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Free Full Charge Bookkeeper Job Descriptions

Free full charge bookkeeper job description templates for small business: general, construction, restaurant, nonprofit, QuickBooks, and combined. DOCX.

Nick Anisimov

Nick Anisimov

FirstHR Founder

Hiring
16 min

Full Charge Bookkeeper Job Description Templates

6 free templates for the solo bookkeeper who runs your whole back office: general, construction, restaurant, nonprofit, QuickBooks, and combined, with the FLSA and role guidance the generic templates skip. Download as DOCX.

A full charge bookkeeper is solely responsible for an organization's complete accounting cycle: accounts payable and receivable, payroll, reconciliations, the general ledger, month-end close, and financial statements, usually reporting straight to the owner. The full charge in the title means in full charge of the books. It is the role most small businesses reach for when bookkeeping becomes a real job but the company is not yet large enough for a controller.

These six templates cover the role across settings: general small business, construction, restaurant, nonprofit, QuickBooks-focused, and a combined bookkeeper and office manager. For a small business without an accounting or HR department, where one trusted person runs the whole back office, the general template and the role and classification guidance are written for exactly that. For the fundamentals behind any posting, the guide to writing a job description helps, and FirstHR runs the onboarding once you hire.

TL;DR
A full charge bookkeeper runs an organization's entire accounting cycle solo: A/P, A/R, payroll, reconciliations, the general ledger, month-end close, and financial statements. It sits above a regular bookkeeper and below a controller, and is most common in small businesses without a controller. Despite the senior title, the role is usually FLSA non-exempt and hourly. The closest federal occupation reports a median of $49,210 (May 2024). Download six templates as DOCX, by industry.

What a Full Charge Bookkeeper Does

A full charge bookkeeper runs the complete set of books on their own: paying bills, invoicing and collecting, running payroll, reconciling accounts, closing the month, and producing financial statements the owner can actually use. The defining feature is independence: this is one person owning the whole cycle, not a clerk handling one piece under supervision.

There is no separate federal occupation code for the title; the closest is bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks, which captures the recording-and-reconciling nature of the work. The role lives most naturally in smaller organizations that need someone to run the back office but do not yet need a controller. What stays constant is the full-cycle ownership; what changes is the industry, which is why the six templates here are split by setting rather than offering one generic version.

Duties and Responsibilities

Full charge bookkeeper duties group into accounts and payroll, general ledger and close, reporting and tax, and ownership and controls. The industry shifts the specifics, but these four areas hold across the role. These are the responsibilities grouped the way the templates use them.

Accounts and payroll
Manage accounts payable and receivable
Process payroll and payroll taxes
Handle billing, collections, and vendors
General ledger and close
Maintain the general ledger
Reconcile bank and credit card accounts
Perform month-end and year-end close
Reporting and tax
Prepare financial statements
File sales and payroll taxes
Support the outside CPA and audits
Ownership and controls
Own the full books end to end
Maintain accurate, organized records
Keep financial information confidential

A strong posting picks the responsibilities from each area and adds the industry specifics that match your business, from construction job costing to nonprofit fund accounting. For a structured way to scope any role before posting, the guide to defining job responsibilities walks through the process.

Full Charge vs Bookkeeper vs Controller

The accounting titles form a ladder, and naming the right rung is the first decision before posting, because each draws a different candidate and pay band.

RoleScopeLevel
Regular bookkeeperRecords transactions, parts of the cycleSupervised, non-exempt
Full charge bookkeeperOwns the entire cycle, makes statementsIndependent, usually non-exempt
Staff accountantJournal entries, analysis, supportMore formal training
ControllerManages the accounting function and staffManagerial, exempt

A regular bookkeeper handles pieces under supervision; a full charge bookkeeper owns everything; a staff accountant brings more formal training; a controller manages the function. Most small businesses need a full charge bookkeeper, not a controller, and not just a junior clerk.

Which Template Should You Use?

Pick the template by industry and setup; the company, software, and pay go in the fields. All six share the same full-cycle skeleton, but each adds the specifics that fit a particular kind of business. Use this guide to choose.

