Episode 337: What Does a Bookkeeper Actually Do?

Try Journal free for 14 days: https://www.bookkeepersmarketing.com/ Take part in our Summer Survey: https://6fbsummer.scoreapp.com/p/summer2025 In this episode of The Bookkeepers’ Podcast, we take a fresh, practical look at what bookkeepers actually do—end to end. We walk through the real workflow for small businesses: choosing cloud software and connecting bank feeds, coding sales and expenses with proper evidence (especially for VAT), handling accruals and prepayments, running credit control and payment runs, dealing with payroll journals, staying compliant with AML, and turning up-to-date data into useful management reports and cash flow forecasts. You Will Learn The true purpose of bookkeeping (decision-ready info first, tax compliance as a result). Why we recommend moving clients to cloud software (Xero, Sage, FreeAgent, QuickBooks) and specialising in one platform. How to keep business and personal spend separate and reconcile from the bank statement out. Sales workflows: invoicing, POS, online sales via Stripe/PayPal—and why you must “gross up” fees. Expenses, approvals, and smooth supplier payment runs (with director approvals). Payroll boundaries: when to outsource vs in-house, and how to post payroll journals correctly. AML responsibilities and the “bookkeeper as detective” mindset. Building monthly/quarterly reporting rhythms, KPIs, and cash flow forecasting clients can act on. ----------------------------------------------- About us We're Jo and Zoe and we help bookkeepers find clients, make more money and build profitable businesses they love. Find out about working with us in The Bookkeepers' Collective, at: 6figurebookkeeper.com/collective ----------------------------------------------- About our Sponsor This episode of The Bookkeepers' Podcast is sponsored by Xero. Get 90% off your first 6 months by visiting: https://xero5440.partnerlinks.io/6figurebookkeeper ----------------------------------------------- Promotion This video contains paid promotion. ----------------------------------------------- Disclaimer The information contained in The Bookkeepers' Podcast is provided for information purposes only. The contents of The Bookkeepers' Podcast is not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of the Bookkeepers' Podcast. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of the Bookkeepers' Podcast. The 6 Figure Bookkeeper Ltd disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of the Bookkeepers' Podcast.