Because bookkeepers don't handle audits or tax information, however, they have the least liability. All accountants are responsible for stricter financial information, and CPAs may work with material subject to federal and state tax regulations.

Salaries are typically based on education, certification, years of experience, credentials, industry or employer, job description, location, and complexity of work. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2021, the national average salary for bookkeepers was $45,560 and for accountants was $77,250.

Bookkeepers help you with collecting the data regarding your business. Accountants analyse the data and turn them into relevant information for your business. They can help you understand the big picture of your business - where your business is currently and how you can grow your business.

Bookkeepers line up all the small pieces of a company's financial records, and accountants view and arrange those pieces. Accounting often requires more education than becoming a bookkeeper, where most accountants hold undergraduate or graduate degrees or even MBAs in accounting, economics, or finance.