General / Small Business
The solo, full-cycle role
The flagship version: one trusted person running the entire bookkeeping cycle for a small business without a full accounting department. The baseline to adapt.
Construction
Job costing, WIP, certified payroll
The construction version: full-cycle books plus job costing, work-in-progress, certified payroll, lien waivers, and progress billing.
Restaurant / Hospitality
POS, tips, location P&L
The hospitality version: full-cycle books plus daily sales and POS reconciliations, tip reporting, and location-level profit and loss.
Nonprofit
Fund and grant accounting
The nonprofit version: full-cycle books plus fund accounting, grant tracking and allocation, restricted funds, and board and funder reporting.
QuickBooks-Focused
For QuickBooks shops
The software-specific version: the full cycle run in QuickBooks Online or Desktop, for the many small businesses that live in QuickBooks.
Bookkeeper / Office Manager
Combined back-office role
The combined version: full-cycle bookkeeping plus office management and basic HR tasks, for the smallest businesses that need one back-office hire.
Match the Template to Your Business
A small business needing one person on the full books? General / Small Business. A contractor with job costing? Construction. Restaurants with POS and tips? Restaurant / Hospitality. A nonprofit with grants? Nonprofit. Running everything in QuickBooks? QuickBooks-Focused. The smallest shop needing books plus the office handled? Bookkeeper / Office Manager.

6 Free Full Charge Bookkeeper Job Description Templates

Download all six as a single Word document or copy individual templates. Each follows the same structure: a company brief, a job summary framing the full-cycle mandate, responsibilities, requirements, and a compensation note. Fill in the brackets before you post.

Download All 6 Job Description Templates
General, construction, restaurant, nonprofit, QuickBooks, and combined office manager. All in one DOCX.

Template 1: General / Small Business

The flagship version: one trusted person running the entire bookkeeping cycle for a small business without a full accounting department. The baseline to adapt.

Full Charge Bookkeeper Job Description (General / Small Business)
FULL CHARGE BOOKKEEPER JOB DESCRIPTION (GENERAL / SMALL BUSINESS)
Company: __
Location: __ [ ] On-site [ ] Hybrid
Reports to: [Owner / President / Office Manager]
Employment type: Full-time
FLSA classification: Non-exempt (hourly) [confirm; see note]
Compensation: $_____ per year [or per hour]

ABOUT [COMPANY NAME]

[One or two sentences about your company, its size, and why you
need someone to own the full books rather than a junior clerk.]

JOB SUMMARY

[Company Name] is hiring a Full Charge Bookkeeper to own our entire
bookkeeping cycle. Unlike a junior bookkeeper, you will run the
full set of books on your own: accounts payable and receivable,
payroll, bank and credit card reconciliations, the general ledger,
month-end close, and financial statements. This is the right role
for a small business that needs one trusted person to run the back
office without a full accounting department.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

ACCOUNTS AND PAYROLL
Manage accounts payable and accounts receivable
Process payroll and remit payroll taxes
Manage billing, collections, and vendor payments
GENERAL LEDGER AND CLOSE
Maintain the general ledger and chart of accounts
Reconcile bank and credit card accounts
Perform month-end and year-end close
REPORTING AND COMPLIANCE
Prepare financial statements and management reports
Prepare and file sales and payroll tax filings
Support the outside CPA at tax time and audits

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

[3-5]+ years of full-cycle bookkeeping experience
Strong knowledge of A/P, A/R, payroll, and GL
Experience with accounting software [QuickBooks, etc.]
Solid understanding of month-end close and reconciliations
Accurate, organized, discreet, and self-directed
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Associate or bachelor's degree in accounting a plus
Experience in [your industry]
Payroll and sales tax filing experience

COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY

Compensation: $_____ per year [or per hour]
Benefits: __
To apply, send your resume to __.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.

Template 2: Construction Full Charge Bookkeeper

The construction version: full-cycle books plus job costing, work-in-progress, certified payroll, lien waivers, and progress billing.

