one who performs accounting services. Accountants prepare financial statements and tax returns, audit financial records, and develop financial plans. They work in private accounting (e.g., for a corporation), public accounting (e.g., for a CPA firm), not-for-profit accounting (e.g., for a governmental agency). Accountants often specialize in a particular area such as taxes, cost accounting, auditing, and management advisory services. ABOOKKEEPER is distinguished from an accountant as one who employs lesser professional skills. The bookkeeping function is primarily one of recording transactions in the journal and posting to the ledger.

1. a person who keeps a company’s accounts or deals with an individual person’s tax affairs  The chief accountant of a manufacturing group.  The accountant has shown that there is a sharp variance in our labour costs. 2. a person who advises a company on its finances  I send all my income tax queries to my accountant. 3. a person who examines accounts