Bookkeepers Wigan Greater Manchester (WN1) Area: To comply with the 2006 Companies Act, if you are a sole trader, operate an online store or own a small business in Wigan, you are entirely responsible for keeping accurate, "true and fair" accounting and financial records for a minimum of 6 yrs. If you cannot produce this information, you may be disqualified as a Company Director and face a hefty fine. You can accomplish these financial records on your own behalf, however when you consider that according to Accounting Today over forty percent of small business owners spend at least eighty hours annually on their bookkeeping duties, it's often more cost-effective to employ a professional accountant or bookkeeping company.
It is time to contact a bookkeeper in Wigan for guidance and advice, if the very thought of creating profit, loss and fiscal reports, compiling balance sheets, tracking liabilities and assets or writing ledgers fills you with panic.
BOOKKEEPER OR ACCOUNTANT?
"What exactly is the distinction between an accountant and a bookkeeper?" Is a question that is asked by a lot of people in Wigan. The fact is that while in the past the process of bookkeeping, was deemed beneath the qualifications, skill-sets and experience of an accountant, due to substantial software improvements over the past decade, a lot of accountancy firms in Wigan will now undertake bookkeeping. It is quite common for accounting firms to charge a fixed fee for bookkeeping services in keeping with a dedicated bookkeeper's fee. This is excellent news for business owners because it provides a wider variety of competition within this sector and can make the cost of your bookkeeping cheaper than previously imagined.
The biggest difference of an accountant over a bookkeeper is the amount of training and qualification required. An accountant will generally a least hold an accounting degree with specialist training in the field of taxation and other business and fiscal management. While probably not having this level of experience and training, or holding the same financial qualifications, a bookkeeper in Wigan will undoubtedly have a decent understanding of all such disciplines.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF A BOOKKEEPER IN WIGAN
The recording of day by day fiscal transactions of any business or enterprise in Wigan, describes the process of bookkeeping in the simplest of terms. This may include, but is not limited to;
- Logging of all financial incomings; electronic, cash and card payments included.
- VAT submissions and recording.
- Monthly reports and reconciliations.
- Making sure that accounting and double-entry bookkeeping practices are implemented.
- Highlighting any discrepancies in the financial accounts and rectifying them.
- Payroll services.
- Billing of clients for work completed or goods.
- Recording invoices received and ensuring payment is completed by the due date.
If you're in a position to perform the majority of bookkeeping work yourself; a bookkeeper might only be needed to double check your records every once in a while. So that any problems or mistakes can be found and amended swiftly, as a bare minimum, this really needs to be done from month to month. Providing you are confident of remaining in control of your monetary transactions without having a negative impact on your daily trading operations, this option can be the most affordable solution.
If you are currently considering hiring a bookkeeper in Wigan, whatever your circumstances, it's fairly likely that you may be stressed with your tax and financial procedures. A professional bookkeeper will be able to assist you in linking your business accounts with the most suitable software application to facilitate the seamless sorting of financial data, and will offer advice and guidance on such things as producing expense reports, stocktaking and invoicing.
The ability to reconcile cash flow with accounts payable, is an especially important aspect of a good bookkeeper. Which means that rather than paying an outstanding bill straight away, or waiting on a final notice, which many small businesses in Wigan are guilty of, your bookkeeper will schedule bill payments to times when your accounts are in good order. This not only keeps you in good stead with suppliers and those people who supply you with services, but also makes certain that your enterprise or business is financially stable. This is just one of those juggling acts that can be hard to accomplish when you are primarily focussed on the smooth running of your day to day business operations.
If you're a sole trader, or run a small business, using an experienced bookkeeper in Wigan, also gives them an opportunity to cast a fresh eye over the running of your business. It's entirely possible that a nonpartisan assessment such as this will highlight business patterns and trends that you haven't previously noticed. A bookkeeper recognising a new opportunity or flagging up an area which is falling in profits, is not at all uncommon. It's vital for the long-term growth of any business in Wigan, to spot such key performance indicators.
If you give out invoices as part of your business operations, needing to pursue a late payment can be really embarrassing. By having a professional outside your business situation visit your clients or make that telephone call, some of that apprehension can be taken away. A bookkeeper can use legal options to handle a persistent late or non-payer, and without the need for court proceedings, help to clear up the situation.