Construction Full Charge Bookkeeper Job Description
CONSTRUCTION FULL CHARGE BOOKKEEPER JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __ (construction / contractor)
Location: __
Reports to: [Owner / Controller]
Employment type: Full-time
FLSA classification: Non-exempt (hourly) [confirm; see note]
Compensation: $_____ per year

JOB SUMMARY

[Company Name] is hiring a Full Charge Bookkeeper with construction
experience to own the full books with construction-specific
accounting. Beyond standard A/P, A/R, payroll, and close, you will
handle job costing, work-in-progress, certified payroll, lien
waivers, and progress billing. This role keeps our project
finances accurate and our projects profitable.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Run full-cycle bookkeeping: A/P, A/R, payroll, GL, close
Maintain job costing and track costs by project
Manage work-in-progress (WIP) schedules
Process certified payroll where required
Track and manage lien waivers and compliance
Handle progress billing and AIA-style billing
Reconcile accounts and prepare financial statements
Support the CPA and any project audits

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

[3-5]+ years of full-charge bookkeeping in construction
Strong job costing and WIP experience
Knowledge of certified payroll and lien waivers
Experience with construction accounting software
Accurate, organized, and deadline-driven
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Experience with AIA billing and progress billing
Familiarity with prevailing wage requirements
Accounting degree or coursework a plus

COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY

Compensation: $_____ per year
Benefits: __
To apply, send your resume to __.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
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Template 3: Restaurant / Hospitality

The hospitality version: full-cycle books plus daily sales and POS reconciliations, tip reporting, and location-level profit and loss.

Restaurant / Hospitality Full Charge Bookkeeper Job Description
RESTAURANT / HOSPITALITY FULL CHARGE BOOKKEEPER JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __ (restaurant group / hospitality)
Location: __
Reports to: [Owner / General Manager]
Employment type: Full-time
FLSA classification: Non-exempt (hourly) [confirm; see note]
Compensation: $_____ per year

JOB SUMMARY

[Company Name] is hiring a Full Charge Bookkeeper with restaurant
or hospitality experience to own the books across our location(s).
You will run full-cycle bookkeeping with hospitality-specific work:
daily sales and POS reconciliations, tip reporting, location-level
profit and loss, food and labor cost tracking, and vendor
management. Accurate numbers help us manage tight margins.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Run full-cycle bookkeeping: A/P, A/R, payroll, GL, close
Reconcile daily sales and POS reports
Manage tip reporting and tip-credit compliance
Prepare location-level profit and loss statements
Track food, beverage, and labor cost percentages
Manage vendor invoices and payments
Process payroll across locations
Prepare sales tax filings and support the CPA

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

[3-5]+ years of full-charge bookkeeping, hospitality a plus
Experience with POS and daily sales reconciliations
Understanding of tip reporting and labor cost
Experience with restaurant accounting software
Accurate, organized, and comfortable with high volume
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Multi-location restaurant experience
Knowledge of tip-credit and hospitality payroll rules
Accounting degree or coursework a plus

COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY

Compensation: $_____ per year
Benefits: __
To apply, send your resume to __.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.

Template 4: Nonprofit Full Charge Bookkeeper

The nonprofit version: full-cycle books plus fund accounting, grant tracking and allocation, restricted funds, and board and funder reporting.

Nonprofit Full Charge Bookkeeper Job Description
NONPROFIT FULL CHARGE BOOKKEEPER JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __ (nonprofit organization)
Location: __
Reports to: [Executive Director / Finance Committee]
Employment type: [ ] Full-time [ ] Part-time
FLSA classification: Non-exempt (hourly) [confirm; see note]
Compensation: $_____ per year [or per hour]

