Bookkeepers and accountants sometimes do the same work, but have a different skill set. In general, a bookkeeper's role is to record transactions and keep you financially organized, while accountants provide consultation, analysis, and are more qualified to advise on tax matters.

Staff accountants hold more credentials and train for more specific or higher-level tasks. Entry-level accountants can focus more on balance sheets, budgeting and expense tracking, whereas a staff accountant may complete larger projects like helping with budget expansions or planning for large purchases.

Accounting is the process of recording financial transactions pertaining to a business. The accounting process includes summarizing, analyzing, and reporting these transactions to oversight agencies, regulators, and tax collection entities.