What the difference between a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) an Accountant, and a Bookkeeper?
A CPA is a licensed professional that must meet strict state certification requirements including: education, a rigorous examination, professional experience, and adhere to a strict code of ethics. The New York State Society of CPAs has detailed information about CPA requirements. While all Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) are accountants all accountants are not CPAs. The principle differences between accountants and CPAs are education, experience and certification. An accountant is a general term for a professional who helps maintain financial records, analyzes financial records, and/or make sure taxes are paid properly. Accountants typically have detailed understanding and knowledge of cash flow, owner’s equity, balance sheets, chart of accounts, etc. and their effects on a business. A bookkeeper is a person that is responsible for keeping track of business transactions including sales records, bank deposits, and sometimes payroll and may or may not have formal education or traini
