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Is an auditor an accountant; or an accountant an auditor ?

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Question added by LAWRENCE MAPURANGA , Business Admin , Services and Contracting
Date Posted: 2014/09/12
VENKITARAMAN KRISHNA MOORTHY VRINDAVAN
by VENKITARAMAN KRISHNA MOORTHY VRINDAVAN , Project Execution Manager & Accounts Manager , ALI INTERNATIONAL TRADING EST.

Agree with the opinion of Mr.Faraz Shiwani 

For the successs of the profession:

To become an accountant there should be one auditor in him.

To become an auditor there should be an accountant in him. 

  •  

Faraz Shiwani
by Faraz Shiwani , Managing Partner , Shiwani Traders

Accountant

To know the difference between an auditor and an accountant,  you need to have some clarity about both positions. The responsibility of an accountant is to maintain and record the financial transactions of an individual, of a company, or business. They are essentially the financial record keepers.

 

Records are kept through upkeep of charge statements, balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow and equity statements. All this information is meant to provide individuals, companies, or businesses with a comprehensive financial overview of their funds so that executives can make solid decisions based on the financial information.

 

Auditor

 

There is a common saying, and that is, “an auditor’s work begins where an accountant’s ends.” Think of an auditor as the second phase of analyzing the company’s funds. An auditor will essentially review every single transaction that the accountant reports. They evaluate, verify, and review the company’s accounts.

 

In addition to these duties, an auditor may also perform risk analysis and appraisal based on accounting standards and principles. Questioning what is an accountant and confusion the position with that of an auditor occurs because their duties go hand-in-hand. To operate effectively, one needs the other.

 

Other Differences

 

There are also a number of significant differences between the two positions:

 

  • An accountant is often the employee of a given company, while the auditor is an employee of another company that is hired to audit the accounts. This is done to avoid conflict of interest
  • Accountants work in one location, auditors can move from company to company depending on where they are based
  • Accountants do not need to report to anyone, auditors are required to submit reports
  • Accountants are necessary for the operation of a business, auditing is not
  • Accountants perform detailed financial work while auditors simply review and provide an opinion
  • Accountants can provide financial management, while auditors do not provide any management

 

Overall, the question of what is an accountant is hopefully much easier to understand now that the basics are before you. Both positions are excellent to have, however each one has specific job duties that are mutually exclusive to the other.

LAWRENCE MAPURANGA
by LAWRENCE MAPURANGA , Business Admin , Services and Contracting

I am well answered thank you very much.

Zaheer Khan
by Zaheer Khan , Accounts Officer , Superior College

I think to become a professional auditor auditor has to become an accountant. because when any auditor works an accountant he or she may find errors and omitions,mistakes, fradulant activities very easily.

AWAIS BUTT
by AWAIS BUTT , Accounting Manager , Glocalization Systems Limited

A good accountant can become a good auditor so if some one has strong grip on ACCOUNTANCY like good knowledge of IFRS and accounting concepts he or she can than apply their knowledge appropriately while applying audit procedures.

Khan Sohal khan
by Khan Sohal khan , Associate , State Street Syntel Services Pvt Ltd.

An auditor can apply for and can become an accountant

jonathan chiome
by jonathan chiome , Assistant Finance and Administration Officer , Heifer International Zimbabwe

AN ACCOUNTANT IS NOT AN AUDITOR

Vishnu Agrawal Vishnu
by Vishnu Agrawal Vishnu , Associate , TransSys Solutions Private Limited

No, Is can never. If this the case then there no Independence of auditor and may include window dressing, manipulation of statement.