Accounting service provider

Accounting service provider is a reference to an external company that, for other companies, ongoing Accounting work within the legally permissible framework.

Basics

An accounting service provider takes over organisationally outsourced financial accounting tasks. These include, in particular, the recording of business transactions, Account assignment, creation of Booking entries as well as reconciliations of accounts.

The activity must be clearly distinguished from tax advice or legal representation.

Legal framework

The performance of ongoing bookkeeping work is regulated by law. A bookkeeping service provider may exclusively carry out activities within the permissible scope. Tax advice or the preparation of tax opinions are regulated separately.

Systematic classification

Organisationaly, an accounting service provider is part of a company's external accounting.

Typical areas of responsibility

  • Live booking of business transactions
  • Reconciliation of debtor and creditor accounts
  • Maintenance of main and subsidiary ledgers
  • Creation of business management evaluations
  • Assistance with preparatory final works

Typical procedure

  1. Provision of accounting records
  2. Recording and accounting
  3. System Entry
  4. Voting and plausibility check
  5. Provision of evaluations

Practical relevance

In practice, collaboration between companies and accounting service providers is based on clearly defined processes and responsibilities. The responsibility for the regularity of bookkeeping remains with the company.

Typical sources of error

  • Incomplete documents
  • Unclear task definition
  • Missing coordination processes

FAQ

Does the company remain liable?

Yes. Even with external execution, the responsibility for the proper conduct of bookkeeping remains with the company.

Conclusion

An accounting service provider handles ongoing bookkeeping tasks within the legally permissible framework. It is organisationally part of external accounting and clearly distinct from tax advice.

Author the BAS editorial team Services pursuant to § 6 No. 3 and 4 StBerG, no tax or legal advice.

Brasser Accounting Solutions GmbH is a specialised accounting service provider and part of a corporate group with Quint GmbH (tax consultancy/auditing) and Service Place Årjäng AB (Swedish tax office). BAS exclusively performs services according to § 6 No. 3 and 4 StBerG and does not provide tax or legal advice.