Professional Documents
Culture Documents
A Partial Fulfillment in
Submitted by:
Bermillo, Nathaniel B.
Navato, Alexanda J.
Viray, Sunshine G.
Submitted to:
HENGCO2 Professor
Bañas, C., Bermillo, N., Dumlao, G., Galario, J., Navato, A., Viray, S. Page 1
A Comparative Analysis between an Accountant and a Bookkeeper
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This research paper is made possible through the help and support from everyone,
including: parents, family, friends, and professors. Especially, the researchers dedicate
contributors:
First and foremost, the researchers would like to express their deepest gratitude to Ms.
Ruby Anne Minay for her excellent guidance, understanding, patience and motivation
Second, the researchers would like to thank their family who are always there to support
Lastly, the researchers would also like to give their sincere gratitude to the accountants
and bookkeepers who filled in the survey, without which this research would be
incomplete.
Bañas, C., Bermillo, N., Dumlao, G., Galario, J., Navato, A., Viray, S. Page 2
A Comparative Analysis between an Accountant and a Bookkeeper
Table of Contents
I. Abstract ……………………………………………………………………………. 4
II. Introduction ……………………………………………………………………….. 5
III. Methodology ……………………………………………………………………… 8
IV. Result & Discussion ……………………………………………………………. 13
V. Conclusion and Recommendation……………………………………………. 16
VI. References ……………………………………………………………………….. 18
VII. Appendices ………………………………………………………………………..19
VIII. Recommendation from the panel ……………………………………………….25
Abstract
Bañas, C., Bermillo, N., Dumlao, G., Galario, J., Navato, A., Viray, S. Page 3
A Comparative Analysis between an Accountant and a Bookkeeper
needed between an accountant and a bookkeeper was conducted, gathering data from
two (2) pairs of Accountants and Bookkeeper from Prime Business Solutions and Allied
Services Inc., and Pioneer Insurance and Surety Corporation new set of questionnaires.
The researchers used clustering for statistical treat meant of the data it was found out
that accountants and bookkeepers are somewhat the same on some functions but differ
the companies to provide task that would be particular for an accountant and a
bookkeeper.
Introduction
Bañas, C., Bermillo, N., Dumlao, G., Galario, J., Navato, A., Viray, S. Page 4
A Comparative Analysis between an Accountant and a Bookkeeper
People are often confused about the difference of an accountant and a bookkeeper, and
sometimes they think of it as the same. It is important to know the difference between
manners and in terms of money, transactions, and events which are, in part of at least,
of a financial character, and interpreting the results thereof (Needles, Anderson, &
Caldwell, 1990) the modern definitions of accounting, however, are much broad. In
1970, the AICPA stated that the function of accountancy is to provide quantitative
The modern accountant, therefore, is concerned not only with recordkeeping but also
with a whole wide range of activities involving planning and, problem solving; control
and attention directing; and evaluation, review, and auditing; so accounting is not an
There are several studies discussing about the characteristics of an accountant. In the
study done by Wessels & Steenkamps (2009) have discussed the student’s issue of
stereotypical views of accountants and the work they perform. They have found out
Bañas, C., Bermillo, N., Dumlao, G., Galario, J., Navato, A., Viray, S. Page 5
A Comparative Analysis between an Accountant and a Bookkeeper
On study made by Tilt (2009) on the contribution of accountants to the debate and
practice of corporate social responsibility discussed that the Accounting Officer has an
cannot be acquainted with the detail of every transaction in the Department or Office, it
the regularity, propriety and efficiency of the Department’s or Office’s operations. These
mechanisms are robust internal control systems, sound internal audit and Audit
Based on the study made by Stoddard (1978) about The Accountant’s role in
Management he found out that the role of accountant should be: gathering, interpreting,
and communicating financial data, performing special financial studies, controlling cost
and expenses, counselling managers on the financial impact of their decisions and
The study cited discussed about the characteristics needed by accountant, however,
they it did not discuss the trainings needed by the accountant that could help in
A study done by Wilmshurst & Frost (2001) determining the role of an accountant in a
company. The accountant has a role to play in assessing whether environmental goals
have been achieved, and how this compares with the past performance of the firm. It is
Bañas, C., Bermillo, N., Dumlao, G., Galario, J., Navato, A., Viray, S. Page 6
A Comparative Analysis between an Accountant and a Bookkeeper
Hence, the purpose of our study is to determine the difference and similarities of a
answered:
Bañas, C., Bermillo, N., Dumlao, G., Galario, J., Navato, A., Viray, S. Page 7
A Comparative Analysis between an Accountant and a Bookkeeper
Methodology
bookkeeper and an accountant. Two (2) pairs of each from two (2) different companies
will be used as the respondents because they are the ones who are directly involved
and are the main subjects in the study, “The Comparative Analysis between a
into two (2) because there are some questions that can only be answered by the
accountant and the bookkeeper. The participants will be asked by their demographic
profile such as; name (optional), age, gender, occupation, company name, educational
Materials
The researchers used tools such as survey questionnaires to gather the data
needed. The survey questionnaire was made by the researchers. Since the topic is
decided to make (2) two survey questionnaires, one is for the bookkeeper and the other
one is for the accountant. The survey questionnaire was divided into two categories
Bañas, C., Bermillo, N., Dumlao, G., Galario, J., Navato, A., Viray, S. Page 8
A Comparative Analysis between an Accountant and a Bookkeeper
For the Demographic Background, the questions are the same for the bookkeeper and
the accountant.