JOB SUMMARY

[Organization Name] is hiring a Full Charge Bookkeeper with
nonprofit experience to own our books and grant accounting. You
will run full-cycle bookkeeping with nonprofit-specific work: fund
accounting, grant tracking and allocation, restricted versus
unrestricted funds, budgets, and reports for the board and funders.
Clean, transparent books protect our funding and our mission.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Run full-cycle bookkeeping: A/P, A/R, payroll, GL, close
Maintain fund accounting and track restricted funds
Allocate expenses across grants and programs
Track grant budgets, spending, and reporting deadlines
Prepare board and funder financial reports
Support the annual audit and Form 990 preparation
Manage payroll and vendor payments
Reconcile accounts and maintain documentation

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

[3-5]+ years of full-charge bookkeeping, nonprofit a plus
Experience with fund and grant accounting
Understanding of restricted vs unrestricted funds
Experience with nonprofit accounting software
Detail-oriented, organized, and mission-aligned
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Experience supporting audits and Form 990
Grant compliance and allocation experience
Accounting degree or coursework a plus

COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY

Compensation: $_____ per year [or per hour]
Benefits: __
To apply, send your resume to __.
[Organization Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
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Template 5: QuickBooks-Focused

The software-specific version: the full cycle run in QuickBooks Online or Desktop, for the many small businesses that live in QuickBooks.

Full Charge Bookkeeper Job Description (QuickBooks-Focused)
FULL CHARGE BOOKKEEPER JOB DESCRIPTION (QUICKBOOKS-FOCUSED)
Company: __
Location: __
Reports to: [Owner / Office Manager]
Employment type: Full-time
FLSA classification: Non-exempt (hourly) [confirm; see note]
Compensation: $_____ per year [or per hour]

JOB SUMMARY

[Company Name] runs its accounting on QuickBooks, and we are hiring
a Full Charge Bookkeeper who knows it inside and out to own our
full books. You will manage the entire cycle in QuickBooks:
A/P, A/R, payroll, bank feeds and reconciliations, the general
ledger, month-end close, and reporting. Strong QuickBooks skills
are essential.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Own full-cycle bookkeeping in QuickBooks
Manage A/P, A/R, and vendor and customer records
Process payroll in QuickBooks or an integrated system
Reconcile bank feeds, credit cards, and accounts
Maintain the chart of accounts and general ledger
Run month-end close and generate reports
Prepare sales and payroll tax filings
Keep QuickBooks clean, accurate, and backed up

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

[3-5]+ years of full-charge bookkeeping in QuickBooks
Expert with QuickBooks Online or Desktop
Strong A/P, A/R, payroll, and reconciliation skills
Experience with month-end close and reporting
Accurate, organized, and self-directed
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
QuickBooks ProAdvisor certification a plus
Experience migrating or cleaning up QuickBooks files
Accounting degree or coursework a plus

COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY

Compensation: $_____ per year [or per hour]
Benefits: __
To apply, send your resume to __.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.

Template 6: Bookkeeper / Office Manager (Combined Role)

The combined version: full-cycle bookkeeping plus office management and basic HR tasks, for the smallest businesses that need one back-office hire.

Bookkeeper / Office Manager Job Description (Combined Role)
BOOKKEEPER / OFFICE MANAGER JOB DESCRIPTION (COMBINED ROLE)
Company: __ (small business)
Location: __
Reports to: [Owner / President]
Employment type: Full-time
FLSA classification: Non-exempt (hourly) [confirm; see note]
Compensation: $_____ per year [or per hour]

JOB SUMMARY

[Company Name] is a small business hiring a combined Bookkeeper and
Office Manager to run both the books and the office. On the
accounting side, you will own full-cycle bookkeeping: A/P, A/R,
payroll, reconciliations, close, and reporting. On the office side,
you will handle administration, vendors, and basic HR tasks. This
is a true wear-many-hats role for an organized, trustworthy person.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

BOOKKEEPING
Run full-cycle bookkeeping: A/P, A/R, payroll, GL, close
Reconcile accounts and prepare financial statements
Prepare sales and payroll tax filings
OFFICE AND ADMIN
Manage office operations, supplies, and vendors
Handle basic HR tasks: onboarding paperwork, records
Support the owner with administration and scheduling

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

[3]+ years of full-cycle bookkeeping
Comfortable owning both books and office operations
Experience with accounting software [QuickBooks, etc.]
Highly organized, discreet, and able to multitask
Strong communication and follow-through
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Office management or HR-support experience
Accounting degree or coursework a plus
Experience in [your industry]

NOTE ON CLASSIFICATION (read before posting)

Bookkeeping and office work are typically non-exempt and overtime
eligible, even when combined. Classify on the actual duties and
salary, not the title. This is general information, not legal
advice.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, send your resume to __.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.

