She has created employee handbooks and business process manuals for small businesses, authored a guidebook to Seattle, and worked as an accountant in the construction, software and non-profit sectors. Christensen studied communications and accounting at the University of Washington, and history at Armstrong State University. Therefore, as your business grows and its finances get more complex, switching to a full-charge bookkeeper should come naturally. That’s why this is the ideal option for mid to large-size growing companies that can afford to take this step.
They are usually accountable for more than a regular or part-time bookkeeper, and report not to an accountant but directly to the CEO, CFO, or financial manager. The bookkeeper may also run a cash-flow statement and a statement of owner’s equity, depending on the needs and structure of the company. Owners or management may request periodic reports from the full charge bookkeeper, such as job-cost reports or sales reports.
Accounting deals with exact numbers and bookkeepers need to make sure that they account for every cent going out and coming in. They must be able to spot mistakes and inconsistencies or errors that might result in damaging audits and investigations by regulatory authorities. A full-charge bookkeeper is the same as a bookkeeper, except that the “full charge” part of the title designates the person as being solely responsible for accounting. This means that the full charge bookkeeper reports straight to a senior manager, such as the president, and may interact directly with the company’s board of directors and auditors. The position can be assisted by an outside CPA who advises on how to record certain of the more complicated business transactions.
Understanding the broader financial landscape allows them to source candidates for investments and consider hiring decisions that align with the organization’s growth objectives. Your earnings could differ based on factors like location, experience, education, certifications, the client’s size, and whether you work in-house. We’ve already mentioned some of the skills that full charge bookkeepers should possess, but we’d like to focus more on their educational background. Now, let’s take a look at full charge bookkeeper vs. bookkeeper job descriptions and compare them. The full charge bookkeeper will supervise these employees, helping to organize work flow and verifying accuracy of work.
Generally speaking, accountants analyze the financial data gathered by bookkeepers. A full charge bookkeeper with certification can help you with recording transactions, processing accounts payable, managing payroll, and doing taxes. When needed, you can hire a certified public accountant to coordinate with an FC bookkeeper and help with audits and tax returns.
They code and enter vendor and expense invoices, run checks, bill customers and clients, and prepare bank deposits, ensuring that the correct general ledger accounts are debited or credited accordingly. Think of full-charge bookkeeping as the Swiss Army knife of financial management for small businesses. It goes beyond the basic data entry and transaction recording of traditional bookkeeping. A full-charge bookkeeper is a one-person accounting department, handling the complete financial cycle from A to Z. Although full charge bookkeepers are responsible for a business’s accounting, they are not accountants or Certified Public Accountants.
All information prepared on this site is for informational purposes only, and should not be relied on for legal, tax or accounting advice. You should consult your own legal, tax or accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction. The content on this website is provided “as is;” no representations are made that the content is error-free. Finding an accountant to manage your bookkeeping and file taxes is a big decision.
