Nonprofit organizations can keep their own books. Often a volunteer or Board member who can operate the software is assigned the task.  A bookkeeper, however, is trained in accounting principles and best practices, as well as the software. A professional bookkeeper can save many organizations money by keeping up with the bookkeeping more frequently than most volunteers do (giving the ability to act and react more timely), by increasing efficiency in business processes, by giving advice based on analysis of financial reports and reducing the billable time charged by the accountant.