What is the difference between a bookkeeper, accountant, auditor and company secretary?
A bookkeeper records transactions. An accountant prepares financial statements and tax computations. An auditor independently examines the statements and reports on them. A company secretary manages company law filings and records. These roles are separate; the auditor must be independent of the preparer.
Bookkeeper
- Records day-to-day transactions, reconciles banks, processes invoices and payroll
- No legal qualification is needed
Accountant
- Prepares financial statements, management reports and tax computations
- Often a member of a professional body such as MIA, but not every person called an accountant is one
Auditor
- Must be an approved company auditor under the Companies Act 2016
- Independently examines the financial statements and gives an opinion
- Does not prepare your accounts for you; independence is the point, and no other service replaces a statutory audit when one is required
Company secretary
- A legal requirement for every Malaysian company, who must be a qualified person under the Act
- Handles SSM filings, registers, resolutions and the annual return
Tax agent
- Approved by the Minister of Finance to file tax returns on behalf of clients
How they work together
Records flow from bookkeeper to accountant to auditor, while the company secretary lodges the result with SSM. Directors remain responsible for all of it.
Legal basis
- Companies Act 2016, s.235 (company secretary)
Sources
Applies to 2026 · Last reviewed 29 October 2026
General information for business owners, not legal, tax or professional advice. Rules change, so check the sources or ask a licensed professional before you act.
Related questions
- What is the difference between bookkeeping and accounting in Malaysia?Bookkeeping is the day-to-day recording of transactions: sales, purchases, payments and receipts. Accounting uses those records to prepare financial statements, interpret results and support decisions and tax filing. Good bookkeeping comes first, because accounts can only be as reliable as the entries beneath them.
- Is a Sdn Bhd legally required to keep accounting records?Yes. Section 245 of the Companies Act 2016 requires every company, including its directors and managers, to keep accounting and other records that explain its transactions and financial position. This applies even to a new, dormant or loss-making company.
- How long must a Malaysian company keep its accounting records?A company must keep accounting records for seven years after the transactions they record were completed. For tax, documents must be kept for seven years from the end of the relevant year of assessment. Use whichever period ends later.
- What documents should a Malaysian company keep for bookkeeping?Keep every document that proves a transaction: sales and purchase invoices, receipts, bank statements, contracts, payroll records, and records of assets and loans. If a transaction is not supported by a document, it is hard to defend in an audit or tax review.
- Can I keep accounting records and receipts in digital form only?Electronic records are accepted if they are complete, readable, accessible and can be converted into writing. Documents issued electronically, such as e-Invoices, can stay electronic. If you scan a paper original, the Income Tax Act says to keep the paper original as well.