What's the difference between a bookkeeper and an accountant?
Asked by Virginia
It seems like both occupations have the same requirements. Thanks!

Best Answer:
There is a certain common ground, but accountants are generally degree holders (BA vs AA) and are sometimes certified pubic. A bookkeeper would do more basic stuff like AP, AR, Payroll, and perhaps bank recs, but an accountant would be more into financial reportings and general ledger analysis, etc..... so therefore the pay would generally be substansially higher.

a degree
Answered by veesmom

A bookkeeper works the same place every day,like at a factory,and keeps track of the day-to-day spending...an accountant comes once a year to do the taxes and balance the books.
Answered by oldschooldude

the work or skill of keeping account books or systematic records of money transactions (distinguished from accounting). [Origin: 1680–90; book + keeping] 1.the theory and system of setting up, maintaining, and auditing the books of a firm; art of analyzing the financial position and operating results of a business house from a study of its sales, purchases, overhead, etc. (distinguished from bookkeeping). 2.a detailed report of the financial state or transactions of a person or entity: an accounting of the estate. 3.the rendering or submission of such a report.
Answered by Allan E

An accountant is a fancy bookkeeper. To really get anywhere as an accountant you need a college degree, preferably in accounting (or at least have a significant amount of accounting credits). Bookkeepers tend to handle smaller businesses and may only have practical experience. On the other hand, accountants may not know how to pull an accounts receivable report from the system. There are accounting firms that offer bookkeeping services. The bookkeepers get paid less than the accountants. Another big difference is the complexity of the work.
Answered by garyg7