Your business may have grown or you simply don’t have the time and skills to manage your own finances. When choosing between an accountant and a bookkeeper, here’s what you need to know: Bookkeepers are generally responsible for tidying up financial records. This includes incomings and outgoings, including personal assets (property, savings and investments) or business transactions, payroll and expense management. They’ll help you organise your accounts, ensure payments are made and received on time, and that you have a healthy cash flow. Accountants provide more professional advice and services, often related to specific industries or areas of accounting, such as tax or investments. They can also use the details of your accounts to file tax returns, perform tax planning and tax audits, produce financial statements and generate business forecasts and analysis. There is naturally some overlap and many practices offer a mix of services. Ensure you know what you require and that the providers you approach are registered to offer their services. Using this guide, search our listings for top accountants and bookkeepers nearby. Compare quotes for the most competitive services and make your finances easier with the best tax local accountants.