Saffa SkillsSaffa Education & Training
Menu

Career change pathway

Bookkeeper to Data Analyst

Build on accuracy with numbers and spreadsheets to clean data, analyse it, and present findings that help people make decisions.

Pathway status: Coming later8 stages

Who it’s for: Bookkeepers and accounts clerks who are comfortable with numbers and spreadsheets and want to move into analysing data.

You are hereBookkeeper

8 stages

TargetData Analyst

Starting point

What you bring, and what to build

Bookkeepers already work precisely with numbers, reconcile records, spot what does not add up and use spreadsheets every day. Data analysis builds on the same habits. This pathway adds advanced spreadsheets, data cleaning, basic statistics, introductory SQL and clear presentation of findings, and ends with a portfolio project you can show.

Transferable strengths you already have

  • Accuracy with numbers
  • Reconciling and checking records
  • Spreadsheet experience
  • Spotting errors and inconsistencies
  • Understanding business finances
  • Working with confidential information

Capability areas to build

Skills to build

  • Advanced spreadsheets
  • Data cleaning
  • Basic statistics
  • Introductory SQL
  • Charts and dashboards
  • Presenting findings
  • AI-assisted analysis
  • Portfolio of evidence

The route

Stage by stage

Each stage shows its own status. None of these stages’ training is being built yet; the pathway as a whole is coming later.

You are here

Bookkeeper

  1. Stage 1

    Status: Planned

    Recognising your analytical strengths

    See how bookkeeping habits map to analysis work and plan the gaps to close.

    • Recognising transferable skills
    • Skills-gap planning

    Builds: Human Foundations

    Training: Career Change

  3. Stage 3

    Status: Coming later

    Data cleaning and structure

    Prepare messy data so it can be trusted, and record what you changed.

    • Data cleaning
    • Consistent structure
    • Documenting changes

    Builds: Knowledge & Theory

    Training: Data & Analytics

  4. Stage 4

    Status: Coming later

    Statistics and SQL basics

    Learn the core statistics analysts use and how to ask questions of a database.

    • Basic statistics
    • Introductory SQL

    Builds: Knowledge & Theory

    Training: Data & Analytics

  6. Stage 6

    Status: Coming later

    AI-assisted analysis

    Use AI carefully to explore and explain data, and check its working against the numbers.

    • AI-assisted analysis
    • Verifying AI output
    • Protecting confidential data

    Builds: AI & Modern Technology

    Training: AI & Automation, Data & Analytics

  7. Stage 7

    Status: Planned

    Portfolio and job readiness

    Present your bookkeeping background and new analysis work clearly to employers.

    • Portfolio of evidence
    • CV writing
    • Interview preparation

    Builds: Career & Opportunity Skills

    Training: Career Change

Target

Data Analyst

Practical evidence

What you’ll be able to show

Progress is proven with real work, recorded in your private Skills Passport.

  • A cleaned dataset with notes on every change
  • A simple dashboard built from business data
  • A short written report of findings
  • A set of introductory SQL queries with explanations
  • A portfolio project from raw data to conclusions

Linked training

Training areas used

Where next

Possible next pathways

All pathways

Launch updates

Hear when this pathway opens

Pathways open in stages as their training is built. Join the launch list to hear first.

Get notified