What is a Bookkeeper?

What a bookkeeper does

A bookkeeper handles the ongoing, transactional side of your finances. Typical work includes:

• Recording income and expenses and reconciling bank accounts
• Running payroll, superannuation and Single Touch Payroll reporting
• Preparing and lodging BAS and managing GST
• Managing invoices, bills and accounts payable/receivable
• Keeping your Xero or MYOB file clean and up to date

Bookkeeper vs accountant

A bookkeeper keeps your records accurate day to day; an accountant interprets those records for tax, structure and strategy and lodges your income tax returns. The two work together — the tidier a bookkeeper keeps your books, the less an accountant charges at tax time. Our guide on accountant vs bookkeeper breaks down who does what and when you need each.

BAS agent registration

Anyone who charges a fee to provide BAS services — lodging a BAS, or advising on GST and PAYG obligations — must be a registered BAS agent under the Tax Agent Services Act 2009. Registration is with the Tax Practitioners Board, which sets qualification, experience and conduct requirements. Many bookkeepers also hold a Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping and belong to a body such as the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB).

Do you need a bookkeeper?

If bookkeeping is eating your evenings, or your accounts are often behind, a bookkeeper usually pays for itself in time saved and cleaner data. Businesses with staff, invoices and BAS obligations benefit most. RosterElf-partner bookkeepers use automated award interpretation so payroll reaches Xero or MYOB already calculated — you can find one in our directory. Accountants and bookkeepers can explore RosterElf for accountants.

Key takeaways

A bookkeeper keeps your day-to-day records accurate and runs payroll and BAS; an accountant interprets the numbers for tax and strategy. To charge for BAS work a bookkeeper must be a registered BAS agent. Many businesses use both, and clean bookkeeping lowers your overall accounting cost.