Do accountants and bookkeepers come under the same category? Who among these, a company or business firm, mostly prefers? Is there any distinction between the duties and responsibilities of both accountants and bookkeepers?
When it comes to small businesses, they often find difficulty in deciding whether they need to hire an accountant or bookkeeper to maintain their financial matters. Both professionals work in the financial department of a company but they have different roles and responsibilities. Through this blog, we get to distinguish the characteristics and importance of accountants and bookkeepers in an accounting firm.
Bookkeeping vs Accounting
Bookkeeping and accounting are related but distinct financial practices. Bookkeeping involves the systematic recording of financial transactions, such as sales and purchases, in a company’s financial records. It is the foundation of the accounting process, and it is typically the first step in the accounting process. Accounting, on the other hand, is the process of analyzing, interpreting, and communicating financial information. It includes tasks such as preparing financial statements, creating budgets, and making financial forecasts. In short, bookkeeping is the process of maintaining financial records, while accounting is the process of interpreting and communicating those records.
Who is an Accountant? What do they do?
An accountant is a professional who performs financial tasks such as recording, analysing, and reporting financial transactions. They may work in a variety of settings, including public accounting firms, private companies, and government agencies. Accountants may also help organisations make important business decisions by investigating their financial data and providing insights to increase the performance of the company.
An accountant’s primary role is to maintain and examine financial records. This includes duties such as analysing financial data, preparing financial statements, and ensuring compliance with financial regulations. Additionally, accountants may also be responsible for preparing taxes, providing financial advice, and helping to manage a company’s budget. Depending on the specific company or organisation, an accountant may also be involved in forecasting future financial performance and assisting with financial planning and decision-making. There are some roles and responsibilities which an accountant has to take care of in an organisation and they are listed below.
- Recording and maintaining financial transactions: This includes tasks such as preparing and posting journal entries, conforming bank statements, and maintaining accurate records of financial transactions.
- Preparing financial statements: This includes tasks such as creating balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.
- Conducting financial analysis: This includes tasks such as analysing financial data to identify trends, issues, and areas for improvement.
- Compliance with financial regulations: This includes tasks such as ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal laws and regulations, as well as sticking to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
- Tax preparation: This includes tasks such as preparing and filing corporate and individual income tax returns, and providing advice on tax-related matters.
- Budgeting and forecasting: This includes tasks such as creating and managing a budget, forecasting future financial performance, and assisting with financial planning and decision-making.
- Auditing: Reviewing financial records and transactions of a company to ensure accuracy and compliance with laws and regulations.
- Providing financial advice: This includes tasks such as providing assistance on financial matters, identifying areas for cost savings, and assisting with financial planning and decision-making.
- Developing financial systems and controls: This includes tasks such as designing and implementing financial systems and controls to ensure the accuracy and integrity of financial data.
- Communicating with stakeholders: This includes tasks such as communicating financial information to management, shareholders, and other stakeholders and addressing any questions or concerns they may have.
Who is a Bookkeeper? What do they do?
A bookkeeper is a person who is responsible for keeping financial records, such as ledgers, journals, and financial statements, for an organisation or business. They typically record financial transactions, ensure that financial records are accurate and up-to-date, and prepare financial reports. Bookkeepers may also assist with budgeting and forecasting, and may be responsible for reconciling bank statements and other financial accounts. The roles and responsibilities of a bookkeeper can vary depending on the size and type of organisation or business for which they work. However, some common responsibilities include:
- Recording financial transactions: This includes entering data into accounting software, such as Tally Prime, QuickBooks, or Xero, and maintaining accurate and up-to-date records of all financial transactions.
- Maintaining financial records: This includes keeping accurate and up-to-date records of financial transactions, such as invoices, receipts, and bank statements.
- Preparing financial reports: This includes preparing balance sheets, income statements, and other financial reports that provide a snapshot of the organisation’s financial health.
- Reconciling financial accounts: This includes reconciling bank statements and other financial accounts to ensure that all transactions are recorded and accounted for.
- Assisting with budgeting and forecasting: This includes working with management to create budgets, forecast future financial performance, and identify areas for development.
- Payroll processing: This includes maintaining accurate records of employee hours worked and calculating payroll taxes, deductions, and other benefits.
- Filing taxes: This includes ensuring that all financial records are in order and filing taxes, such as sales tax and income tax returns, on time.
- Financial compliance: This includes ensuring that the organisation is in consent with all financial regulations and laws.
- Communicating with other departments: This includes communicating with other departments in the organisation to ensure that financial records are accurate and up-to-date.
- Providing support to the management: This includes providing financial information and advice to management to help them make informed business decisions.
The Prime Differences between Accountants and Bookkeepers
The main difference between an accountant and a bookkeeper is the level of education and the scope of responsibilities. An accountant is responsible for analysing financial data, providing financial advice, and preparing financial reports, while a bookkeeper typically focuses on maintaining financial records and ensuring that transactions are recorded accurately. An accountant is a more high-level and strategic role, while a bookkeeper is a more operational and transactional role.
Qualification
An accountant typically has a college degree in accounting and is licensed, while a bookkeeper may have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Level of Expertise
An accountant has more knowledge and experience in financial analysis, tax laws and regulations, and strategic decision-making, while a bookkeeper has more knowledge and experience in maintaining financial records and day-to-day financial transactions.
Accountant vs Bookkeeper: Job Responsibility
Accountants are responsible for preparing financial statements, making sure that taxes are filed on time, and providing financial advice to businesses and individuals. Bookkeepers are responsible for maintaining financial records, reconciling bank statements, and making sure that transactions are recorded correctly.
Despite all the differences both accountants and bookkeepers are important assets in an organisation when they do different job duties, and have specific responsibilities. Every financial department requires both an accountant and bookkeeper to manage the monetary status and to maintain the profit of an organisation. There would not arise a scenario where there won’t be any job in the accounting field.
The number of job opportunities and how to apply to one are at our fingertips and get it done within seconds. SpotGiraffe is a job portal entirely for accounting and finance jobs, which provide plenty of accounting and bookkeeper jobs from different organisations. With the right resume and skills, one can get into their desired accounting position. Register today on SpotGiraffe and get hired now.