Classification, Scope, and Controls

This is the part the generic templates skip, and the part that matters most for a full charge bookkeeper hire: the FLSA classification the senior title does not decide, what full charge actually means, the internal controls a solo bookkeeper calls for, and the disambiguation among accounting roles. Get these right and your posting attracts the right person and protects the business.

A full charge bookkeeper is usually non-exempt and owed overtime
Despite the senior-sounding title, a full charge bookkeeper is typically a non-exempt, hourly role entitled to overtime for hours over forty in a week. The Department of Labor is explicit that accounting clerks, bookkeepers, and other employees who perform a great deal of routine work generally do not qualify as exempt learned professionals, even when they handle the full cycle. The common small-business mistake is assuming that because this person runs all the books, they must be salaried-exempt. The exemption depends on the actual duties and salary against the federal tests, not on the title or the breadth of the work. Misclassifying a full charge bookkeeper as exempt and not paying overtime is a real and frequent FLSA violation. Classify carefully, confirm against the current thresholds and any stricter state rules, and state the classification clearly in the posting. This is general information, not legal advice.
Full charge means solely responsible for the whole cycle
The full charge part of the title is what separates this role from a regular bookkeeper. A full charge bookkeeper is solely responsible for an organization's complete accounting cycle, from accounts payable and receivable through payroll, reconciliations, the general ledger, month-end close, and financial statements, often reporting straight to the owner. This is why the role lives most naturally in smaller organizations that do not need a controller. As a company grows, oversight of the accounting function typically shifts up to a controller, and the full charge bookkeeper's scope narrows. When you write the posting, make clear that you need someone to own the full books independently, not a clerk who handles one piece under supervision. That single distinction attracts the right, more experienced candidates. This is general information, not legal advice.
Handling all the money calls for basic internal controls
Because a full charge bookkeeper touches every part of the money, a small business should pair the role with a few simple internal controls rather than relying on trust alone. Practical safeguards include the owner reviewing and signing checks or approving large payments, the owner or an outside CPA reviewing monthly bank statements and reconciliations, and an annual review or compilation by an outside accountant. None of this signals distrust; it is standard practice that protects both the business and the bookkeeper, who is better off with clear oversight than with sole, unchecked control of the books. Separating at least one duty, such as having statements come to the owner unopened, goes a long way. Build these expectations into the role from the start. This is general information, not legal or accounting advice.
Know whether you need a bookkeeper, full charge, or controller
These three roles form a ladder. A regular bookkeeper records transactions and handles pieces of the cycle, often under supervision. A full charge bookkeeper owns the entire cycle independently and produces financial statements, suited to a small business without a controller. A controller is a managerial accountant who oversees the accounting function, sets policy, manages staff, and is exempt and paid considerably more. A staff accountant sits near the bookkeeper level but with more formal accounting training. Most small businesses with five to fifty employees need a full charge bookkeeper, not a controller, and not just a junior clerk. Decide which level your finances actually require, since posting the wrong title either overpays for oversight you do not need or undersells the independence you do. This is general information, not legal advice.
Usually Non-Exempt, Despite the Title
The Department of Labor is explicit that bookkeepers and accounting clerks who do a great deal of routine work generally do not meet the learned professional exemption, so a full charge bookkeeper is typically non-exempt and hourly, owed overtime. The senior-sounding title does not make the role exempt; classify on the actual duties and salary.

For the full classification picture, the exempt vs non-exempt guide covers the duties tests that decide whether the role is owed overtime.

