What’s the difference between a Bookkeeper and an Accountant?

Cain & Co. clear up the differences between a Bookkeeper and an Accountant…

This is a question we get asked all the time and the honest answer to this is quite simple, generally, the bookkeeper is the person that prepares the records in an orderly state for the accountant to produce a set of accounts and calculate the tax due, including:

• Entering supplier invoices
• Entering expenses
• Enter or raise sales invoices
• Reconcile the bank, petty cash, and credit card accounts
• Enter journals such as payroll
• Produce VAT returns
• File documents in files or online using cloud-based- options like Dropbox and OneDrive

It is also fair to say that some accountants will do all the bookkeeping too, in the main though the accountant would get involved with the top end jobs like: –

• Produce tax returns (sole traders and self-assessment)
• Produce Company Accounts and Corporation & Capital Gains Tax Returns
• Business growth advice
• Basic as well as Bespoke Tax Advice

There are always cross-overs where some bookkeepers will produce tax returns based on their experience and knowledge. This hopefully gives you an idea of the differences between bookkeepers and accountants but if you have any further questions, please get in touch with Cain & Co. Bookkeeping Services by Tel: 01795 602 303 or E-mail: info@bookkeepersuk.com.