Bookkeepers are experts in managing day-to-day finances like payroll and expenses. In contrast, CPAs specialize more in taxes and strategic planning. With that in mind, if you're looking for someone primarily to help with your taxes or provide financial consulting services, then a CPA is the better option.

The most common route for someone new to accountancy is to study the AAT Professional qualification. This gives you a solid overview of accounting principles, with modules dedicated to bookkeeping and preparing accounts. AAT also has a shorter bookkeeping qualification which focuses on the core bookkeeping modules.

Bookkeeping jobs focus heavily on recording financial transactions and maintaining records of those transactions. These transactions typically include sales revenue, business expenses and purchases, invoices, accounts payable, and accounts receivable.