​

While bookkeepers and accountants share common goals, they support your business in different stages of the financial cycle.

​

Bookkeeping is more transactional and administrative, concerned with recording financial transactions. Accounting is more subjective, giving you business insights based on bookkeeping information.

In this guide, we’ll explain the functional differences between accounting and bookkeeping, as well as the differences between the roles of bookkeepers and accountants.

The function of bookkeeping

Bookkeeping is the process of recording daily transactions in a consistent way, and is a key component to building a financially successful business.

​

Bookkeeping is comprised of:

• Recording financial transactions

• Posting debits and credits

• Producing invoices

• Maintaining and balancing subsidiaries, general ledgers, and historical accounts

• Completing payroll

​

​

Maintaining a general ledger is one of the main components of bookkeeping. The general ledger is a basic document where a bookkeeper records the amounts from sale and expense receipts. This is referred to as posting and the more sales that are completed, the more often the ledger is posted. A ledger can be created with specialized software, a computer spreadsheet, or simply a lined sheet of paper.

​

The complexity of a bookkeeping system often depends on the the size of the business and the number of transactions that are completed daily, weekly, and monthly. All sales and purchases made by your business need to be recorded in the ledger, and certain items need supporting documents. The IRS lays out which business transactions require supporting documents on their website.

​

The function of accounting

Accounting is a high-level process that uses financial information compiled by a bookkeeper or business owner, and produces financial models using that information.

The process of accounting is more subjective than bookkeeping, which is largely transactional.

 

Accounting is comprised of:

• Preparing adjusting entries (recording expenses that have occurred but aren’t yet recorded in the bookkeeping process)

• Preparing company financial statements

• Analyzing costs of operations

• Completing income tax returns

• Aiding the business owner in understanding the impact of financial decisions

​

​

The process of accounting provides reports that bring key financial indicators together. The result is a better understanding of actual profitability, and an awareness of cash flow in the business. Accounting turns the information from the ledger into statements that reveal the bigger picture of the business, and the path the company is progressing on. Business owners will often look to accountants for help with strategic tax planning, financial forecasting, and tax filing.

The bookkeeper role vs the accountant role

​

Bookkeepers and accountants sometimes do the same work. But in general, a bookkeeper’s first task is to record transactions and keep you financially organized, while accountants provide consultation, analysis, and are more qualified to advise on tax matters.

​

Bookkeeper credentials

​

Typically, bookkeepers aren’t required to have any formal education. To be successful in their work, bookkeepers need to be sticklers for accuracy, and knowledgeable about key financial topics. Usually, the bookkeeper’s work is overseen by either an accountant or the small business owner whose books they are doing. So a bookkeeper can’t call themselves an “accountant.”

 

Accountant credentials

​

To qualify for the title of an accountant, generally an individual must have a bachelor’s degree in accounting. For those that don’t have a specific degree in accounting, finance degrees are often considered an adequate substitute.

Accountants, unlike bookkeepers, are also eligible to acquire additional professional certifications. For example, accountants with sufficient experience and education can obtain the title of Certified Public Accountant (CPA), one of the most common types of accounting designations.

​

The bottom line 

​

Organized financial records and properly balanced finances produced by the bookkeeper, coupled with smart financial strategy and accurate tax filing by the accountant, contribute directly to the long-term success of every business.

Some business owners learn to manage their finances on their own, while others opt to hire a professional so that they can focus on the parts of their business that they really love. Whichever option you choose, investing—whether it be time or money—into your business financials will only help your business grow.

​