Amazon FBA Accountants

What Amazon FBA Accountants Do That General Accountants Don’t 

Does your accountant understand how Amazon FBA fees, settlements, inventory, reimbursements, and marketplace transactions affect your business finances? While a general accountant can handle core accounting responsibilities, Amazon FBA accountants bring specialised knowledge of the financial processes that are unique to Amazon sellers.

An Amazon FBA business can involve thousands of transactions, multiple fees, inventory stored in Amazon fulfilment centres, refunds, returns, advertising expenses, and settlement deposits. Looking only at sales revenue does not provide a complete picture of how the business is performing.

This is where specialised Amazon FBA accounting can make a difference. An accountant familiar with Amazon’s marketplace structure can help organise these transactions, reconcile financial records, track inventory-related costs, and give sellers a clearer view of profitability.

The goal is not to replace sound accounting principles. It is to apply them correctly within the unique financial environment of an Amazon FBA business.

What Does an Amazon FBA Accountant Do?

An Amazon FBA accountant specialises in the financial needs of sellers using Amazon’s marketplace and fulfilment services. They can manage or review Amazon settlements, FBA fees, inventory, reimbursements, refunds, cost of goods sold, financial reporting, and profitability, helping sellers maintain accurate and useful financial records.

Amazon FBA accountants combine traditional accounting knowledge with an understanding of marketplace-specific transactions.

Their responsibilities can include:

• Reviewing Amazon settlement information
• Tracking FBA and marketplace fees
• Managing inventory-related accounting
• Recording sales and refunds
• Monitoring reimbursements
• Reconciling Amazon deposits
• Tracking advertising expenses
• Calculating or reviewing cost of goods sold
• Preparing financial reports
• Analysing profitability

This specialised knowledge can be particularly valuable as an Amazon business grows.

How Is an Amazon FBA Accountant Different From a General Accountant?

Both professionals can handle core accounting responsibilities, but an Amazon FBA accountant has specialised knowledge of marketplace transactions, FBA fees, inventory movements, settlements, reimbursements, and seller profitability. This allows them to apply standard accounting practices to the specific financial structure of an Amazon business.

A general accountant may be perfectly capable of managing your financial records, taxes, and financial statements.

However, if they have limited experience with Amazon Seller Central and FBA transactions, they may need additional information or processes to understand how Amazon activity flows into your accounting system.

The difference is therefore less about whether one professional is a “better” accountant.

It is about relevant experience.

An accountant who understands your sales channel can often identify financial considerations that might otherwise be overlooked.

What Amazon FBA Accounting Tasks Require Specialised Knowledge?

Amazon sellers have several financial processes that require a closer understanding of marketplace activity.

Amazon Settlement Accounting

One of the most important considerations is understanding Amazon settlements.

The amount deposited into your bank account is not necessarily the same as your gross sales.

A settlement can reflect deductions for:

• Amazon fees
• Refunds
• FBA charges
• Other marketplace expenses
• Adjustments
• Other transactions

For example, your Amazon Seller Central account could show substantial sales while your bank receives a much smaller deposit.

An Amazon FBA accountant can help reconcile the activity behind those deposits so the accounting records accurately reflect what occurred.

FBA Fee Accounting

Amazon sellers can incur several marketplace-related costs.

Depending on the business model, these may include:

• Referral fees
• Fulfilment fees
• Storage fees
• Other FBA charges

These costs affect profitability.

If they are not properly recorded, a seller may believe that a product is more profitable than it actually is.

Inventory Accounting

Inventory is another major area of concern.

Amazon FBA sellers purchase products before generating revenue from those products. That means cash can be tied up in inventory for weeks or months.

Accounting needs to reflect the relationship between inventory purchases, inventory valuation, and cost of goods sold.

Other situations can also require attention, including damaged inventory, returned products, and inventory adjustments.

Amazon Reimbursements

Amazon sellers may sometimes become eligible for reimbursements related to lost, damaged, or otherwise qualifying inventory or transactions.

These reimbursements need to be tracked and appropriately reflected in the financial records.

A specialised accounting workflow can make it easier to identify how reimbursements affect the overall financial picture.

Refunds and Returns

Refunds reduce the revenue that a business ultimately retains.

Returns can also affect inventory and cost of goods sold.

An Amazon FBA accountant can help ensure these transactions are incorporated appropriately into the accounting records.

Advertising Expenses

Amazon advertising can be a significant expense for sellers.

Advertising costs should be tracked alongside sales and other expenses to help determine whether the business is generating sustainable profitability.

Why Is Amazon FBA Accounting More Complicated Than Traditional Business Accounting?

Amazon FBA accounting is not necessarily based on completely different accounting principles.

The challenge comes from the volume and structure of marketplace transactions.

