Question 1

What does AAT Licensed Bookkeeper actually mean?

Accepted Answer

It means I am a member of the Association of Accounting Technicians and hold a licence from them to provide bookkeeping services to clients. Licensed members work to AAT's code of professional ethics, are required to hold professional indemnity insurance, and are supervised for anti-money-laundering purposes. Anyone in the UK can call themselves a bookkeeper without qualifications, so the licence is worth checking for.

Question 2

What is the difference between a bookkeeper and an accountant?

Accepted Answer

A bookkeeper keeps the day-to-day records straight: recording what comes in and goes out, reconciling the bank, and making sure every figure has paperwork behind it. An accountant takes those records at year end and produces statutory accounts and tax returns, and advises on tax. Most small businesses need both, and they cost less together than an accountant doing everything, because the accountant is not paid to untangle a year of receipts.

Question 3

Do I still need an accountant if I use a bookkeeper?

Accepted Answer

Almost certainly, yes. I do not file tax returns or give tax advice, so your accountant still handles year-end accounts and anything tax related. What changes is what they receive: clean, reconciled records instead of a shoebox, which usually means a smaller bill and fewer questions in January.

Question 4

What exactly do you do?

Accepted Answer

Bookkeeping, and only bookkeeping. I record and categorise your transactions, reconcile your bank and card accounts, keep the paperwork behind each entry in order, keep VAT-registered records in the shape your return needs, and send you a short summary every month.

Question 5

What don't you do?

Accepted Answer

I do not file tax returns, submit VAT returns, run payroll, audit accounts, or give tax, investment or financial advice. That work belongs with an accountant or a payroll provider, and I keep your books in the state they need so it goes smoothly. If you do not have an accountant yet, I can point you towards one.

Question 6

Which areas around Swansea do you cover?

Accepted Answer

I am based in Swansea and work with businesses across South Wales, including Neath, Port Talbot, Llanelli, Gorseinon, Mumbles, Bridgend and Carmarthen. Most of the day-to-day work happens in cloud software, so I also look after clients further afield.

Question 7

Do I need to be in Swansea to work with you?

Accepted Answer

No, but being local does make things easy. I am happy to meet in person around Swansea and the wider South Wales area, particularly at the start when we are getting set up. After that, most clients find a monthly email and the occasional call is all they need.

Question 8

Which bookkeeping software do you work in?

Accepted Answer

Xero, QuickBooks Online, FreeAgent and Sage are all fine. If you are running on spreadsheets or a shoebox of receipts, that is a normal place to start and we can talk through whether moving is worth it for you. I will not push you onto new software just because I prefer it.

Question 9

What does Making Tax Digital mean for me?

Accepted Answer

Making Tax Digital requires affected businesses to keep records digitally and file through compatible software rather than typing figures into a form. The practical effect is that your records need to be kept in software, kept current, and kept in a state your accountant can file from. That is exactly what monthly bookkeeping gives you.

Question 10

My records are months behind. Is that a problem?

Accepted Answer

It is very common and it is fixable. Tell me roughly how far behind things are and I will be straight with you about what it takes to catch up, what that costs, and how long it should take before we move onto a regular monthly rhythm. Nobody gets a lecture about it.

Question 11

How does pricing work?

Accepted Answer

A fixed monthly fee, agreed before we start, based on how much activity your business actually has. The main things that move the price are the number of transactions each month, how many bank and card accounts need reconciling, whether you are VAT registered, and how much catching up is needed at the start. No hourly billing, and no invoice landing after a phone call you did not expect to pay for.

Question 12

Am I tied into a long contract?

Accepted Answer

No. Everything runs month to month. If it is not working for you, give reasonable notice and I will hand your records over cleanly, in a format your next bookkeeper or accountant can pick straight up.

Question 13

How do I switch from my current bookkeeper?

Accepted Answer

It is usually straightforward. You give notice, I request your records and access to your software, and we agree a date to change over, normally at the start of a month or a VAT quarter so nothing is split awkwardly. You do not need to have an uncomfortable conversation about why you are leaving.

Question 14

What do you need from me each month?

Accepted Answer

Access to your bank feed and accounting software, and your receipts and purchase invoices. Most clients photograph receipts as they go or forward supplier emails to a dedicated address. If something is missing or does not look right, I will ask rather than guess.

Question 15

Is my financial information kept secure?

Accepted Answer

Yes. I use secure access to your accounting software with only the permissions the work needs, rather than sharing logins, and your information is never passed to anyone else without your say-so. As an AAT licensed member I am also bound by professional confidentiality rules.

Question 16

Do you work with sole traders as well as limited companies?

Accepted Answer

Both, along with landlords and partnerships. Sole traders often have simpler records and a smaller fee to match. The service is the same either way: accurate records, reconciled accounts and a monthly summary.

Bookkeeping questions, answered straight