How to Become a Bookkeeper in South Africa: Requirements, Courses, Salary, and Business Tips

If you are a South African who is considering  Bookkeeping as a career choice then this guide will help you with the most important steps required to start your bookkeeping journey. The good part about bookkeeping in South Africa is the flexibility of choosing whether you want to start your own bookkeeping business or get hired in a desired company to become a bookkeeper. Let’s explore one of the most rewarding career choice in South Africa in this piece.

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What Does a Bookkeeper in South Africa Do?

A bookkeeper’s main responsibilities is recording and maintaining a business’ financial transactions, such as purchases, expenses, sales revenue, invoices, and payments. Bookkeepers record accurate financial data into general ledgers, which are used to produce the balance sheet and income statement and make sure the company’s finances are in order. Bookkeeping may appear to be the same as accounting but bookkeepers record financial transactions whereas accounting is responsible for interpreting, classifying, analyzing, reporting, and summarizing the financial data.

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Requirements to Become a Bookkeeper in South Africa

A degree is not necessarily needed for one to become a bookkeeper but there are certain qualifications needed to become a successful bookkeeper including training and specific skills. 

Educational Requirements needed:

As much as a degree is not important on a quest to become a bookkeeper in South Africa, you need to have either a diploma or at least a certification in bookkeeping.

Required Skills:

• Attention to detail
• Math skills
• Strong communication skills
• Flexibility to changing environments
• Familiarity with accounting software (such as QuickBooks or Sage)
• Administrative skills
• Organizational skills
• Basic understanding of South African tax laws

Certification:
A professional certification adds value to your portfolio and resume while also demonstrating credibility and competence. There are institutes like South African Institute of Professional Accountants (SAIPA) or the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) that you can register with to get your certification.

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Courses and Diplomas for Bookkeeping in South Africa

If you want to become a bookkeeper in South Africa, we have the following institutions that offer courses and diplomas that can help train you to kick start your career. 

Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) – National Certificate in Bookkeeping

ICB offers a course on the basics of bookkeeping suitable for people who are looking to start a bookkeeping career and determined to take the right steps on becoming a certified bookkeeper in South Africa. This course  will guide you on bookkeeping to trial balance, payroll and overall bookkeeping responsibilities.

• Course Duration: 12-18 months
• Approximate Cost: Between R7,000 and R9,000

YOU CAN APPLY FOR THE ICB CERTIFICATE HERE

UNISA – Diploma in Accounting Sciences

In this course students learn how to perform accounting and accounting reporting duties, Management accounting, Internal auditing, Taxation and Entrepreneurship.

• Course Duration: 3 years
• Approximate Cost: R3,500 – R6,000 per module

APPLY TO STUDY AT UNISA FOR THE ACCOUNTING DIPLOMA HERE

College SA – Bookkeeping: ICB National Certificate

This bookkeeping course is suitable for aspiring bookkeepers and offers the flexibility of studying part time while learning  all the important responsibilities of a bookkeeper and the softwares required.

• Course Duration: 12-24 months (self-paced)
• Approximate Cost: R12,000

APPLY FOR THE BOOKKEEPING CERTIFICATE HERE

Damelin – Bookkeeping and Accounting Course

If you are looking to learn basic bookkeeping and payroll processing then this course from Damelin is for you as it introduces you to all the essential foundations to become a bookkeeper.

• Course Duration: 12 months
• Approximate Cost: R8,500

APPLY FOR THE BOOKKEEPING & ACCOUNTING COURSE HERE

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How Much Does a Bookkeeper Earn in South Africa?

A bookkeeper’s salary varies based on different factors such as experience, qualification and where you are operating from. Here is an approximate expectation of a bookkeeper’s salary in South Africa

• Assistant Bookkeeper(entry-level): R8,000 – R15,000 per month
• Junior Bookkeeper (3-5 years experience): R14,000 – R25,000 per month
• Experienced Bookkeeper (over 5 years experience): R25,000 – R40,000 per month

Note that a bookkeeper working for a particular company and the one running their business may vary according to the number of clients they have per month and the kind of services they offer.

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Steps to Becoming a Bookkeeper in South Africa

1. Consider completing a course that is relevant to bookkeeping and gain a recognized certification that would prove competence. Consider institutions like ICB and UNISA for relevant courses.
2. Get hands-on experience by applying for either internships or consider entry level bookkeeping jobs to familiarize yourself with tools and softwares used in the bookkeeping South African industry.
3. Familiarize yourself with softwares like Quickbooks, Sage or Xero to develop relevant software proficiency and raise your chances of succeeding in the South African job market.
4. Even though it’s not always a requirement, getting certified with professional bodies like SAIPA and ICB may elevate your chances into getting better and more jobs.
5. You can start your own business and do freelance work for various small companies while giving you flexibility of working for yourself at your own pace while building your portfolio and resume.

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Starting a Bookkeeping Business in South Africa

Another way of making money through bookkeeping and building a flexible career is through starting your own bookkeeping business in South Africa and providing your services to small businesses who cannot yet afford a full time accounting staff. Here is a guide on how to start:

1. Choose the kind of business you want to start and Register Your Business:
   If you want to form a company then you need to register your company with CIPC. register with SARS as a provisional taxpayer and open a bank account for your business.
2. Explore the kind of Services you want to offer:
   You have to decide on the kind of services your business will be offering, you can choose this looking at your capabilities and what you excel at in the bookkeeping industry.
3. Create a Home Office for clients who want to meet in person:
   Some clients prefer talking face to face and they expect to find an office when they come over. You may need an office table, computer with accounting softwares, a reliable internet, a cabinet for storing client information and an extra chair for clients. 
4. Network and Market Your Services:
   The best way to find new clients is joining local networking groups, meeting people in person and making good connections. From there, register yourself on LinkedIn to meet more prospects,create a business website, open a  business page on social media platforms and share your work to reach your target market.
5. Build a Client Base:
   This is where good customer service comes into play, producing quality work with just one client can open doors for others as word of mouth travels faster and you can get clients through recommendations.

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Services You Can Offer in South Africa as a Bookkeeper

• Daily Transaction Recording
• Monthly reporting (recording transactions)
• Training staff and budgeting
• Payroll Management
• Financial forecasting
• Accounts Receivable and Payable Management
• Balancing books
• Corporation tax
• Bank Reconciliation
• Financial Statement Preparation
• Filing taxes and VAT Returns

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Sample Email to Request Study Leave from an Employer in South Africa to Attend A Bookkeeping Course

Here is an email template you can use to request leave at your current job to complete a bookkeeping course or certification.

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Final Tips for Becoming a Successful Bookkeeper

• Keep up with the frequent changes in the industry by taking refresher courses and attending workshops to stay updated on current tax laws and accounting rules.
• Expand your clientele by joining professional associations and networking groups that can lead to valuable partnerships or referrals.
• Maintain accuracy and confidentiality
• Great customer service skills will bring your more customers and maintain loyal clients too.