Choose bookkeeper support for record cleanup and bookkeeping preparation: receipts, bills, statements, approved vendor records, trackers, and month-end packets. Choose accountant support for tax- and close-preparation work: source-file requests, close checklists, reconciliation support, draft schedules, and report packets. Both roles prepare, document, and flag exceptions; the authorized finance owner keeps ledger decisions, tax treatment, close approval, payments, and financial statements.
Choose a small, inspectable batch before assigning a broad finance title.
Start with receipt and bill sorting, statement gathering, approved vendor-record cleanup, invoice lists, tracker updates, and a month-end packet that shows missing or unclear records. The output is a cleaner record set for review, not a completed reconciliation or accounting decision.
Start with tax-packet organization, close checklists, reconciliation support files, draft schedules, variance notes, report formatting, and request tracking. The output is a review-ready packet, not a tax position, journal entry, close approval, or final statement.
Keep preparation work traceable from source record to named reviewer.
Prepares receipts, bills, statements, approved vendor records, trackers, and month-end record packets for review.
Prepares tax packets, close checklists, reconciliation support files, draft schedules, report packets, and request trackers.
Does the reviewer need cleaner operating records or a structured close, tax, or review packet?
Approved receipt folders, bills, statements, invoice lists, permitted vendor fields, tracker inputs, and missing-file lists.
Approved source folders, tax-document checklists, close-status records, reconciliation support, approved reports, and documented requests.
Can every output be traced to an approved source or a clearly named missing item?
One receipt folder, statement set, vendor-cleanup list with locked fields, or month-end missing-file packet.
One close checklist, tax-document folder, reconciliation support packet, or draft schedule-formatting batch.
Can the named reviewer inspect every item in the first batch?
Cleanly named records, a missing-document list, an exception list, tracker update, or close-support notes.
A review packet with file links, open questions, visible differences, draft formatting, and request status.
Does the output separate observed facts, missing evidence, and decisions needed?
Flags missing receipts, duplicate records, unclear invoices, access issues, or records outside written rules.
Flags unclear transactions, source gaps, reconciliation differences, report inconsistencies, or unanswered reviewer requests.
Is the item held and routed rather than fixed by the assistant?
May gather support and document open questions or close status for review.
May collect support files and prepare checklists, schedules, and variance notes for review.
The authorized finance owner retains ledger decisions, reconciliation approval, journal entries, close approval, and final financial statements.
Uses named accounts, limited folders or tools, and only permitted vendor fields; MFA is used where available.
Uses named accounts and limited source or report folders; locked fields remain locked and MFA is used where available.
Are permissions named, limited, time-reviewed, and sufficient only for preparation?
Payments, bank changes, payroll, tax filings or advice, journal entries, final close, financial statements, or unreviewed accounting changes.
Tax advice or filings, payroll submissions, final reconciliations, journal entries, close approval, financial statements, payments, bank changes, or unreviewed accounting changes.
If work can move money, alter the ledger or tax treatment, finalize close, or state a financial conclusion, hold it for the authorized finance owner.
Start with bookkeeper support when the immediate need is to sort records, identify gaps, maintain allowed records, and prepare a month-end packet. The reviewer still decides how items are categorized, reconciled, or reflected in the books.
Start with accountant support when the immediate need is a close checklist, source-file chase, reconciliation support, draft schedule formatting, variance notes, or request tracking. The reviewer retains judgment over entries, treatment, reconciliations, close, filings, and statements.
Split the brief. A request to clean up the books and finish month-end combines preparation with owner-only accounting decisions. Assign one reviewable preparation batch, name the reviewer, and route every decision.
If a request can move money, change where money goes, alter ledger or tax treatment, approve close, finalize a report, or bypass a control, the assistant stops and routes it to the named authorized finance owner.
"Prepare one named batch from approved sources. Record what is present, missing, duplicated, or unclear. Do not decide, approve, post, pay, file, change, or finalize. Route each held item to the named authorized finance owner."
The first samples should make it easy to inspect the source trail, exceptions, and review process.
Sort broader bookkeeping, invoice support, payroll administration, and accountant review before you write a role brief.
Review finance supportException evidenceKeep the source records, mismatch, reviewer, evidence, and recheck together before an owner decides.
Open the exception logRole planningModel hours, tool seats, setup time, review time, and a buffer before you compare quotes.
Open the cost calculatorQuote preparationGive providers the same first batch, access limits, held actions, and sample-review plan before comparing offers.
Build a provider briefNo. Accountant support prepares files, schedules, checklists, and notes for review. A qualified reviewer retains accounting judgment, tax treatment, journal entries, reconciliations, close approval, and financial statements.
No. This comparison concerns support preparation around bookkeeping. The authorized reviewer retains final bookkeeping and accounting decisions.
Split the work by output. Bookkeeper support can assemble records and close-status notes; accountant support can prepare close checklists, reconciliation support, draft schedules, and variance notes. The authorized finance owner approves reconciliations, entries, close, and reporting.
Not as an unreviewed support task. Changes to the ledger, accounting treatment, formulas, reports, or statements require authorized finance-owner review and approval.
No. The roles may document and route the request. Payment approval, scheduling, release, money movement, and bank-detail changes remain with authorized owners through the business's controlled process.
These sources help frame record work and account access. They do not define the job titles, authorize financial actions, or prove a staffing outcome.
Use OutsourcedU to write the role, SOPs, onboarding steps, and weekly review before you hire more people.