Small business owners are typically experts in their field or industry but might need more financial expertise to keep their company’s books in order. They don’t just crunch numbers; they make those numbers understandable and usable for the business owner. The full charge bookkeeper is literally in charge of the accounting department offering a direct line to money matters for the C-suite.

In larger organizations, these more complex accounting tasks would normally be handled by an accountant or controller. Mastering the fundamentals of bookkeeping and securing a trustworthy bookkeeper can be a daunting task for any aspiring small business owner. Nonetheless, as your business expands, so does the complexity of your bookkeeping requirements, making it imperative to elevate your bookkeeping approach. In this article, we will elucidate the concept of full-charge bookkeeping and highlight the advantages it can offer to your business. No matter how much bookkeeping and accounting duties might differ, a full service bookkeeping job combines some features of both. When it comes to small business bookkeeping, the role of a full charge bookkeeper must be balanced.

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A regular bookkeeper might be sufficient for small businesses with relatively straightforward financial transactions. However, as a business grows and its financial processes become more complex, the role of a full charge bookkeeper becomes increasingly essential. The title ‘full charge’ accurately describes the breadth and depth of their responsibility – they are ‘fully in charge’ of an organization’s bookkeeping needs. Given this broader scope, what is a full charge bookkeeper a full charge bookkeeper typically requires more experience and a deeper understanding of financial management than a regular bookkeeper. While full charge bookkeepers maintain accurate records and help keep the financial wheels turning, accountants often use the data bookkeepers provide to guide strategic financial decisions. They can help businesses forecast future financial situations, plan budgets, and advise on tax-related issues.

• They will perform tax-related and payroll tasks, coordinate tasks with certified public accountants, and prepare information for auditing purposes.
• They usually have a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field and often pass an exam to get a certification and become certified public accountants.
• They perform a month-end closing, running a trial balance to verify that the general ledger isn’t off.
• However, as your business appetites grow and your company scales, you might ask yourself whether this role should be taken to a higher level as well.
• To become a bookkeeper, a high school diploma or equivalent and some basic bookkeeping knowledge are enough.

They usually have more responsibilities than regular bookkeepers and are often in touch with the company’s CEO and upper management. The distinction between a regular bookkeeper and a full charge bookkeeper primarily resides in their level of responsibility and the complexity of their tasks. Partnering with professional bookkeeping services such as Books and Balances ensures that small businesses can access complete charge bookkeeping expertise.

What Is the Difference Between a Full Charge Bookkeeper and an Accountant?

Full-charge bookkeepers get involved in client accounts and help manage each accounting cycle beyond basic bookkeeping functions. Their skills can be invaluable for businesses hoping to get a better handle on accounting and become more involved in financial reviews and analyses commonly performed by business accountants. It’s important to note that a full-charge bookkeeper is not a certified public accountant (CPA). While full-charge bookkeepers can assist in preparing financial statements and tax returns, these documents are typically reviewed or audited by a CPA.

Their team of professionals handles all aspects of bookkeeping, allowing business owners to save time, reduce stress, and have peace of mind knowing their finances are in good hands. Larger companies sometimes have the assistance of an outside certified public accountant to review and audit more complicated financial statements and tax returns. If the company grows to the size of a corporation, the full charge bookkeepers’ duties are shifted to a controller. Bookkeeping is essential to any successful business, ensuring accurate financial records and providing vital insights for decision-making. Among various bookkeeping methods, one that has gained significant traction in recent years is full charge bookkeeping.

Full Charge Bookkeeping

The business owner can access their financial data anytime, anywhere, keeping them up-to-date with their financial status. This convenience and accessibility are particularly important for small businesses that require flexibility. They maintain complete and up-to-date detailed accounts and manage all the fundamental bookkeeping duties, such as ledger entries, financial statement preparations, and payroll. Full charge bookkeepers often manage the entire cycle of accounting functions. Full charge bookkeeping encompasses all of the bookkeeping needs of a business.

Bookkeeping entails the task of monitoring and recording finances, while accounting involves the compilation and analysis of account-related information. 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. In some organizations, full charge bookkeepers may also handle additional administrative or HR-related tasks, such as processing new hires or handling benefits administration. Accountants are responsible for using the financial data organized by the bookkeeper to create forecasts and budgets for the purpose of advising senior management.

Consequently, as your business progresses and its financial matters become more intricate, transitioning to a full-charge bookkeeper should occur organically. Hence, this becomes the optimal choice for medium to large-sized companies that are undergoing growth and possess the means to undertake this transition. Many companies find outsourced bookkeeping solutions, like CFOshare, to be less disruptive to their existing staff.

• Their role involves handling duties that bridge the gap between basic bookkeeping and accounting.
• Full charge bookkeeping encompasses all of the bookkeeping needs of a business.
• The choice depends on a company’s size, the complexity of financial transactions, and specific business requirements.
• An outsourced hire can fill talent gaps while you decide if promoting within or hiring full-time in the future will continue to foster growth.
• Full charge bookkeepers are responsible for full-cycle accounting, which requires an ability to juggle several organizational tasks at once.
• You’re probably wondering now what the difference is between these two job titles and which one you should hire to take care of your financial records.
• With additional training, a full charge bookkeeper could be promoted into the controller position.

The choice between hiring a full charge bookkeeper or an accountant ultimately depends on the specific needs of a business. Smaller businesses with relatively straightforward financial transactions might find https://www.bookstime.com/ a full charge bookkeeper sufficient to manage their financial records. At the same time, larger businesses, or those with more complex financial needs, might require the advanced expertise of an accountant.

How does a Ful-Charge Bookkeeper differ from a Regular Bookkeeper?

It is a comprehensive role that includes the tasks of posting journal entries, managing payroll and bank reconciliations, and producing financial statements. Essentially, a full charge bookkeeper is a jack-of-all-trades in the bookkeeping world. I’ve been with my current job for over 3 years now, it’s hybrid remote and my salary with them is still $50k. Originally when I started it was simply full charge bookkeeping, but they have multiple “shell” companies that I manage.