SOLE TRADER'S BOOKKEEPING REQUIREMENTS
The legal requirements for bookkeeping if you are a sole trader, are fairly straightforward and simple. In essence, sole traders must save all invoices and receipts, and keep a record of expenditure and income from month to month. Although this might at first sound easy, retaining the expertise of a bookkeeper is still good practice. So that you can claim back any bonafide business expenses from HMRC, a dedicated sole trader bookkeeper in Wigan can give you advice on what must be done. This might include bills and rent if working from home, items such as computing equipment, consumables, promotional advertising and stationery goods. If you'd like to get more in-depth advice, and learn how your business can develop and grow moving forward, chat to your bookkeeper.
BOOKKEEPING FOR ONLINE TRADERS
Specialist bookkeepers are necessary now and again for certain niches in bookkeeping. If online payment procedures, exchange rate transfers, multi-currency processing and international and cross-border taxes are involved, for instance if you manage a store online, you'll want to hire a bookkeeper in Wigan who understands these practices. Keeping track of your stock on a 24/7 basis is also a crucial priority, if the same outlet distributes goods that you produce or hold, as I'm sure you will be aware the internet never sleeps, therefore nor should your bookkeeping software or services.
It is also possible to establish a virtual office, that can be utilised in conjunction with your bookkeeping package. This can be handy in allowing an online only business or sole trader to have a phone service and postal address to provide a physical link with their customer base. If this type of service could be useful, it is certainly worth discussing the possibilities, although this solution will not be provided by all bookkeeping companies in Wigan.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND AFFILIATIONS
A number of the bookkeeping sector qualifications are at Certificate or Diploma level, and it's not necessary for a qualified bookkeeper in Wigan to hold a degree in accounting. If the preferred route to qualification is through further education universities and colleges, this is still a possibility, whereas there there's an ever-growing choice of online bookkeeping courses.
There are 2 primary training and certification organisations which represent bookkeepers:
The Association of Accounting Technicians or AAT: Entitled to use the letters AATQB after their name, a fully trained member of the Association of Accounting Technicians or AAT will have undergone advanced qualifications and a training schedule in bookkeeping practice. This assures a certain standard of service to their customers which is backed by the organisation, and permits them to become a certified AAT bookkeeper. To safeguard the values and integrity of AAT membership, an AAT bookkeeper can be liable to disciplinary and tribunal processes if they have a complaint against them or are found to have broken the code of conduct.
The ICB or Institute of Certified Bookkeepers: Keeping their associated members up-to-date with the latest trends, the ICB or Institute of Certified Bookkeepers is the largest organisation of its kind in the world, providing accreditation to certified bookkeepers, along with training and reference material.
The accreditations of any bookkeeper in Wigan can be verified on the register of ICB or ATT members on their respective websites. Carrying out this check is widely recommended before hiring any bookkeeper in Wigan.
Bookkeeping services are available in Wigan and also in: New Springs, Marus Bridge, Spring View, Aspull, Shevington, Newtown, Pemberton, Goose Green, Marylebone, Poolstock, Hindley, Whelley, Lower Standish, Ince-in-Makerfield, Haigh, Standish, together with these postcode areas: WN1 1JN, WN1 2AD, WN1 1DW, WN1 1SJ, WN1 1DY, WN1 1BS, WN1 1PA, WN1 1DG, WN1 1NZ, WN1 1PF. Locally based Wigan Bookkeepers will probably have the telephone dialling code 01942 and the postcode WN1. Verifying this can guarantee you access locally based bookkeepers. Wigan sole traders and business owners can utilise these and many other comparable services.
