Kathryn Cooper

What is a Certified Bookkeeper (CB)?

In 1998, the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB) set the first and only national standard in advanced bookkeeping:  The Certified Bookkeeper Program.

A Certified Bookkeeper has the proven ability to handle the books for a company of up to 100 employees.

To become certified, a bookkeeper must:

1. Know basic bookkeeping, including double-entry accounting, before undertaking certification
2. Pass a national exam in advanced bookkeeping at Prometric Test Centers
3. Have at least 3,000 hours (2 years) of on-the-job experience in bookkeeping
4. Sign a Code of Ethics that assures commitment to integrity
5. Constantly update skills by earning 20 Continuing Education Credits every year

Here is how you benefit from using a Certified Bookkeeper . . .

• Help you get accurate financial statements and tax returns

• A CB is trained to record your year-end adjustments andprepare your adjusted trial balance-the last step before the financial statements and tax return are prepared.

• Find and correct any accounting errors in your company's books

A CB can find and correct errors in your books, trial balance and bank statements.  You have a bookkeeper who can correctly perform your monthly bank reconciliation

• Do your company's payroll

• Complete and file key federal forms
• Avoid misclassifying employees as independent contractors
• Save on overtime pay by knowing what paid time to include-or not to include-in overtime calculations

• Maximize depreciation for your financial statements and taxes

• Set up and maintain depreciation schedules for your firm's property, plant and equipment
• Depreciate vehicles, including employee business v. personal use
• Record depreciation for your financial statements under GAAP-and make sure you get all your depreciation and Sec. 179 deductions for tax purposes.

• Record and cost out your merchandise inventory
• Help you avoid costly losses from fraud and theft