"A bookkeeper records the financial transactions of an organization and takes care of day-to-day functions such as recording sales and invoices, paying bills and processing payroll," Stephens said. "Accountants take the financial data and analyze it to help organizations make financial decisions."

The work requires attention to detail and a good method of keeping track of constantly fluctuating items, which leads most bookkeepers to adopt the double-entry method of accounting. Much of a bookkeeper's work involves not only the entering of information, but the review of information and the reconciling of accounts.

A basic and streamlined method of bookkeeping known as “light bookkeeping” involves just documenting and arranging financial transactions. Typical activities include keeping track of receipts and payments, recording income and expenses, balancing bank accounts, and creating financial reports.

A full-cycle bookkeeper is a liaison between you and your Certified Public Accountant (CPA), performing all aspects of bookkeeping: accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, data management, account reconciliations, recording journal entries, creating detailed reports, software training & interfacing, and we work ...