A seller may have to account for:

• High transaction volumes
• Multiple Amazon fees
• FBA fulfilment charges
• Storage costs
• Returns
• Refunds
• Reimbursements
• Advertising expenses
• Inventory movements
• Settlement deposits
• Multiple marketplaces

Amazon also acts as a marketplace and, for FBA sellers, a fulfilment provider.

This creates a financial flow that is different from a business that simply sells products directly to customers and receives payment into its bank account.

For this reason, Amazon FBA accounting requires a process that can connect Amazon activity with the business’s broader financial records.

How Can Amazon FBA Accountants Help Improve Profitability?

Amazon FBA accountants can help sellers understand profitability by bringing together sales, Amazon fees, inventory costs, advertising expenses, refunds, reimbursements, and operating expenses. This creates a clearer financial picture and helps business owners identify where revenue is being converted into profit and where costs may be reducing margins.

Revenue alone does not tell you whether your business is profitable.

Consider a seller generating $100,000 in sales.

That sounds impressive, but the business may also have high costs for:

• Inventory
• Amazon fees
• Advertising
• Shipping
• Software
• Professional services
• Returns
• Other operating expenses

After these costs are considered, the actual profit could be substantially lower.

A specialised accountant can help you look beyond revenue and understand metrics such as:

• Gross margin
• Net profit
• Product profitability
• Operating expenses
• Amazon fees
• Advertising costs
• Cost of goods sold
• Cash flow

This information can help business owners make better decisions about pricing, advertising, inventory, and growth.

Can an Amazon FBA Accountant Help With Inventory Management?

An Amazon FBA accountant can support the financial side of inventory management by helping track inventory costs, valuation, cost of goods sold, and inventory-related financial information. While accountants do not physically manage stock, their reports can help sellers understand how inventory affects profitability and cash flow.

Inventory decisions can have a major effect on an Amazon business.

Buying too little inventory can result in stockouts and lost sales.

Buying too much can tie up cash and increase storage-related costs.

Financial information can help sellers understand:

• How much money is invested in inventory
• How inventory affects cash flow
• Which products have stronger margins
• How cost of goods sold affects profitability
• Whether inventory levels are becoming difficult to manage

This is one area where good accounting can support broader business decisions.

What Financial Reports Should Amazon Sellers Review?

Accurate bookkeeping should ultimately produce financial information that helps you understand the business.

Profit and Loss Statement

A profit and loss statement shows revenue, expenses, and profitability over a specific period.

For Amazon sellers, this can help reveal whether growing sales are actually producing stronger profits.

Balance Sheet

The balance sheet provides a view of assets, liabilities, and equity.

Inventory can be particularly important for Amazon businesses because it represents an investment that has not yet been converted into sales.

Cash Flow Information

A profitable business can still experience cash flow challenges.

Amazon sellers may need to purchase inventory and pay operating expenses before receiving the corresponding sales proceeds.

Cash flow information can help business owners understand how money moves through the company.

Inventory Reports

Inventory information can help connect stock levels and inventory investment with financial performance.

Amazon Settlement Reports

Settlement reports can help reconcile Amazon activity with the deposits received in the business bank account.

Profitability Reports

Profitability analysis can help identify which products, channels, or activities are contributing most to the business.

When Should an Amazon Seller Hire a Specialized Accountant?

You may not need specialised support on day one.

However, your accounting requirements can change significantly as the business grows.

Consider working with an Amazon-focused accountant if:

• Your sales volume is increasing rapidly
• Amazon fees are becoming difficult to track
• Inventory has become more complicated
• You sell across multiple marketplaces
• Your books frequently fail to reconcile
• You cannot determine your true profit
• You are unsure whether your products have healthy margins
• Reimbursements are difficult to monitor
• You spend too much time managing your books
• You are preparing for significant growth
• You need more detailed financial reporting

These challenges can indicate that your business has outgrown a basic bookkeeping process.

Specialised Amazon FBA accountants can help create a financial workflow that is better suited to the complexity of an Amazon business.

What Should You Look for in Amazon FBA Accountants?

Choosing an accountant is about more than finding someone who understands accounting.

You also want someone who understands your business model.

Amazon Experience

Look for experience with Amazon sellers and marketplace transactions.

Ask whether they have worked with businesses using Amazon FBA and whether they understand Seller Central reports.

Strong Accounting Knowledge

Amazon specialisation should complement strong accounting fundamentals.

Your accountant should still understand bookkeeping, financial statements, reconciliation, inventory accounting, and other core accounting concepts.

Inventory Knowledge

Inventory can be one of the most financially significant areas of an FBA business.

Ask how the accountant approaches inventory valuation and cost of goods sold.

Understanding of Amazon Fees

Your accountant should understand how marketplace and FBA fees affect financial performance.

Technology Experience

Amazon accounting often involves several platforms.

Experience with tools such as:

• QuickBooks Online
• Xero
• Amazon Seller Central
• Accounting integrations
• eCommerce reporting tools

can help create a more efficient workflow.

