1. What You Need to Know

A bookkeeper is the backbone of every finance team. They make sure the numbers add up. 

• Bookkeepers: 

  • Capture daily transactions 

  • Track income and expenses 

  • Reconcile accounts 

  • Support VAT and payroll submissions

  • Keep the business audit- and SARS-ready 

In short: Bookkeepers don’t just record numbers, they keep the whole financial system running. 

2. Why It Matters to You 

• Entry into finance: Bookkeeping is the gateway into the finance profession, you don’t need a degree, just willingness to learn. 

• Career stability: Every organisation needs a bookkeeper, your skills are in demand across sectors. 

• Earning power: With CIBA’s Chartered Bookkeeper (CBK) designation, you can charge more and prove your value. 

• Recognition: Many bookkeepers do the work but lack professional recognition. CIBA changes that. 

The Designation Advantage 

Anyone can call themselves a “bookkeeper.” But when you hold the Chartered Bookkeeper (CBK) designation, you show employers and clients that you are: 

• Trustworthy and reliable 

• Committed to ethics and lifelong learning 

• Accountable to a professional body 

• Recognised as a lower-risk, higher-value professional.

That’s why the CBK designation increases recognition and earning potential. It proves you’re more than “the accounts person.” 

3. Where Do Bookkeepers Work? 

Almost everywhere: 

• Accounting firms 

• SMEs and startups 

• Government departments 

• NGOs 

• Schools and hospitals 

• Freelance and remote roles.

 Where there’s money, there’s a need for bookkeeping. 

4. How Much Do Bookkeepers Earn? 

• Entry level: R8,000 – R15,000/month 

• Mid-level: R15,000 – R25,000/month 

• Senior: R25,000 – R35,000+/month 

• Freelance: R200 – R450/hour.

Becoming a Chartered Bookkeeper (CBK) increases both earning power and job security. 

5. Skills You Need 

• Attention to detail 

• Basic accounting knowledge 

• Communication skills 

• Ethics and integrity 

• Software skills (e.g., Sage, Xero, QuickBooks).

Career Path 

Start → Bookkeeper 
Next → Assistant Accountant 
Then → Financial Manager or start own practice 
Eventually → Chartered CFO or Sector Specialist.

Each step brings more responsibility, income, and recognition. 

6. How to Apply / Use This Role 

• Start by joining CIBA membership recognises your role as a finance professional. 

• Apply for the Chartered Bookkeeper (CBK) designation: prove your competence to clients and employers. 

• Keep learning, CPD courses and software training keep your skills relevant. 

• Build your career map using CIBA’s designation ladder to grow from bookkeeper to CFO. 

7. Common Mistakes to Avoid 

• Thinking bookkeeping is “just admin” instead of the foundation of business survival. 

• Working without recognition or without a professional body, your value is often overlooked. 

• Ignoring software skills as today’s bookkeepers must be tech-competent. 

• Stopping your career journey, bookkeeping is a start, not a ceiling. 

8. Related Resources 

• PDF: Guide to Becoming a Chartered Bookkeeper (CBK) 

• CPD: Essential Bookkeeping Skills: VAT, Payroll, and Reconciliations 

• Related Knowledge Centre topics: Financial Administrator, The Role of the Finance Department 

9. Need Help? 

• Any assistance required for technical enquiries, membership related queries, access to the system you need to log into your member profile and:

  Submit a support ticket