In this guide, you’ll learn what differentiates a bookkeeper vs accountant, which your business should hire, and when to employ them.
Bookkeeper and accountant are termsthat are sometimes used interchangeably and while what they do may overlap at times, there are some very distinct differences between the two. The two roles can have a significant impact on the success of your business.
The key to any successful business is to keep detailed and updated financial reports andrecords of all business transactionsso that thebusiness owner can make sound business decisionsat any given time based on an accurate cash flow statement.
If a bookkeeper keeps records of allbusiness transactionsand an accountant interprets and analyzes that data, between a bookkeeper vs accountant, which one does your small business need or do you need both?
Table of Contents
What does a bookkeeper do vs an accountant?
A bookkeeper and an accountant have two different roles. A bookkeepermaintains the financial records of business transactions on a daily basis. This includes records of payments, sales, receipts, and purchases. Bookkeepers are essentially keeping track of all the money that comes in and goes out of the business.
While a bookkeeper records financial transactions, posts debits & credits, generates invoices, manages payroll, and maintains & balances ledgers & accounts, an accountant generally examines and verifies the bookkeeper’s work and then makes financial insights and conclusions based on the bookkeeper’s data. While their roles differ, they work collaboratively.
The accountant’s role takes the bookkeeper’s information a few steps further by analyzing the financial data that has been recorded, making adjusting entries, generating forecasts, looking for business trends, preparing financial statements & tax returns, performing audits, and generating reports.
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With all of this information pulled together in financial statements and reports, an accountant can provide business owners with sound financial advice. This includes where your business stands financially, what that means for your business, what you should do about it if anything, and where your business should go from here.
What’s the difference between a staff accountant vs a bookkeeper?
An accountant can be considered a bookkeeper but a bookkeeper isn’t considered an accountant without the proper education and certification. The biggest difference between the two is the educational background, certification, and licenses.
Differences between a bookkeeper vs. accountant
Bookkeepers don’t need to have the educational background in finance or the certification. However, licensing is available if they want to add a more professional touch to their business.
On the other hand, staffaccountants typically have a bachelor’s degree in financeor accounting. For staff accountantsto become CPAs(a certified public accountant), they must meet their state’s requirements and pass the CPA exam (https://nasba.org/exams/cpaexam/) that includes standard accounting principles and tax laws.
CPAs are more specialized in tax codes and can represent clients before an Internal Revenue Service audit. For CPAs to maintain their accreditation, they must also maintain ongoing educational requirements.
There are also other credentials accountants can receive such as CFA and CIA that allow accountants to provide a specific set of services to businesses. CFAs or chartered financial analysts are knowledgeable about global markets, investment analysis, ethical financial practices, and portfolio management.If you want to become a CFA, you need to pass three exams,including CFA level 1, level 2, and level 3.
CIA or certified internal auditor is an accountant who is certified in conducting internal audits. CIAs specialize in theaccounting cycle processthat involves security monitoring and financial risk assessment.
How much does a bookkeeper vs an accountant charge an hour?
The rate an accountant or bookkeeper charges depends on several factors. These include how much work needs to be done, the level of expertise needed, the state where the work is being performed, and whether the fee will be a fixed price for a specific service or an hourly rate. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2021, the national average hourly rate for bookkeepers was$21.90per hour and for accountants,$37.14an hour. Accountants make more due to their educational background and if a CPA, their certification.
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How much is a bookkeeper vs an accountant’s salary?
Similar to what bookkeepers and accountants charge an hour, their salary is based on different factors as well. Salaries are typically based on education, certification, years of experience, credentials, industry or employer,job description, location, and complexity of work. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2021, the national average salary for bookkeepers was$45,560and for accountants was$77,250. Again, education and certification play a role in the different salary amounts. Theaverage salary for a CPAcan be even higher if you decide to work for one of the Big 4 accounting firms.
When to hire an online accountant vs an online bookkeeper
Whether to hire an online accountant versus anonline bookkeeperdepends on the needs of your business. Professionaloutsourced bookkeeping serviceswill document daily transactions and track all of your business’s financial records andfinancial informationand keep everything organized.
These detailed records may save you money down the road if you ever decide to hire an accountant. Bookkeepers charge lower fees for their services than accountants. That’s why it’s not a bad idea to hire a bookkeeper first to get those services at a minimum and then hire an accountant later to just handle the taxes.
However, there are also several advantages of hiring a certified accounting professional in addition to or over a bookkeeper. These advantages include the benefit of a comprehensive financial analysis, a higher level of expertise, and legal assistance. Accountants can suggest recommendations and strategies to make the most out of your business financially. They can provide advice on investing and taxes. They can also help businesses efficiently deal with corporate taxes and any legal issues.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a bookkeeper vs an accountant charge an hour?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2021, the national average hourly rate for bookkeepers was$21.90per hour and for accountants,$37.14an hour.
How much is a bookkeeper vs an accountant’s salary?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2021, the national average salary for bookkeepers was$45,560and for accountants was$77,250.
What does a bookkeeper do vs. an accountant?
Bookkeepers focus on tasks that include recording daily transactions, recording financial transactions, and generating financial reports. Accountants focus on tax filing, tax strategies, and providing advice on a business’s finances, business structure, financial forecasts, etc.
In closing
It can be a difficult decision for small business owners to decide if and when to hire a bookkeeper vs accountant. If you’re spending so much time on the financial end of your business that you’re not able to meet all of your customer’s needs, you aren’t able to concentrate on other areas of your business, you don’t know how to use accounting software, or you don’t have time to grow your business, then it’s time to ask for help from one or both.
One possibility is to start out by hiring a bookkeeper to handle all of the books and financial reporting and then hire a CPA down the road to handle your taxes during tax season. Both can be a huge benefit as your business grows and the finances become more time-consuming and complex.
Caryl Ramseyhas years of experience assisting in different aspects of bookkeeping, taxes, and customer service. She uses a variety of accounting software for setting up client information, reconciling accounts, coding expenses, running financial reports, and preparing tax returns. She is also experienced in setting up corporations with the State Corporation Commission and the IRS.
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