Bookkeepers oversee a company's financial data and compliance by maintaining accurate books on accounts payable and receivable, payroll, and daily financial entries and reconciliations. They perform daily accounting tasks such as monthly financial reporting, general ledger entries, and record payments and adjustments.

A controller oversees an organization's daily accounting operations, including the accounting, payroll, accounts payable and accounts receivable departments. The controller also helps guide a company's strategic financial decisions, and is therefore integral to the financial health of the firm.