It's time bookkeeping got the recognition it deserves

An Authored Piece by Charidy Clubbe, CPB

When I founded CDC Bookkeeping over 25 years ago, my goal wasn't simply to provide bookkeeping services. I wanted to build a company that business owners could trust—a financial partner that would bring clarity, reduce stress, and help them feel confident about their finances. I believed that when business owners had accurate financial information and someone they could rely on, they could spend less time worrying about their books and more time growing the businesses they were passionate about.

But as I grew the company, I wasn't sure bookkeeping alone would be seen as a serious profession, and for a long time believed the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation was the only way to be perceived as successful in the industry.

Bookkeeping is often treated as behind-the-scenes work that keeps a business running. While viewed as essential, it hasn’t been recognized as a regulated profession, with no license or training legally required. Without regulation, anyone can call themselves a bookkeeper, carrying significant risks for businesses. 

Inaccurate bookkeeping often doesn’t show up until it’s become a much bigger problem, with serious consequences for business owners. Inexperienced bookkeepers may not be aware of the latest requirements or how to handle complex situations, leaving business owners liable. Bookkeepers play an essential role as financial partners, but if the books are wrong, all financial decisions built on them will be inaccurate. This can lead to costly cleanup and missed opportunities. 

Without a recognized standard, business owners have no easy way to tell the difference between a bookkeeper who's qualified and one who isn't. That's exactly the gap the Certified Professional Bookkeeper (CPB) designation was built to close — and since it was introduced, it’s been raising the bar for bookkeeping across the country. As the most widely recognized standard for bookkeepers in Canada, the CPB designation empowers bookkeepers to serve clients with confidence, deepen their expertise, and stand out to employers as trusted professionals. 

Choosing to focus solely on bookkeeping was a turning point in my own career, and earning my CPB designation validated that decision. It provided both professional recognition and credibility, signalling to clients, peers, and even myself that bookkeeping is a strategic profession.

I’ve always believed bookkeepers deserve standards and recognition of the value we bring to businesses. Earning my CPB strengthened my confidence and leadership, which is why I support and encourage all CDC employees to earn their CPB. The designation not only helps legitimize the profession and build trust with our clients, but also helps demonstrate the essential impact bookkeepers have as partners in a business’s success. 

But individual certification is only part of the picture. For bookkeeping to be fully recognized as a profession, that recognition needs to extend to government as well. Historically, policymakers haven't had a clear understanding of what bookkeepers do or the standards they're held to. 

Although the Certified Professional Bookkeepers of Canada (CPB Canada) is regarded as the leading standard-setting organization, it does not currently have the statutory power to determine who can legally practice as a bookkeeper. CPB Canada is working to change this though through government relations and advocacy efforts at the federal and provincial level. 

At CDC Bookkeeping, we've seen firsthand what it means for clients when they can rely on standards, ethics, and expertise. When bookkeeping is formally recognized, clients know who they can trust with their financials. 

It’s time for bookkeeping to be recognized nationally as a formal profession with clear standards attached to it.

Charidy Clubbe is the founder and CEO of CDC Bookkeeping, one of Saskatchewan’s leading bookkeeping providers.