Skills and Requirements

Requirements for a full charge bookkeeper center on full-cycle experience, accounting software fluency, and the judgment to run the books independently. The SHRM job description tools describe a good job description as a plain-language summary of a role's real duties and requirements, which for this role means demonstrable full-cycle skills, not a generic list.

Weak requirementStrong requirement
Good with numbers3+ years of full-cycle bookkeeping experience
Knows accountingOwns A/P, A/R, payroll, GL, and month-end close
Software skillsProficient in QuickBooks or your accounting system
Detail-orientedReconciles accounts and produces financial statements
TrustworthyHandles confidential financials with sound judgment

Set the bar at full-cycle ownership, software fluency, and the specific industry experience your books require, and keep every line job-related and neutral. The EEOC rules on job advertisements prohibit postings that express preferences based on protected characteristics, so the demands of the role belong in the posting written as the job's requirements.

Full Charge Bookkeeper Pay

Full charge bookkeepers are paid by salary or hourly, with pay varying by industry, region, and experience. Anchor on federal data, then adjust for the full-cycle scope and your market.

Median $49,210 for Bookkeeping Clerks (BLS)
There is no separate federal code for the title; the closest, bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks, had a median annual wage of $49,210 (about $23.66 an hour) as of the May 2024 data, the 10th percentile under $34,600 and the 90th over $72,660. Industry medians ranged from about $45,030 in retail to $51,670 in construction. Market data for the full charge title specifically runs somewhat higher, given the full-cycle scope.

Because a full charge bookkeeper owns the entire cycle rather than a slice of it, pay for the title tends to land in the high forties to mid sixties depending on location and industry, above the broad clerk median. Construction and professional services pay toward the upper end. Benchmark to your specific industry and local market rather than to a single national number, and publish a range where required. This is general information, not compensation advice.

Do You Need a Full Charge Bookkeeper?

A large company has a finance team with a controller on top. A small business does not, which is exactly why the full charge bookkeeper exists: one experienced person who owns the whole back office and reports to the owner. The owner usually writes the posting and onboards the hire themselves. Here is how to tell whether you need this role, and how it differs from the alternatives.

Full charge bookkeeper vs regular bookkeeper
The difference is scope and independence. A regular bookkeeper records transactions and handles parts of the accounting cycle, such as entering bills, recording deposits, or running payroll, usually under someone's supervision and rarely producing full financial statements. A full charge bookkeeper is solely responsible for the entire cycle: A/P, A/R, payroll, reconciliations, the general ledger, month-end close, and financial statements, typically reporting directly to the owner. The full charge in the title literally means in full charge of the books. If you need someone to own everything and hand you statements, you need a full charge bookkeeper and should say so, since it sets the experience bar higher and the pay along with it. If you only need transaction entry under your eye, a regular bookkeeper is enough.
Full charge bookkeeper vs controller vs staff accountant
These sit at different levels. A full charge bookkeeper owns the day-to-day full cycle and produces statements, ideal for a small business without a controller. A controller is a managerial role that oversees the entire accounting function, sets policy, may manage a team including bookkeepers, and handles higher-level analysis and compliance; it is an exempt, salaried role at meaningfully higher pay. A staff accountant has more formal accounting training and may handle journal entries, analysis, and support for a controller, often in a larger finance team. As a small company grows, the accounting oversight usually shifts from a full charge bookkeeper up to a controller. Hire the level your scale requires: most small businesses need a full charge bookkeeper, and bring in a controller only when the finance function outgrows one person.
When does a small business need a full charge bookkeeper?
The signal is when bookkeeping has become a real, ongoing job that the owner can no longer do well on the side, but the business is not yet large enough to justify a controller or a full finance team. If you are behind on reconciliations, unsure of your true profit, scrambling at tax time, or spending nights on the books instead of running the business, that is the point. A full charge bookkeeper takes the entire back office off the owner's plate: paying bills, invoicing, running payroll, closing the month, and handing over clean statements. It is the natural first dedicated finance hire for a small business, often combined with office management at the very smallest scale, and it stays the right answer until the company grows enough to need a controller above it.

