Description
Accounting technicians and bookkeepers maintain complete sets of books, keep records of accounts, verify the procedures used for recording financial transactions, and provide personal bookkeeping services. They are employed throughout the private and public sectors, or they may be self-employed.
Job Titles
- Accounting bookkeeper
- Accounting technician
- Bookkeeper
- Bookkeeping clerk
- Budget officer
- Finance officer
- Finance technician
- Financial officer
- Financial services administrator – Canadian armed forces
- Senior bookkeeper
Main Duties
- Keep financial records and establish, maintain and balance various accounts using manual and computerized bookkeeping systems
- Post journal entries and reconcile accounts, prepare trial balance of books, maintain general ledgers and prepare financial statements
- Calculate and prepare cheques for payrolls and for utility, tax and other bills
- Complete and submit tax remittance forms, workers’ compensation forms, pension contribution forms and other government documents
- Prepare tax returns and perform other personal bookkeeping services
- Prepare other statistical, financial and accounting reports.
Workplaces
- Establishments throughout the private and public sector
- Self-employed
Skills
- Numeracy
- Critical Thinking
- Decision Making
- Digital Literacy
- Evaluation
Abilities
- Mathematical Reasoning
- Categorization Flexibility
- Deductive Reasoning
- Numerical Ability
- Fluency of Ideas
Personal Attributes
- Attention to Detail
- Analytical Thinking
- Independence
- Active Learning
- Adaptability
Similar Occupations
- Financial auditors and accountants (11100)
- Payroll administrators (13102)
- Accounting and related clerks (14200)
- Banking, insurance and other financial clerks (14201)
Source: OaSIS
Employment Outlook
The employment outlook will be good for Accounting technicians and bookkeepers (12200) in Prince Edward Island for the 2022-2024 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
- Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
- Several positions will become available due to retirements.
- There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
The demand for workers in this occupation is influenced by economic conditions and business activity. The Island economy is projected to moderate over the forecast period which may affect job opportunities to some degree. However, continued population growth by way of immigration should support the demand for workers.
In addition to other relevant education, job prospects will improve for individuals with a proficiency in using related software. Individuals available to work part-time or overtime at the end of financial reporting periods and during the federal tax season may have better job prospects. Self-employed bookkeepers interested in establishing their own firms may wish to explore appropriate investment opportunities.
Here are some key facts about Accounting technicians and bookkeepers in Prince Edward Island:
- Approximately 1,000 people work in this occupation.
- Accounting technicians and bookkeepers mainly work in the following sectors:
- Accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services (NAICS 5412): 31%
- Construction (NAICS 23): 8%
- Real Estate and rental and leasing (NAICS 53): 8%
- Other services (except public administration) (NAICS 81): 7%
- Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 7%
- The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
- Full-time workers: 77% compared to 84% for all occupations
- Part-time workers: 23% compared to 16% for all occupations
- 69% of accounting technicians and bookkeepers work all year, while 31% work only part of the year, compared to 59% and 41% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 45 weeks compared to 41 weeks for all occupations.
- 16% of accounting technicians and bookkeepers are self-employed compared to an average of 13% for all occupations.
- The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
- Men: 15% compared to 51% for all occupations
- Women: 85% compared to 49% for all occupations
- The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
- no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 11% for all occupations
- high school diploma or equivalent: 21% compared to 28% for all occupations
- apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 10% compared to 11% for all occupations
- college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor’s: 47% compared to 25% for all occupations
- bachelor’s degree: 19% compared to 17% for all occupations
- university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
Source: Job Bank
Prevailing Wages
| AREA | LOW | MEDIAN | HIGH |
|---|---|---|---|
| PEI | $15.80 | $20.00 | $31.00 |
| Canada | $17.71 | $25.20 | $41.21 |
Training
| TRAINING PROGRAM | INSTITUTION | CREDENTIAL |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting Technology | Holland College | Diploma |
| Accounting Technician (bilingual option) | Collège de l’Île | Diploma |
| Certificate in Accounting | UPEI | Certificate |