How Can Certified Bookkeeping Contribute To an Accounting Job?

Accounting certificates allow students to study general accounting or a particular accounting subject in detail and can prepare students for the next steps in their job or educational career. There are two main types of accounting certificates. Some certificates are intended for recent high school graduates without specific accounting training who are preparing for entry-level accounting positions. These certificates are ideal for those seeking work experience in the field before starting an undergraduate or graduate degree.

The differences between bookkeeping and bookkeeping are subtle, but it is important to understand them when considering a career in both fields. Bookkeepers record the daily financial transactions of the business. Accountants, on the other hand, focus more on the big picture.

Bookkeeping functions

Bookkeeping is the process of day-to-day recording transactions consistently and is a key part of gathering the financial information you need to run a successful business.

The bookkeeping function consists of:

1. Financial Transaction Records
2. Registration of debits and credits
3. Production of invoices
4. Preparation of financial statements (balance sheet, cash flow statement, and income statement)
5. Management and balancing of subsidiaries, ledgers, and historical accounts
6. Fill salaries

General ledger management is one of the main components of Bookkeeping. The general ledger is the basic document in which the Bookkeeping records the amounts of sales and expenses. This is called posting. The more sales are accomplished, the more often the ledger is posted. The book can be created using specialized software, a computer spreadsheet, or a simple sheet of lined paper.

The complexity of an accounting system often depends on the size of the company and the number of operations that are performed daily, weekly, and monthly. All sales and purchases made by your company must be recorded in the ledger, and some items require supporting documents. The IRS determines which business transactions require supporting documents on their website.

Accounting functions

Accounting is a high-level process that uses financial data compiled by an accountant or business owner to create financial models.  The accounting process is more subjective than bookkeeping, which is largely transactional.

The accounting functions consist of:

1. Preparation of adjustment records (posting of expenses that have occurred but not yet recorded in the accounting process)
2. Audit of the company's financial statements
3. Operational Cost Analysis
4. Compilation of the tax return
5. Helps the company understand the impact of financial decisions

Having a certification in the booking may help you with the following:

1. Perform accurate quantitative and recording skills

Those with accounting and bookkeeping knowledge should also be able to report financial information, budgets, and payroll activities reliably. Accounting accuracy, as well as high professional standards and ethical behavior, are key in accounting.

2. Understand the basic accounting concepts common in the highest accounting positions

Students in basic certification programs will receive a broad overview of accounting principles and should be able to apply basic accounting skills that are assessed in basic level positions such as financial record keeping, tax preparation, and payroll administration.

What does it not give?

It does not give you the exemption of 150 hours to obtain the professional CPA certification.

Accountants, unlike bookkeepers, also have the right to obtain additional professional certifications. For example, accountants with sufficient experience and education can obtain the title of Certified Public Accountant (CPA), which is one of the most common types of accounting designations. To become a CPA, an accountant must pass the Uniform Certified Public Accountant exam and have experience as a professional accountant.

To qualify as an accountant, an individual must have a bachelor's degree in accounting. For those who do not have a specific degree in accounting, financial degrees are often considered an adequate substitute.

Conclusion

Simply put, the bookkeeper is responsible for recording financial transactions, while the accountant is responsible for interpreting, classifying, analyzing, reporting, and summarizing financial data. When placing this in the context of the decision-making process, the management of the company cannot make a decision based on the information provided by the bookkeeper. However, accountants can make long-term critical decisions based on the data provided by bookkeepers. The nature of the accountant is more complex overall, but both professions resemble a set of skills that you need to practice.

Accountants and bookkeepers sometimes do the same job but have different skills. The role of an accountant is generally to record transactions and keep you financially organized, while accountants provide advice, analysis and are more qualified to advise on tax matters.