After You Hire: Onboarding a Full Charge Bookkeeper

Onboarding a full charge bookkeeper deserves extra care because the role owns the money from day one. A clean, well-documented start, with system access provisioned deliberately and a few internal controls agreed up front, sets up both the bookkeeper and the business for a trusting, well-run relationship.

Send the offer
Confirm the title, pay, and classification in writing. An offer letter with e-signature makes the terms clear and starts the hire.
Set up access and controls
Because this role owns the money, provision system access deliberately and agree on the owner review and reconciliation controls from day one.
Hand over the books
Walk the new bookkeeper through your chart of accounts, software, and close process so they can take ownership cleanly.
Store the records
Keep the signed offer, I-9 and W-4, and policy acknowledgments organized and accessible, the same discipline the role brings to the books.

Once the offer is ready, the offer letter template handles the hire with the title, pay, and classification stated, and the onboarding template gives a structured start. FirstHR connects the offer, e-signature, I-9 and W-4 paperwork, policy acknowledgments, and onboarding workflow in one place, so a small business can bring on the person who runs its books with a consistent, well-documented process and keep the records organized. FirstHR is an HR and onboarding platform, not an accounting, bookkeeping, or payroll system, and it does not run payroll or administer benefits, so pair it with your accounting software and payroll provider. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR.

Key Takeaways
A full charge bookkeeper is solely responsible for the entire accounting cycle: A/P, A/R, payroll, reconciliations, close, and financial statements.
Use the template that matches your business: general, construction, restaurant, nonprofit, QuickBooks, or combined office manager.
The role sits above a regular bookkeeper and below a controller, and is most common in small businesses without a controller.
Despite the senior title, a full charge bookkeeper is usually FLSA non-exempt and hourly; classify on the actual duties, not the title.
Because the role handles all the money, pair it with simple internal controls like owner review of statements and reconciliations.
Pay is hourly or salaried; the closest federal occupation reports a median of $49,210 (May 2024), with the full charge title running higher.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a full charge bookkeeper?

A full charge bookkeeper is a bookkeeper who is solely responsible for an organization's complete accounting cycle. The full charge in the title means in full charge of the books: accounts payable and receivable, payroll, bank and credit card reconciliations, the general ledger, month-end and year-end close, and financial statements, usually reporting directly to the owner. This is a step above a regular bookkeeper, who typically handles pieces of the cycle under supervision, and a step below a controller, who manages the accounting function at a higher level. The role is most commonly found in smaller organizations that need someone to run the whole back office but do not yet need a controller. As a company grows, oversight of accounting usually shifts up to a controller and the full charge bookkeeper's scope narrows. This is general information, not legal advice.

What are a full charge bookkeeper's duties and responsibilities?

A full charge bookkeeper's duties cover the entire accounting cycle, grouped into accounts and payroll, general ledger and close, reporting and tax, and ownership and controls. Accounts and payroll: managing accounts payable and receivable, processing payroll and payroll taxes, and handling billing and collections. General ledger and close: maintaining the general ledger, reconciling bank and credit card accounts, and performing month-end and year-end close. Reporting and tax: preparing financial statements, filing sales and payroll taxes, and supporting the outside CPA at tax time and during audits. Ownership and controls: owning the full books, keeping accurate records, and maintaining confidentiality. Industry versions add specifics: construction adds job costing and certified payroll, restaurants add POS reconciliations and tip reporting, nonprofits add fund and grant accounting. A strong posting names the responsibilities that match your business. This is general information, not legal advice.

What is the difference between a full charge bookkeeper and a regular bookkeeper?

The difference is scope and independence. A regular bookkeeper records transactions and handles parts of the accounting cycle, such as entering bills, recording deposits, or running payroll, usually under supervision, and often does not produce full financial statements. A full charge bookkeeper is solely responsible for the entire cycle, from A/P and A/R through payroll, reconciliations, the general ledger, month-end close, and financial statements, typically reporting directly to the owner rather than to an accountant. The full charge in the title literally means in full charge of the books. The practical implication for hiring is that a full charge role demands more experience and judgment and commands higher pay, so if you need someone to own everything and hand you finished statements, post for a full charge bookkeeper rather than a general one. This is general information, not legal advice.