Name(Optional):
Age:
Occupation:
Company Name:
Bañas, C., Bermillo, N., Dumlao, G., Galario, J., Navato, A., Viray, S. Page 9
A Comparative Analysis between an Accountant and a Bookkeeper
Pilot Testing
After the letter and the survey questionnaire were finalized and approved by our
English professor, the researchers photocopied two (2) sets of survey questionnaires
Last January 25, 2015 (Sunday), the researchers went to Prime Business Solutions
and Allied Services Inc. and conducted their first set of survey while the second sets of
survey were conducted February 1, 2015 (Sunday) at Pioneer Insurance and Surety
Corporation. These companies were selected by the researchers because of their easy
access to their respondents. Two (2) pairs of bookkeeper and accountant participated in
this pilot test. Out of four (4) questionnaires distributed, four (4) questionnaires were
retrieved. Each respondent was asked to answer the questionnaire for 20 minutes but
all of them completed it before the said time limit. Other than that, the participants found
Procedures
The researchers first formulated questions that they believed would gather the
different data needed for their study. The researchers came up with the survey
Bañas, C., Bermillo, N., Dumlao, G., Galario, J., Navato, A., Viray, S. Page 10
A Comparative Analysis between an Accountant and a Bookkeeper
questions. The research design used is a causal-comparative because two (2) groups
pilot testing to determine if the said questionnaire would gather the needed answers to
The researchers scanned the answer of the respondents and some of them gave
actual survey on two (2) pairs of accountant and two (2) pairs of bookkeepers from
different companies. The researchers will then analyze the gathered data from the
respondents.
Data Analysis
Bañas, C., Bermillo, N., Dumlao, G., Galario, J., Navato, A., Viray, S. Page 11
A Comparative Analysis between an Accountant and a Bookkeeper
therefore the researchers used clustering in organizing the data and information for
Bañas, C., Bermillo, N., Dumlao, G., Galario, J., Navato, A., Viray, S. Page 12
A Comparative Analysis between an Accountant and a Bookkeeper
Table 1 shows the views of the accountants regarding their profession. As shown above,
both believe that auditing and analysis of financial statements are performed by
communication skills, good analytical and critical thinking skills; here, they do not
actually have the same answer yet accountants should possess each of the qualities
they have mentioned. Accountants should go to seminars related in their field and they
company should have accountants the moment it started doing business and
transactions specifically when the owner do not have knowledge in that field (Nedved,
1973)
Bañas, C., Bermillo, N., Dumlao, G., Galario, J., Navato, A., Viray, S. Page 13
A Comparative Analysis between an Accountant and a Bookkeeper
Based on the data above, accountants and bookkeepers tend to overlap in recording
Bañas, C., Bermillo, N., Dumlao, G., Galario, J., Navato, A., Viray, S. Page 14
A Comparative Analysis between an Accountant and a Bookkeeper
procedures.
Table 2 shows that the answers of the respondents that have somewhat coincided with
one another. As shown above, they are the ones who maintain and update accounting
records such as recording and posting business transactions in journal. The quality of a
bookkeeper is good critical thinking skills. The earlier the better to hire a bookkeeper in
the company (Mohr, 2012), because they are the ones who keeps the book and retains
Bañas, C., Bermillo, N., Dumlao, G., Galario, J., Navato, A., Viray, S. Page 15
A Comparative Analysis between an Accountant and a Bookkeeper
This paper had successfully explain the difference between accountants and
bookkeepers regarding different factors that concern their job such as functions,
attainment.
