What does a bookkeeper do?

An accounting assistant is responsible for supporting the daily operations of the business' accounting department, from reviewing financial transactions to the submission of financial reports. Accounting assistants' duties include performing data entry and clerical tasks, maintaining a safe record of account statements, updating and analyzing transactions, verifying the accuracy of financial records, and managing customers and vendors' inquiries as immediate as possible. An accounting assistant must have a broad knowledge of the accounting principles and processes, as well as excellent communication and time-management skills, especially on meeting strict deadlines and doing complex tasks as needed.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between bookkeepers and accounting assistant. For instance, bookkeeper responsibilities require skills such as "payroll tax returns," "journal entries," "credit card accounts," and "quickbooks pro." Whereas a accounting assistant is skilled in "credit card payments," "quickbooks," "account reconciliations," and "tax returns." This is part of what separates the two careers.

An accounts payable analyst is primarily responsible for managing and processing invoices and payments, ensuring accuracy and timeliness. They are also responsible for coordinating with various departments to obtain and acquire data and invoices, submitting payments to external vendors and suppliers, identifying errors and inconsistencies, and providing corrective measures. One may also perform clerical tasks such as producing progress reports and presentations, managing schedules, addressing issues and concerns through calls and correspondence, and resolving them promptly and efficiently.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that bookkeeper responsibilities requires skills like "payroll tax returns," "financial transactions," "bank deposits," and "hr." But an account payables analyst might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "vendor statements," "erp," "strong analytical," and "pivot tables."

An accounting technician is responsible for evaluating financial information procedures to support accounting and taxation tasks, verifying the accuracy of account statements for the reference of accountants. Accounting technicians manage the payroll processes, generate invoices, perform account reconciliations, analyze account receivables, prepare budget reports, and monitor the company's financial transactions. Accounting technicians should always adhere to taxation legislation, comply with accounting disciplines, and coordinate with the account management for any findings and concerns, requiring them to have excellent communication and analytical skills.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a bookkeeper is likely to be skilled in "payroll tax returns," "hr," "credit card accounts," and "sales tax," while a typical accounting technician is skilled in "payroll," "travel vouchers," "financial statements," and "management system."

Junior accountants maintain the financial records of companies through the analysis of their general ledger accounts and balance sheets. The accountant's post journal entries, maintain accounts receivable and payable, and update financial statements. They pay payroll every month, reconcile ledgers, and submit payroll taxes. The skills necessary for this job include analytical skills, problem-solving, information confidentiality, and proficiency in accounting software and technology. They are also expected to be detail-oriented.