Bookkeeping and accounting are essential functions to keep the business running. Even though they may seem similar, there is a big difference between them. Bookkeeping is the maintenance of all the financial transactions taking place in the company and preserving their records. On the other hand, Accounting involves the interpretation and analysis of financial information. The data is classified and summarized accordingly and reported to the company head. The most integral distinction between accounting and bookkeeping is the data analysis and interpretation part which accountants and not bookkeepers only follow. Contact a Pembroke Pines accountant to get the required help for your company and its financial needs.
The Financial Process in businesses
The accounting process entails recording and interpreting the business’s financial data. The information is analyzed thoroughly to create reports. The accountants are responsible for summarizing all the business-related financial details.
The process of keeping transaction records of the business’s finances is known as bookkeeping. It is an integral part of the accounting process as bookkeepers handle the financial records used by accountants. The accountants are responsible for handling all the accounting-related tasks of the business establishment.
Bookkeepers and their working
The bookkeepers maintain the daily records of financial transactions in chronological order.
The accounting software helps in the automation of numerous procedures. As a result, some small business bookkeepers also perform the task of classifying and summarizing financial information. They prepare reports for the company based on this data. The bookkeepers who do these tasks are known as full-charge bookkeepers. They are paid more than bookkeepers but less than accountants.
Accountants and their working
Accountants are responsible for analyzing the transactions in the financial statements and preparing business-related reports with the help of accounting principles. The reports are according to the accounting standards and company requirements. They create reports after a thorough investigation of the financial conditions of the establishment. Moreover, the report helps display the business’s ups and downs and recognize its strengths and weaknesses. This allows the company heads to make decisions based on their position and work on its growth.
The Similarities
The work of both bookkeepers and accountants may seem similar to people. They are not the same but similar in some areas. Both professionals use financial data to produce results. Basic knowledge of accounting is required in both fields.
The Differences between Accounting and Bookkeeping
Accountants can handle the whole process of accounting. On the other hand, bookkeepers are generally qualified to record and maintain financial transactions only.
Accountants often advise bookkeepers and assess their work for any inaccuracies. Bookkeepers lay the foundation of accounting by recording financial transactions later assessed by accountants.