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Audit prep insights

Bookkeeper vs. Accountant: Who Does What During an Audit?

Know the Difference So You Can Be Prepared

When audit season arrives, knowing who’s responsible for what can save your SME a lot of stress. Many business owners assume their bookkeeper or accountant will “handle the audit” — but their roles are different, and both are critical. Understanding this difference means smoother audits, fewer surprises, and better results.

Here’s a breakdown of who does what — and why it matters.

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1

Your Bookkeeper: Laying the Foundation

A bookkeeper’s role is to keep your daily financial transactions organised and up to date. This includes:

  • Capturing invoices and receipts
  • Recording sales and expenses
  • Reconciling bank accounts
  • Managing payroll records
  • Keeping a general ledger

The bookkeeper ensures the source data is accurate and complete. Auditors may trace transactions back to bookkeeping records, so clean, well-organised books are essential.

2

Your Accountant: Preparing the Audit-Ready Financials

An accountant takes the raw data from your bookkeeper and turns it into financial statements that meet formal reporting and compliance standards (like IFRS for SMEs). Their job includes:

  • Compiling and reviewing financial reports
  • Ensuring statements are audit-compliant
  • Matching records to tax submissions
  • Preparing working papers for auditors
  • Liaising directly with auditors or SARS if needed

Your accountant is the one who structures the financial story. They defend the numbers, answer technical questions, and ensure your SME passes the audit without hiccups.

3

Where They Work Together

The strongest audit prep comes when your bookkeeper and accountant work as a team. For example:

  • The bookkeeper maintains an audit trail of every transaction.
  • The accountant ensures the audit trail meets SARS and accounting standards.

One maintains the detail, the other interprets and presents it.

4

Why It Matters for SMEs

When roles are unclear, things fall through the cracks. Documents go missing. Auditors come back with more questions. Stress levels rise.

With SG&CO, we work hand-in-hand with your bookkeeper (or we take on the bookkeeping ourselves) to ensure everything’s audit-ready — from the ground up.

A successful audit isn’t about luck. It’s about clear roles, clean records, and confident reporting. With the right bookkeeper-accountant team behind you, you’ll face your next audit with clarity and calm.

Get in touch with SG&CO today.

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