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Bookkeeper

Also called book-keeper, accounts clerk, accounting clerk

Bookkeepers record and assemble the day-to-day financial transactions of an organisation or company, consisting usually of sales, purchases, payments and receipts. They ensure all financial transactions are documented in the appropriate (day) book and general ledger, and that they are balanced out. Bookkeepers prepare the recorded books and ledgers with financial transactions for an accountant to then analyse balance sheets and income statements.

Will there be jobs?Average prospects25 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Business and administration associate professionalsWhat does it pay?About averageFrom about €1,600 (Bulgaria) to €6,300 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Business and administration associate professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually post-secondary or a short degree5 in 10 have a degree. 3 in 10 train through vocational routes.Business and administration associate professionalsWill AI change it?ModeratelyLevel 4 of 6. AI could take on part of most tasks, but none fully.Accounting associate professionals · ILO

What you'd do

Accounting associate professionals · ILO
  • Maintaining complete records of all financial transactions of an undertaking according to general bookkeeping principles, with guidance from Accountants
  • Verifying accuracy of documents and records relating to payments, receipts and other financial transactions
  • Preparing financial statements and reports for specified periods
  • Applying knowledge of bookkeeping principles and practices in order to identify and solve problems arising in the course of their work
  • Using standard computer software packages to perform accounting and related calculations
  • Supervising the work of accounts and bookkeeping clerks
Prepare trial accounting balancesUse accounting systemsAttach accounting certificates to accounting transactionsManage the general ledgerIdentify accounting errors+ 4 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • Sitting most of the day
  • Lots of contact with people, including the public
  • Some freedom to decide
  • Usually 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Very repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks"

Will there be jobs?

Average prospects

A typical number of jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as business and administration associate professionals in the EU
13.29m14.1m14.28m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
55,000 new jobs 3,460,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Business and administration associate professionals25
All jobs29
Right now
6 of 27 countries report a shortage of accounting associate professionals, 7 a surplus.
Accounting associate professionals · EURES

What does it pay?

About average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,600 a month (Bulgaria) to €6,300 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among technicians and associate professionals in the EU, women earn 16% less per hour than men. Technicians and associate professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually post-secondary or a short degree

Post-secondary training or a short degree in accounting and taxation is the usual route.

Highest qualification of business and administration associate professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 51%Vocational 31%General secondary 13%Basic schooling 6%
Fields that teach it
Accounting and taxation · Law
Vocational route, EU
3 in 10 trainees in this field
Business and law graduates in a matching job
66% in the EU

1,314 institutions in the EU offer business and law bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Moderately

AI could take on part of most tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.49 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 6 tasks
Using standard computer software packages to perform accounting and related calculations0.66
Preparing financial statements and reports for specified periods0.61
Verifying accuracy of documents and records relating to payments, receipts and other financial transactions0.51
Maintaining complete records of all financial transactions of an undertaking according to general bookkeeping principles, with guidance from Accountants0.45
Applying knowledge of bookkeeping principles and practices in order to identify and solve problems arising in the course of their work0.39
Supervising the work of accounts and bookkeeping clerks0.33

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for accounting associate professionals. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).