Is a full charge bookkeeper exempt or non-exempt under the FLSA?

A full charge bookkeeper is usually non-exempt and paid hourly, entitled to overtime for hours over forty in a week, despite the senior-sounding title. The Department of Labor is explicit that accounting clerks, bookkeepers, and similar employees who perform a great deal of routine work generally do not qualify as exempt learned professionals. The common small-business mistake is assuming that because this person handles all the books, they must be salaried-exempt; the exemption depends on the actual duties and salary against the federal tests, not on the breadth of the work or the title. Some full charge roles with substantial discretion and a qualifying salary could be exempt, but many are not, and misclassifying the role and failing to pay overtime is a frequent FLSA violation. Classify on the real duties and salary, check current thresholds and stricter state rules, and confirm borderline cases. This is general information, not legal advice.

When does a small business need a full charge bookkeeper?

A small business needs a full charge bookkeeper when bookkeeping has become a real, ongoing job the owner can no longer do well on the side, but the company is not yet large enough to justify a controller or a finance team. Telltale signs include falling behind on reconciliations, not knowing your true profit, scrambling at tax time, or spending nights on the books instead of running the business. A full charge bookkeeper takes the entire back office off the owner's plate: paying bills, invoicing, running payroll, closing the month, and producing clean financial statements. It is typically the first dedicated finance hire for a small business, sometimes combined with office management at the very smallest scale. It remains the right answer until the company grows enough that accounting needs managerial oversight, at which point a controller is added above the bookkeeper. This is general information, not legal advice.

How much does a full charge bookkeeper make?

Full charge bookkeepers are paid by salary or hourly, with pay varying by region, industry, and experience. There is no separate federal occupation code for the title; the closest is bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks, which had a median annual wage of $49,210, about $23.66 an hour, as of the May 2024 federal data, with the lowest 10 percent under $34,600 and the highest 10 percent over $72,660. Because full charge bookkeepers own the entire cycle, market data for the title specifically tends to run somewhat higher than the broad clerk median, commonly in the high forties to mid sixties depending on location and industry. Industry medians vary too, with construction and professional services toward the upper end. For a posting, benchmark to your specific industry and local market rather than to a single national number, and publish a range where required. This is general information, not compensation advice.

Should a full charge bookkeeper have internal controls around them?

Yes. Because a full charge bookkeeper touches every part of the money, a small business should pair the role with a few simple internal controls rather than relying on trust alone. Practical safeguards include the owner reviewing and signing checks or approving payments over a threshold, the owner or an outside CPA reviewing monthly bank statements and reconciliations, and an annual review or compilation by an outside accountant. Having bank statements delivered to the owner unopened, or accessible directly to the owner online, separates at least one key duty. None of this signals distrust; it is standard practice that protects the business and the bookkeeper alike, since clear oversight is better for everyone than sole, unchecked control of the books. Build these expectations into the role and the onboarding from the start. This is general information, not legal or accounting advice.

What should a full charge bookkeeper job description include?

A strong full charge bookkeeper job description first makes clear that the role owns the entire accounting cycle independently, not just pieces under supervision, since that distinction sets the experience bar. It should include a brief about the company and its size, a job summary that frames the solo, full-cycle mandate, and responsibilities grouped into accounts and payroll, general ledger and close, reporting and tax, and ownership and controls. The qualifications should state the years of full-cycle experience, the accounting software used, and any industry specifics like construction job costing or nonprofit fund accounting. The most valuable additions that generic templates skip are the practical ones: an honest FLSA non-exempt classification, a note on internal controls given the role handles all the money, and a clear distinction from a regular bookkeeper and a controller. Close with a realistic pay range, an equal opportunity statement, and apply instructions. This is general information, not legal advice.

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