Bookkeeper job description

A template for a full-cycle bookkeeper, with bookkeeper pay in Ontario and a builder that turns it into a posting that meets Ontario's 2026 rules.

Build an Ontario posting

Template

This template is for an in-house bookkeeper, full-time or part-time, who keeps the books ready for your accountant.

Plain text, ready to paste into Indeed, LinkedIn or your careers page

Bookkeeper

[Company name], [City, Province]
[Full-time / Part-time], [schedule]

About us

[Company name] [one or two sentences on what you do, who your customers are and how big the team is].

What you'll do

  • Record daily transactions in [QuickBooks, Xero or Sage].
  • Reconcile bank and credit card accounts every month.
  • Manage accounts payable and accounts receivable, including collections follow-up.
  • Prepare customer invoices and track payments.
  • Prepare payroll information or run payroll through [payroll provider].
  • Prepare HST filings and payroll remittances for review.
  • Close the books each month and support the year-end with our external accountant.

What you bring

  • [2+] years of full-cycle bookkeeping experience.
  • Strong working knowledge of [QuickBooks, Xero or Sage].
  • Understanding of HST and payroll remittances to the CRA.
  • Accounting certificate or diploma is an asset.
  • Accuracy, discretion and the habit of documenting your work.

Pay and benefits

[$X.XX to $Y.YY] per hour, plus [benefits, vacation days, flexible hours].

How to apply

Send your resume to [email or application link]. [Add the Ontario disclosures from the builder below if you have 25 or more employees.]

Bookkeeper pay by province

Hourly wages Job Bank reports for accounting technicians and bookkeepers (NOC 12200). Use the median as a starting point for an experienced hire and the low end for entry level.

Hourly wages for accounting technicians and bookkeepers by province, Job Bank
Province or territoryLowMedianHigh
Ontario$19.23$28.50$46.15
British Columbia$19.44$28.00$47.45
Alberta$20.00$30.00$50.96
Saskatchewan$18.00$27.16$43.27
Manitoba$17.00$25.00$40.85
Quebec$20.25$28.02$43.75
New Brunswick$16.00$25.00$40.00
Nova Scotia$16.50$24.04$38.00
Newfoundland and Labrador$17.00$25.00$40.00
Canada$19.55$28.02$45.07
Ontario by region
Hourly wages for accounting technicians and bookkeepers by Ontario economic region, Job Bank
RegionLowMedianHigh
Ottawa$21.54$32.93$50.98
Kingston–Pembroke$22.00$26.66$80.77
Muskoka–Kawarthas$20.00$25.00$87.02
Toronto$18.00$29.22$47.36
Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie$19.00$27.00$43.27
Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula$20.00$29.65$43.00
London$20.00$25.00$34.62
Windsor–Sarnia$17.60*$25.00$42.79
Stratford–Bruce Peninsula$20.50$29.09$47.33
Northeast$18.46$27.00$45.67
Northwest$19.00$25.53$36.53

Source: Job Bank wages for NOC 12200, Accounting technicians and bookkeepers, reference period 2023-2024, revised November 19, 2025. * Below Ontario's current general minimum wage of $17.95 per hour (since October 1, 2026). You must pay at least the minimum wage.

Turn it into an Ontario job posting

If you have 25 or more employees, publicly advertised postings in Ontario must include pay, say whether the job is an existing vacancy, and disclose AI screening. Fill this in and copy the result.

Pay

Pre-filled from Job Bank's Ontario data, floored at the minimum wage.

How many employees do you have?
Is this an existing vacancy?
Do you use AI to screen, assess or select applicants?

This includes AI features in applicant tracking systems that rank or filter resumes.

Try adding "Canadian experience required" to see what the check catches.

Ontario rules check
    Your posting
    
                  

    Hiring a bookkeeper in Ontario: what comes next

    The posting is step one. These are the obligations most small businesses run into between the offer and the first few weeks.

    1. Follow up with everyone you interviewEmployers with 25+ employees must tell interviewed applicants whether the job has been filled within 45 days of their last interview, and keep postings and records for three years.
    2. Put the offer in a written employment contractA written contract isn't mandatory in Ontario, but without one your termination costs are set by the courts rather than by you. The termination clause is the part to get right.
    3. Register with WSIB if your industry requires itMost Ontario employers must register within 10 days of hiring their first worker. A few industries are exempt, so check before the start date.
    4. Collect payroll documentsGet the employee's SIN within three days of their start date, plus federal and Ontario TD1 forms for tax withholding.
    5. Hand over the Employment Standards posterGive new employees the current "Employment Standards in Ontario" poster within 30 days of their start date.
    6. Complete health and safety awareness trainingEvery worker needs basic health and safety awareness training as soon as practicable after starting.
    7. Have written harassment and violence policiesRequired once you regularly have six or more workers, and reviewed every year.

    Hiring a bookkeeper?

    Our HR team prepares the employment contract, onboarding documents and policies for Ontario employers, with a flat monthly price and no long-term contract.

    Get HR help for this hire

    Questions employers ask

    What does a bookkeeper do?

    A bookkeeper records financial transactions, reconciles accounts, manages payables and receivables, and prepares the books for month-end and year-end.

    How much does a bookkeeper make in Ontario?

    Job Bank reports $19.23 (low), $28.50 (median) and $46.15 (high) per hour for accounting technicians and bookkeepers in Ontario, and a median of $29.22 in the Toronto region (reference period 2023-2024, revised November 19, 2025). Ontario's general minimum wage is $17.95 per hour as of October 1, 2026.

    What is the NOC code for a bookkeeper?

    The National Occupational Classification code for this role is NOC 12200, Accounting technicians and bookkeepers (TEER 2). Use the code that matches the actual duties.

    Do I have to include pay in an Ontario job posting?

    Yes, if you have 25 or more employees. Since January 1, 2026, publicly advertised postings must include the expected pay or a range no wider than $50,000. They must also say whether the posting is for an existing vacancy and disclose if AI is used to screen, assess or select applicants, and they can't require Canadian work experience.

    Should I hire a bookkeeper or an accountant?

    A bookkeeper keeps day-to-day records accurate. An accountant, often a CPA, prepares financial statements and tax filings and gives advice. Many small businesses hire a bookkeeper in-house and an external accountant for year-end.

    Last updated October 2026. Sources:

    This page is general information for employers, not legal advice. Rules change, so check the official sources before you post.

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