Bookkeeper vs Accountant vs. CPA: What is the Difference?

cpa bookkeeper

CPAs are more credible and have better expertise than regular accountants. They help companies, businesses, and individuals manage their wealth and reach financial goals. CPAs are individuals that have gone through years of education and training and passed a state CPA exam.

cpa bookkeeper

But what do all of these figures mean, and where do you go from there? The key difference between bookkeepers and accountants lies in their responsibilities and level of involvement in a company’s financial operations. For small businesses, adept cash management is a critical aspect of survival and growth, so it’s wise to work with a financial professional from the start.

What are the legal steps to hire an employee like a bookkeeper?

Being consistent, accurate, and minimizing errors are key characteristics that employers are seeking for this position. It is indispensable to have a knowledge of accounting and to understand how to use accounting software systems. If you can’t afford to hire a bookkeeper and/or accountant, you may want to consider outsourcing to a third-party company. Alternatively, you could try an online system like Quickbooks ProAdvisor. No matter how small your business is, you need some kind of way to review financial statements and make financial audits.

While bookkeepers make sure the small pieces fit correctly into place, accountants use those small pieces to draw much more significant and broader conclusions about a company’s finances. However, bookkeeping and accounting clerk jobs are expected to decline, with the BLS projecting a 5% fall in jobs over the same period. The BLS notes that job growth for accountants should cpa bookkeeping track fairly closely with the broader economy. However, bookkeepers will face pressure from automation and technology that will reduce the demand for such workers. Bookkeepers are commonly responsible for recording journal entries and conducting bank reconciliations. A bookkeeper must be able to shift focus easily and catch tiny, hidden mistakes in a budget or invoice.

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