partner and reconciled supplier statements
  • Prepared weekly creditors payment runs for the financial manager to approve
  • Sent monthly statements to about 150 trade customers and followed up overdue accounts by phone
  • Did the daily bank reconciliation and allocated customer receipts

Education

National Diploma in Technical Financial Accounting

Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB), through Damelin, 2021, NQF level 5

FET Certificate in Bookkeeping

Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB), through Damelin, 2019, NQF level 4

National Senior Certificate (Matric)

Gelvandale High School, 2016, NQF level 4

Subjects: English Home Language, Afrikaans First Additional Language, Accounting (74%), Mathematics, Business Studies, Economics, Life Orientation

Skills

  • Full books to trial balance
  • Bank reconciliations
  • Debtors and creditors control
  • Sage Pastel Partner
  • Xero and QuickBooks Online
  • VAT201 and EMP201 on SARS eFiling
  • Month-end journals
  • Excel reconciliations and pivot tables

Certificates

  • Xero Advisor Certification, Xero, 2023
  • Sage Pastel Partner Intermediate, Sage Pastel training partner, 2020
  • QuickBooks Online Certification, Intuit QuickBooks, 2024

Achievements

  • No late VAT201 or EMP201 submissions for any client since July 2022

Personal details

Driver’s licence:
Code B (Code 8)
Own transport:
Yes
Nationality:
South African
Languages:
English (Home language), Afrikaans (Fluent)
Notice period:
One month
Availability:
Full-time, with overtime at month-end and SARS deadlines

References

Riaan Botha

Practice Owner, Newton Park Accounting and Tax Services

041 555 0162

Fatima Salie

Financial Manager, Eastern Cape Auto Spares (Pty) Ltd

041 555 0109

Bookkeeper CV summary you can copy

Change the details so they are true for you.

Accurate, deadline-driven bookkeeper with seven years' experience, now handling the full books of 18 small business clients at an accounting practice in Gqeberha. Takes each client from source documents to trial balance every month on Sage Pastel Partner, Xero or QuickBooks, reconciles bank accounts, manages debtors and creditors, and submits VAT201 and EMP201 returns on SARS eFiling on time. Holds the ICB National Diploma in Technical Financial Accounting (NQF 5).

Skills to list on your Bookkeeper CV

Duties written as strong bullet points

Tips for a stronger Bookkeeper CV

Say how far you take the books

Bookkeeping jobs range from capturing invoices to running the full set of books. Make your level clear with a line such as "write up the books to trial balance" or "prepare management accounts". An employer who needs month-end done without help will look for those exact words.

List your ICB qualifications by level

Write each Institute of Certified Bookkeepers qualification you have finished with its NQF level, for example the National Certificate in Bookkeeping (NQF 3) and the FET Certificate in Bookkeeping (NQF 4). If you are still studying, give the subjects you have passed and when you expect to finish.

Name your SARS submissions and deadlines

Practices want bookkeepers who understand SARS deadlines, such as the EMP201 by the 7th of the following month. List each return you submit, such as VAT201 and EMP201, how many clients you submit for, and your on-time record if it is good.

Show the packages and the size of the work

Write each accounting package you use and how many clients or transactions you handle on it. "Xero for six clients, about 1,500 bank lines a month" gives a much clearer picture than "Xero experience", and helps a practice see where you would fit.

Questions people ask

What is the ICB and which qualification do I need?

The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) is a South African professional body that offers bookkeeping and accounting qualifications through distance learning and colleges. Many bookkeepers start with the National Certificate in Bookkeeping (NQF 3), move on to the FET Certificate in Bookkeeping (NQF 4) and then the National Diploma in Technical Financial Accounting (NQF 5). Check the ICB website for the current qualification names, because the institute has been moving to new occupational qualifications.

Should a bookkeeper join SAIBA or another professional body?

It is not required to work as a bookkeeper, but membership of a professional body such as the ICB or the Southern African Institute for Business Accountants (SAIBA) shows you follow a code of conduct and keep your skills up to date. Some clients and employers ask for it, especially if you want to work on your own later.

What are the VAT201 and EMP201?

The VAT201 is the return a VAT-registered business submits to SARS for each VAT period, showing the VAT it charged and the VAT it can claim back. The EMP201 is the monthly employer declaration for PAYE, UIF and the Skills Development Levy. Both are usually submitted and paid on SARS eFiling.

Which accounting software should I learn first?

Sage Pastel Partner is still common in South African accounting practices and older businesses, while Xero and QuickBooks Online are growing fast with small businesses. Learn one well, then add a second. Xero and QuickBooks offer free online certification courses that you can list on your CV.

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