By Stuart Kerr, Director of BookkeepingPackages.co.uk
Published: 26/07/2025
Last Updated: 26/07/2025
Contact: support@bookkeepingpackages.co.uk | Twitter: @LiveAIWire
Author Bio: About Stuart Kerr
Hiring an accountant is seen by many small business owners as the gold standard of financial security. But when tax season rolls around and receipts are still in shoeboxes, an important question often arises: if you already have an accountant, do you really need a bookkeeper too?
This article explores the unique roles of bookkeepers and accountants, and why more UK businesses are turning to monthly bookkeeping packages to stay compliant, save money, and gain real clarity over their finances.
The Difference Between an Accountant and a Bookkeeper
At first glance, the two roles appear to overlap, but they’re fundamentally different.
A bookkeeper is responsible for recording financial transactions: categorising expenses, reconciling bank accounts, issuing invoices, and maintaining up-to-date ledgers. This is the day-to-day foundation of your business’s financial health. Without it, everything else is guesswork.
An accountant, on the other hand, typically steps in less frequently—usually for quarterly VAT returns, year-end accounts, or strategic financial planning. They analyse the data provided by the bookkeeper to advise on taxes, profitability, and business structure.
In short: the bookkeeper prepares the financial story, the accountant interprets it.
What Happens Without a Bookkeeper?
When bookkeeping is neglected—or rushed in-house by the business owner—it creates a downstream problem for the accountant.
Many accountants now refuse to accept client records that haven’t been professionally maintained. Others will accept them but charge considerably more to sort them out. What could have been a straightforward set of books becomes a time-consuming forensic clean-up.
If your accountant is doing your bookkeeping, you might also be overpaying. Accountants typically charge a higher hourly rate, and using them to enter receipts or chase invoices isn’t cost-effective.
Why Bookkeeping Packages Are Gaining Ground
In the UK, more business owners are turning to fixed-fee monthly bookkeeping packages to solve this gap. With options ranging from simple transaction logging (Bronze) to full-service support including VAT, payroll, and monthly reports (Platinum), these packages give business owners clarity and control without surprises.
BookkeepingPackages.co.uk was founded on this principle: give small businesses peace of mind with clear, affordable, and scalable packages. Instead of hiring a bookkeeper or waiting for the accountant to chase missing data, businesses get real-time updates, deadline-driven compliance, and the ability to make smarter decisions.
The Hidden Cost of Relying Only on an Accountant
One of the biggest hidden expenses in any small business is inefficiency. Late filings, VAT miscalculations, and missed deadlines often stem from incomplete or delayed bookkeeping.
Accountants will often charge more to sort out chaos than to review clean books. Worse, you risk fines from HMRC, missed opportunities to reclaim VAT, or cash flow confusion that damages your ability to grow.
A bookkeeping package prevents these issues. It acts as your business’s operational backbone—quietly but consistently keeping things running in the background.
When You Might Not Need a Bookkeeper
There are rare cases where a business may not need separate bookkeeping support:
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You’re a sole trader with fewer than 10 monthly transactions
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You use automated cloud software and have time to keep it current
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Your accountant explicitly includes monthly bookkeeping in their package (check the fine print)
Even in these cases, most businesses benefit from a review or occasional support from a bookkeeper. The DIY route only works until it doesn’t—usually just before a VAT deadline or HMRC audit.
Conclusion: Bookkeeper and Accountant, Not Bookkeeper vs Accountant
Rather than seeing it as a choice between the two, the best businesses combine the strengths of both. A bookkeeping package ensures your accountant receives clean, organised data—and can focus on helping you grow, not just fix mistakes.
BookkeepingPackages.co.uk is designed for exactly this kind of partnership. We work in the background, so your accountant can shine in the spotlight. The result? Lower costs, greater accuracy, and better peace of mind.
About the Author
Stuart Kerr is the Director of BookkeepingPackages.co.uk. He writes about how small business owners can simplify finances and take control of their time, their money, and their growth.
