How to become an accounting technician or bookkeeper
Official title: Accounting technicians and bookkeepers
Also called: Bookkeeper, Senior bookkeeper, Finance technician, Accounting bookkeeper, Accounting technician, Budget officer, Finance officer, Bookkeeping clerk, Financial officer, Financial services administrator - canadian armed forces
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.
Main tasks
- 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
How to become one
Completion of secondary school is required. Completion of a college program in accounting, bookkeeping or a related field or Completion of two years (first level) of a recognized professional accounting program (e.g., Chartered Accounting, Certified General Accounting) or Courses in accounting or bookkeeping combined with several years of experience as a financial or accounting clerk are required.
Ways in
- College or CEGEP: College or CEGEP program. 41% of workers hold a college or other non-degree diploma (Census 2021). Common fields: Accounting and related services; Business administration, management and operations; Business/commerce, general.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $54,639 a year The middle half earn $45,006 to $69,635.
- About 204,400 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 231,400 are projected by 2033. (+13.2%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
Related jobs
- Insurance adjusters and claims examiners
- Insurance underwriters
- Assessors, business valuators and appraisers
Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz
Questions people ask
How do I become an accounting technician or bookkeeper?
Completion of secondary school is required. Completion of a college program in accounting, bookkeeping or a related field or Completion of two years (first level) of a recognized professional accounting program (e.g., Chartered Accounting, Certified General Accounting) or Courses in accounting or bookkeeping combined with several years of experience as a financial or accounting clerk are required.
How much does an accounting technician or bookkeeper earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $54,639 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $45,006 to $69,635.
Is an accounting technician or bookkeeper a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 13% by 2033, from about 204,400 to about 231,400 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become an accounting technician or bookkeeper?
Not always. 27% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: College or CEGEP program.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03