Bookkeeper: meaning, definitions and examples

Refers to someone responsible for recording the day-to-day financial transactions of a business. It is often used for roles that do not require certification or extensive financial analysis.

• The small business employed a bookkeeper to manage their daily transactions.
• As a bookkeeper, she ensured all invoices were properly recorded.

Typically used for professionals who are certified and have a broader range of responsibilities, including auditing, tax preparation, and financial consulting.

• She hired an accountant to help with her company's taxes.
• After completing his degree, he worked as an accountant at a big firm.

Used for administrative roles that involve various financial or accounting tasks, often within larger organizations. This term is less specific and can include responsibilities like maintaining records, processing transactions, or assisting with payroll.

• The financial clerk processed all the payment requests for the company.
• He started his career as a financial clerk before moving to more specialized roles.

An older or more traditional term for someone who maintains accounting records, particularly ledgers. It is less commonly used today and may suggest a more basic or manual approach to bookkeeping.

• In traditional firms, a ledger keeper would carefully update the financial records by hand.
• They hired a ledger keeper to ensure all transactions were accurately recorded in the books.

Use this word when referring to someone who keeps accurate records of financial transactions. This person typically manages ledgers and ensures that the financial records are complete and accurate.

• The bookkeeper ensured that all receipts were logged and categorized correctly.
• Our bookkeeper is very diligent and always keeps our financial records in perfect order.

This term is used for a role that involves managing financial operations, which can include payroll, budgeting, and financial reporting. This role can be seen in various types of organizations.

• The financial administrator oversees the payroll processing and ensures that all employees are paid on time.
• Our financial administrator is in charge of the comprehensive financial reporting for the entire organization.

This term is for someone responsible for overseeing financial management and planning in an organization. A finance officer may perform higher-level tasks such as budget preparation, financial analysis, and strategic planning.

• The finance officer presented the annual budget report to the board of directors.
• As a finance officer, he is responsible for managing the company’s cash flow and investments.

This is used for an entry-level position in the accounting department. An accounting clerk handles basic accounting tasks such as data entry, invoice processing, and assisting with financial reports.

• The accounting clerk processed all the supplier invoices and updated the financial database.
• She started her career as an accounting clerk and gradually moved up to higher positions.