Bookkeeping, accounting or tax filing: which work do you need?
These tasks use many of the same records, but each answers a different question.
| Your requirement | Work to include | What to establish first |
|---|---|---|
| Keep daily records current | Enter sales, purchases and payments; reconcile bank and ledger balances. | Where invoices are stored and who explains unfamiliar transactions. |
| Understand the monthly figures | Close the period and prepare agreed financial statements with supporting schedules. | Reporting dates, opening balances and the accounting basis. |
| Complete a VAT or Corporate Tax return | Review the tax treatment and prepare the relevant filing separately. | The registered entity, tax period and who approves submission. |
| Move from another accountant | Obtain ledger exports, reconciliations and unresolved queries before taking over. | The last completed period and access to source records. |
Your proposal identifies which of these tasks are included and who is responsible for each.
Appoint us for monthly bookkeeping, a specific accounting task or work alongside your existing finance team. We review any incomplete earlier periods before setting the recurring scope.
A defined monthly accounting scope
We record sales, purchases, receipts and payments against the supporting information you provide. Reconciliations compare the ledger with bank, card, customer and supplier records, while an outstanding-items list identifies differences that need an answer. Your scope can include receivables and payables schedules, fixed assets and routine period-end adjustments. We distinguish the recurring workload from historic reconstruction so that an unresolved opening balance does not quietly become part of every monthly close.
Reports that connect back to the records
The reporting pack is agreed around your business: it may include a profit and loss account, balance sheet, cash information and supporting schedules. We explain material movements and identify missing documents or unresolved judgements. A report based on incomplete information is labelled accordingly. Management approves the underlying business decisions and significant accounting estimates; our role is to prepare, reconcile and explain the agreed records.
For Corporate Tax, financial reporting and supporting records matter separately from whether tax is payable. The FTA explains the records businesses must retain. We establish the applicable accounting basis with you using the FTA accounting guidance, rather than assuming that a bank statement alone is an adequate set of accounts.
Changing accountant or starting from scratch
We begin with the latest trial balance, ledger exports, reconciliations and outstanding queries. If you already use accounting software, we assess its setup and access before recommending a change. The handover records which periods are complete, which balances remain uncertain and who will answer historic questions. Payroll, tax submissions, an external audit and detailed management analysis are included only when specifically agreed. This keeps the responsibilities visible as your finance requirements grow.
Documents and records to prepare
Tick the records you already have. The final request depends on your entity, the period and the work agreed. Please do not send financial records through this website.
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Related reading: UAE accounting records: how long to keep them and how to organise the archive.
How the work starts
Assess the records
We review your transaction flow, existing system and reporting needs, then separate recurring work from any historic gaps that need their own plan.
Agree the working rhythm
We set document cut-offs, contacts, review responsibilities and the reporting schedule. The proposal identifies inclusions, exclusions and the basis of the fee.
Record and reconcile
Transactions are processed against available evidence. Differences and missing information go into a query list for the responsible person to resolve.
Close and discuss
We issue the agreed reports, explain outstanding matters and record approved adjustments. The next period starts from a documented position.
What affects the scope and fee?
- Transaction volume and record quality
- Number of entities, accounts and currencies
- Inventory or project-accounting requirements
- Reporting frequency and analysis depth
- Opening-balance and handover work
We set out the deliverables, responsibilities and fee in the proposal. Work outside that scope is discussed before it is added.
Accounting and bookkeeping FAQs
What is the difference between bookkeeping and accounting?
Bookkeeping records transactions and keeps the underlying ledgers organised. Accounting also considers adjustments, reporting and how the figures should be presented. Most businesses need both. We describe the actual work in your proposal so that terms such as monthly accounting do not hide important exclusions or assume a level of reporting you do not need.
Are VAT and Corporate Tax returns included?
They can be included in a combined engagement, but they are separate responsibilities from maintaining the books. Your proposal states who prepares each return, who reviews it, who approves submission and who makes payment. We also identify which supporting schedules the bookkeeping process must supply to the tax work.
Do we have to change our accounting software?
Not necessarily. We first assess whether the existing system can support your records, reporting and access requirements. A migration is a separate decision because it involves opening balances, data history, controls and user training. If a change is needed, the scope sets out what is transferred and how it will be checked.
Can you work with our existing accountant?
Yes. We can take responsibility for a defined part of the process, such as reconciliations or preparation of monthly accounts, while your team retains other tasks. We agree ownership of each ledger and adjustment, access permissions and the final reviewer so that work is neither duplicated nor left unassigned.
What happens if our records are incomplete?
We identify missing items and their effect on the accounts. Some gaps can be resolved through statements, duplicate invoices or confirmations; others require a documented judgement and management approval. Larger historic gaps may need a backlog project before recurring work begins. We do not fill unexplained balances with unsupported entries.
Do you support businesses outside Dubai and Abu Dhabi?
Yes, we support businesses across the UAE. Tell us where your records and operations are based and whether you need on-site work, remote delivery or a combination. We agree practical arrangements around document access and review meetings, rather than treating location as a substitute for a clear working process.
Sources and further reading
Original page research: 5 October 2026. Service comparison and preparation checklist updated: 9 October 2026. Requirements can change; check the linked authority guidance for the latest position.
How we use sources
