Bookkeeper vs. CPA: Who Handles What?

An ordinary bookkeeping scope may include organizing and categorizing transactions, reconciling bank and credit-card accounts to statements, closing the agreed month, maintaining supporting records, and preparing standard financial reports from the books.

The owner still supplies business context, complete records, and appropriate access. The written engagement should identify the accounts, periods, responsibilities, deliverables, and exclusions instead of assuming that every accounting or administrative task is included.

In Texas, certified public accountants are examined, certified, and licensed through the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy. The credential reflects regulated education, examination, experience, and professional requirements; a CPA's actual practice can still vary by firm and specialty.

The title alone does not tell you whether a particular CPA offers the exact service you need. Ask about the person's current license, relevant experience, service scope, and whether the question belongs with another licensed professional.

Tax-return preparation, tax advice, representation before a tax authority, legal advice, and attest work should go to an appropriately qualified professional whose credentials and engagement cover that work. A business may also need specialist support when a transaction or reporting question exceeds the bookkeeper's agreed scope.

The IRS explains that tax professionals have different credentials, qualifications, and representation rights. CPAs are one credentialed category; enrolled agents and attorneys may also have roles depending on the matter. This guide does not provide tax or legal advice.

Timely, reconciled books can give an outside professional a more organized starting point, but bookkeeping does not guarantee a tax, legal, lending, or financial outcome. The outside professional remains responsible for the advice or work in that separate engagement.

When another professional requests records or adjustments, clarify who is authorized to provide information, what documentation is required, who approves changes, and which engagement owns the final decision.

Cebant is a bookkeeping company, not a CPA firm. Its approved scope can include transaction categorization, bank and credit-card reconciliation, monthly close, standard financial reports, and separately agreed cleanup or catch-up work in QuickBooks Online.

Cebant does not provide tax preparation or advice, payroll processing, legal or investment advice, attest services, or controller or CFO services. To review whether the ordinary monthly bookkeeping scope fits your business, use the monthly bookkeeping service page linked below as the primary next step.