Sales and Purchase Ledger Management
Sales and purchase ledger management by a bookkeeper keeps financial records accurate and well organised. On the sales side, invoices are recorded as they're issued, payments are matched correctly, and outstanding balances are monitored. This helps businesses stay on top of money due in. On the purchase ledger, supplier invoices are logged, checked for accuracy, and tracked through to payment so nothing is overlooked. Well-maintained ledgers also make it much easier to support audits or compliance checks when records need to be reviewed. Keeping both sides updated reduces errors and confusion. It also means reports are based on reliable figures rather than estimates. With consistent ledger management in place, business owners gain clearer insight into cash flow and fewer last-minute surprises. (Tags: Sales and Purchase Ledger Management Wigan)
Year-End Tax Return Preparation
When it comes to year-end tax returns, a bookkeeper focuses on getting the details right before anything is submitted. They'll check totals against bank statements, review expense claims, and make sure figures have been categorised properly. This helps ensure the numbers tell a clear and accurate story of the year. A bookkeeper may also highlight anything unusual or missing so it can be dealt with early. By preparing clean, well-organised records, they make the whole process smoother. It also reduces the chance of errors that could trigger questions later. Good preparation at this stage often saves both time and money in the long run. (Tags: Year-End Tax Return Preparation Wigan)
Bookkeeping Questions

Only yesterday I decided to study the sorts of questions people ask about bookkeeping in Wigan. Some of you emailed some useful questions which are applicable to this post. Those that I singled out are, How much does a bookkeeper charge per hour? What are the advantages of a bookkeeper? Why is bookkeeping important to any business operation in Wigan? Should I use an accountant or a bookkeeper? What qualifications does a bookkeeper hold? Can a bookkeeper prepare tax returns? Which bookkeeping software is best? What does bookkeeping entail? Bookkeepers - what do they do? The majority of these enquiries hopefully have been answered on this page, and if not a bookkeeping "Q&A" section is a feature we will be adding as soon as possible. A massive thank you goes to Tommy Owen, Fabian Dawson, Yousuf Slater and Juliana Peters, for raising these questions. Relevant questions were likewise received from Katherine Conway in Pennington Green, Nicolas Whitehouse in Haigh and Lillian Ramsay in Marylebone.
Bookkeeping Tasks

Most bookkeepers in Wigan will be ready to offer you the following accounting and bookkeeping services: bookkeeping for limited companies, setting up & managing accounting software, bookkeeping for organisations, month-end & year-end bookkeeping, professional bookkeeping services, PAYE & wages, bookkeeping services for pubs, bookkeeping for self-employed people, payment services, mobile bookkeeping services in Wigan, charity bookkeeping Wigan, cash flow monitoring & reporting, cash books, data entry & cleanup of historic records, bank reconciliations, cash flow analysis, partnership tax returns, liaising with accountants & tax advisers, Sage bookkeeping in Wigan, management accounts, personal tax returns, bank & credit card reconciliations, letting agent bookkeeping, accountancy packages, VAT record-keeping & VAT return preparation, bookkeeping for clubs, and more. These are just a few of the tasks that are accomplished by local bookkeepers. Wigan companies will tell you about their full range of bookkeeping services. If there are some other Wigan bookkeeper requirements that you need but don't see here, you can easily mention them on the QUOTE FORM provided. We will be in touch with specifics just as soon as we can.
Bookkeepers in Nearby Areas
Also find: Ince-in-Makerfield bookkeepers, Poolstock bookkeepers, Standish bookkeepers, Goose Green bookkeepers, Whelley bookkeepers, New Springs bookkeepers, Pemberton bookkeepers, Lower Standish bookkeepers, Hindley bookkeepers, Aspull bookkeepers, Haigh bookkeepers, Newtown bookkeepers, Spring View bookkeepers, Shevington bookkeepers, Marus Bridge bookkeepers, Marylebone bookkeeper and more. The majority of these places are served by local bookeepers. Wigan businesses can get prices for bookkeeping services by clicking here.
Bookkeeping Services Wigan
- Wages and PAYE
- Payroll Services
- Tax Preparation
- Credit Control
- Accountancy Packages
- Self-Assessment Bookkeeping
- VAT Returns
- Sole Trader Bookkeeping
- Cheap Bookkeeping
- Small Business Bookkeeping
- Self-Assessment Tax Returns
- Cash Flow Analysis
- Double-Entry Bookkeeping
- Profit and Loss Reporting
Planned Bookkeeping Articles: Here are some of our bookkeeping articles that we plan to publish in the near future. So, if you are interested in any of these, please call back again: Business startup advice and support in Wigan. Management reporting in Wigan. Budget preparation and analysis in Wigan. Cash flow management in Wigan. Accounts receivable management in Wigan. Bookkeeping clean-up in Wigan. Bank and credit card reconciliation in Wigan. General ledger maintenance in Wigan. Accounts payable management in Wigan.
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Bookkeeping WiganBookkeepers in WN1 area, telephone code 01942.
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