What is the difference in salaries between a bookkeeper and an accountant?

These topics remain hot because there’s often a lot of confusion about them. If you are proficient and comfortable using mathematics and computing figures, plus punctual, organized, and detail-oriented, it is not hard to learn how to be a bookkeeper. Of course, a background in accounting practices will help you ride out a learning curve as a new bookkeeper. 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. They often bookkeepers work a few jobs for various clients if they work as a consultant.

• Bookkeepers aren’t required to be certified to handle the books for their customers or employer but licensing is available.
• CPAs are more specialized in tax codes and can represent clients before an Internal Revenue Service audit.
• These increases peak as a bookkeeper moves from entry-level roles into the mid-career stage.
• A lot of U.S. bookkeepers get the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB) certification.
• Similar to what bookkeepers and accountants charge an hour, their salary is based on different factors as well.

If this is your chosen career path, you can earn a small-business management certificate to learn how to operate your own business. Most importantly, expected salary, growth prospects and additional career opportunities are different for accountants than for bookkeepers. When deciding if you should do your bookkeeping yourself or Running Law Firm Bookkeeping: Consider the Industry Specifics in the Detailed Guide hire outside help, the decision is entirely up to you. For example, if you have the time to handle bookkeeping yourself, you might continue to do so to save money. On the other hand, if you’d like to use the time you spend bookkeeping focusing on other aspects of your business, then the cost of a bookkeeper may be worth it.

Non-Salary Benefits of Becoming a CPA

In order to avoid the confusion caused by the sometimes blurred lines between bookkeeping and accounting, one can see them as being a part of one accounting cycle. Recording of data is a part of the process, and both accountants and bookkeepers contribute to successful tax filing. The results of work done by the bookkeeper allow the accountant to provide business forecasts, that’s why many mid- and large-sized businesses will need to hire both. Accounting, tax, bookkeeping and payroll services supply most of the jobs for accountants and bookkeepers.

Look for a firm that provides both nonprofit bookkeeping and accounting services. While you may just need one or the other right now, you never know how your needs may change in the future. Ensuring your provider offers both services opens up the opportunity to outsource your entire financial department in the future. When you’ve decided to hire a nonprofit bookkeeper or accountant, you should first examine your nonprofit’s needs.

Online Degrees

It proves that the bookkeeper has signed the AIPB’s Code of Ethics and has successfully fulfilled its certification standards. There’s also The National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers which offers the Certified Public Bookkeeper (CPB) certification. In addition, you must be a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. In most cases, employers want to hire someone with a bachelor’s degree, and a master’s degree may help boost your earnings. According to the BLS, the median salary for an accountant in 2021 was $77,250 per year or $37.14 per hour.

• Students planning to pursue certifications other than the CPA exam should also contact the respective certifying organization to confirm requirements for certification prior to enrolling in any accounting program.
• The first big decision a new accountant makes is whether to go into public accounting or private accounting (also called “corporate” or “management” accounting).
• There are a few more factors to consider when determining or projecting a CPA salary.
• An aspiring bookkeeper can enter the profession with a two-year or four-year college degree.

The wage ranges overlap a bit, but the advantage for accountants in the top 10 percent over bookkeepers at that level is more than $57,000 per year. This amount can vary depending on the type of business they are working in, their experience level, and the location of the job. In addition to base pay, some employers may offer bonuses or other benefits such as health insurance or vacation time.