When it comes to functions, accountants have been found to do the analysis and
auditing of financial transactions, while bookkeepers are the ones to do the recording
and storing financial transactions. When it comes to qualities, both accountants and
bookkeepers should possess the same attributes such as a keen eye for details, good
analytical and critical thinking skills. When it comes to the trainings needed, accountant
development and to attend the seminars related to accounting field, while bookkeepers
are best hired the moment a business started doing business transactions. On the other
hand, bookkeepers should be hired when there is limited financial capability to pay for
bookkeepers should have taken post-secondary courses up to two years in areas such
The researchers were able to find out the differences in the functionally of each job and
based on the findings of the paper, each job, accountants and bookkeepers, has his/her
own specific task to perform. Each job has a different scope and boundaries that
distinguish them from one another. As stated above, accountants do the analysis and
Bañas, C., Bermillo, N., Dumlao, G., Galario, J., Navato, A., Viray, S. Page 16
A Comparative Analysis between an Accountant and a Bookkeeper
auditing of financial transactions, while bookkeepers are the ones to do the recording
and storing financial transactions. Hence, the researchers recommend the companies
human resources to provide tasks and trainings needed for an accountant and a
bookkeeper. On the other hand, students will be also one of the beneficiaries of this
job.
References
Bañas, C., Bermillo, N., Dumlao, G., Galario, J., Navato, A., Viray, S. Page 17
A Comparative Analysis between an Accountant and a Bookkeeper
Hermanson, R., Edwards, J., & Saimonson, R.,(1986) Accounting Principles (3rd ed.)
Plano:Texas Business Publications Inc.
Wessels, P.L., & Steenkamp, L. P. (2009). An investigation into students’ perception of
accountants. Meditary Accountancy Research, 17(1), 117-132.
Needles, B., Anderson, H., Caldwell, J., (1990) Principles of Accounting (3rd ed.) U.S.A.
Houghton Mifflin Company.
Stoddard, F.D. (1978). The Accountants Role in Management. Management Accounting
60(1), 42
Tilt, C. (2009) Corporate Responsibility, Accounting and Accountant. Professionals
Perspective of Corporate Social Responsibility. 23(1), 40.
Wilshurst, T. D., & Frost, G. R. (2001). The role of accounting and accountant in the
environmental system. Business Strategy and the Environment, 10(3),
135.
Bragg, S. (2014). Bookkeeper Job Description. https://accountingtools.com. Date
retrieved: March 2, 2015.
Mohr, A. (2012). What’s the difference between bookkeeper and accountant?
https://quickbooks.insuit.com. Date retrieved: December 11, 2014.
Nedved, J. C., (1973). Builder’s Accounting (1 st ed.) Chichester: Sussex. Butterworth &
Co.
Appendices
Bañas, C., Bermillo, N., Dumlao, G., Galario, J., Navato, A., Viray, S. Page 18
A Comparative Analysis between an Accountant and a Bookkeeper
I. Demographic Background
Name (optional):
Age:
Gender:
Occupation:
Company Name:
Educational Attainment
College Graduate
Master’s Degree
Doctorate’s Degree
CPA
Bañas, C., Bermillo, N., Dumlao, G., Galario, J., Navato, A., Viray, S. Page 19
A Comparative Analysis between an Accountant and a Bookkeeper
Monthly Income
P 10,000 below
P 10,000-30,000
P 31,000-50,000
P 51,000-70,000
P 71,000-99,000
P 100,000 above
Bañas, C., Bermillo, N., Dumlao, G., Galario, J., Navato, A., Viray, S. Page 20
A Comparative Analysis between an Accountant and a Bookkeeper
accountant?
6. When do you think is the best time for a business to hire an accountant?
7. What do you think are the tasks of a bookkeeper and an accountant that tend to overlap?
9. If one BS Accountancy graduate didn’t pass the board exam, what would be the possible
Bañas, C., Bermillo, N., Dumlao, G., Galario, J., Navato, A., Viray, S. Page 21
A Comparative Analysis between an Accountant and a Bookkeeper
Name (optional):
Age:
Gender:
Occupation:
Company Name:
Educational Attainment
College Graduate
Master’s Degree
Doctorate’s Degree
CPA
Bañas, C., Bermillo, N., Dumlao, G., Galario, J., Navato, A., Viray, S. Page 22
A Comparative Analysis between an Accountant and a Bookkeeper
Monthly Income
P 10,000 below
P 10,000-30,000
P 31,000-50,000
P 51,000-70,000
P 71,000-99,000
P 100,000 above
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A Comparative Analysis between an Accountant and a Bookkeeper
14. Whom do you think is best preferred to be hired in a business? Bookeeper or an accountant?
15. When do you think is the best time for a business to hire a bookeeper?
16. What do you think are the tasks of a bookeeper and an accountant that tend to overlap?
18. If one BS Accountancy graduate didn’t pass the board exam, what would be the possible
Bañas, C., Bermillo, N., Dumlao, G., Galario, J., Navato, A., Viray, S. Page 24
A Comparative Analysis between an Accountant and a Bookkeeper
Bañas, C., Bermillo, N., Dumlao, G., Galario, J., Navato, A., Viray, S. Page 25