accounting – Page 4 – MARIELA RUIZ, CPA, PLLC

When it comes to accounting and bookkeeping, there are many differences. While these careers have many similarities and common goals, they are there to support your business in very different ways and for different parts of its business operations. Simply put, bookkeeping is more transactional and administrative while accounting is there to give you proper business insights based on bookkeeping information. We understand that you might not know the differences between these careers; we hope the following blog will give you all the information you need.

Accounting

As previously stated, accountants take care of the big picture by providing you with business insights based on bookkeeping information. An accountant will process all the financial information that was brought to you by the bookkeeper or business owner. From there, he or she will create a financial model using that information. Accountants’ analysis should inform you on business trends and growth opportunities.

Accounting Duties:

Analyzing costs of operations
Aiding in the understanding of the impact of financial decisions
Completing income tax returns
Preparing and adjusting data entries
Preparing company financial statements

Bookkeeping

Bookkeepers, on the other hand, will play more of an administrative role in the business. They are more focused on recording financial transactions. This will help build a business to be financially successful. The bookkeeper is on the ground floor, managing your daily transactions and looking out for changes to the organization or significant financial events that should be addressed immediately.

Bookkeeper Duties:

Completing payroll
Maintaining and balancing subsidiaries, general ledgers, and historical accounts
Posting debits and credits
Producing invoices
Recording financial transactions

Businesses will succeed more often than not when they have a complete picture of their finances, and bookkeepers and accountants each look at a business’ numbers through different lenses. In order to receive the best advice for your business, it is essential to have both an accountant and bookkeeper by your side. If you are looking for someone you can trust with your bookkeeping or accounting services, you can count on MARIELA RUIZ, CPA, PLLC. No matter what you are looking for, we have got you covered.

All business audits share things in common, but do you know what they entail? The auditor, whether someone within your business or an external auditor, will do a thorough evaluation of your accounting books and financial statements. They usually check an entire year’s worth of financial data, including income and expenses. If you’re a small business owner, or maybe just curious about the auditing process, keep reading to learn about the different audits for businesses.

Internal Audit

An internal audit is a self-audit that’s scheduled and conducted by a representative of your own company. Many businesses do an internal audit once a year to ensure the accuracy of their books and financial statements. An internal audit is for your own purposes, and to check for errors or other issues.

Larger companies usually have audit departments, but a smaller business might employ just one or two people to conduct audits. Internal auditors don’t just check business finances; they also check company policies, procedures, and processes to check compliance with internal guidance and federal, state, and local laws.

External Audit

An external audit, also known as an independent audit, is an audit conducted by someone outside the organization. This is called an independent audit because the auditor has no loyalty or responsibility to the business that could create a conflict of interest. In their report, they’ll have to provide an opinion as to whether your company passed the audit. An auditor might take one of the following stances in a business audit:

Clean opinion – The business’s books and financial statements accurately represent the company’s financial position.
Qualified opinion – The auditor disagrees with parts of the company’s financial records, but the audit was too limited in scope or access to come to a definitive conclusion.
Adverse opinion – The auditor found that the business financial records materially misrepresent the company’s financial position.
Disclaimer of opinion – In this type of report, the auditor doesn’t give any opinion on certain financial records.

IRS Audit

An IRS audit occurs when the IRS finds potential errors in your tax return. Usually, the IRS schedules audits for tax returns that were filed in the last three years. A few factors can trigger an IRS audit. For example, if you claim losses for multiple years in a row or report high income levels, you may be subject to an IRS audit.

Conclusion

As you’ve read above, small businesses go through the audit process to check on financial records and other important documentation. Whether it’s an internal or external audit, it’s best to let a professional do the job. At MARIELA RUIZ, CPA, PLLC, we have the audit services you need to keep your business in check. Contact our team today!

MARIELA RUIZ, CPA, PLLC

Helping Individuals and Businesses Financially Thrive.

Tag: accounting (page 4 of 4)

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