Reconciliation Processes

Ask how Amazon settlements and bank deposits will be reconciled.

This is important because the money deposited into your bank account may not directly correspond to your gross Amazon sales.

Financial Reporting

A good accounting process should give you useful information, not simply completed bookkeeping.

Ask what reports you will receive and how often they will be reviewed.

What Are the Benefits of Working With Amazon FBA Accountants?

Working with a specialised accountant can provide several advantages for growing Amazon businesses.

More Accurate Financial Records

Specialised processes can help ensure marketplace transactions are properly recorded and reconciled.

Better Understanding of Profitability

You can gain a clearer view of revenue, fees, inventory costs, advertising expenses, and other costs.

Improved Inventory Visibility

Financial reporting can help you understand how inventory affects your cash flow and profitability.

Better Tracking of Amazon Fees

Understanding the costs associated with selling through Amazon can make profitability analysis more meaningful.

More Organised Settlements

A structured reconciliation process can help connect Amazon settlement activity with bank deposits.

Improved Reimbursement Tracking

Potential reimbursements can be incorporated into the broader financial workflow.

Less Manual Work

Accounting integrations and specialised processes can reduce repetitive administrative tasks.

Better Financial Decisions

With reliable financial information, business owners can make more informed decisions about pricing, inventory, advertising, and growth.

Why Businesses Choose Kigitz

At Kigitz, we understand that Amazon businesses have financial requirements that extend beyond basic transaction recording.

Amazon sellers may need to manage FBA fees, settlements, inventory, refunds, reimbursements, advertising expenses, and other marketplace-specific transactions.

Our approach focuses on creating organised accounting processes that help business owners understand their financial position and make informed decisions.

Amazon Seller Accounting Knowledge

We recognise that Amazon businesses have a distinct transaction structure.

Understanding how marketplace activity flows into the accounting records is an important part of maintaining useful financial information.

Understanding of FBA Transactions

FBA fees, settlements, inventory, refunds, and reimbursements can all affect profitability.

A structured accounting process can help bring these transactions together.

Technology-Supported Accounting

Accounting technology and integrations can reduce repetitive work and improve efficiency.

Technology can be particularly useful for Amazon businesses dealing with large transaction volumes.

Accurate Financial Reporting

Reliable financial statements provide the foundation for understanding business performance.

We focus on helping businesses maintain organised financial records that can support meaningful reporting.

Business-Specific Support

Every Amazon business is different.

Your transaction volume, product range, inventory levels, sales channels, and financial goals can influence the accounting support you need.

Scalable Financial Support

Your accounting needs can change as your business grows.

Building a scalable process can help ensure your financial systems keep pace with your operations.

Financial Clarity

Ultimately, accounting should help you understand your business.

The objective is not simply to record transactions but to create financial information that can support better decisions.

Learn more about Kigitz’s Amazon Sellers Accounting Services.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Need a Specialised Accountant for Amazon FBA?

Not every Amazon seller requires a specialised accountant from the beginning. However, specialised experience can become valuable when your business has significant inventory, high transaction volume, complex FBA fees, multiple marketplaces, or difficulty understanding true profitability.

What Does an Amazon FBA Accountant Cost?

The cost varies based on the size and complexity of the business, transaction volume, number of sales channels, inventory requirements, and services included. Sellers should compare pricing based on the actual accounting support they need rather than choosing solely on cost.

Can an Amazon FBA Accountant Handle My Taxes?

Some accounting firms provide tax services in addition to bookkeeping and financial reporting, while others focus on accounting support. Ask the firm which tax services are included in your engagement and whether additional tax professionals are involved when needed.

Can an Amazon FBA Accountant Help With Inventory?

Yes. An Amazon FBA accountant can help with the financial side of inventory, including inventory valuation, cost of goods sold, inventory-related reporting, and understanding how inventory affects profitability and cash flow.

What Software Do Amazon FBA Accountants Use?

The software depends on the business and accounting workflow. Common platforms can include QuickBooks Online, Xero, Amazon Seller Central, and compatible Amazon or eCommerce accounting integrations.

Can an Amazon Accountant Help Me Understand My Profit?

Yes. An accountant with Amazon experience can help bring together sales, FBA fees, advertising expenses, inventory costs, refunds, reimbursements, and operating expenses to provide a clearer picture of profitability.

What Is the Difference Between Amazon Bookkeeping and Amazon Accounting?

Amazon bookkeeping generally focuses on recording, organising, and reconciling financial transactions. Amazon accounting goes further by including financial reporting, analysis, inventory accounting, profitability analysis, and other activities that help business owners understand and manage their finances.

Final Thoughts

The difference between a general accountant and Amazon FBA accountants is often the depth of understanding they bring to the Amazon marketplace environment.

A general accountant can provide valuable support with bookkeeping, financial statements, tax-related work, and other core accounting responsibilities.

An accountant who specialises in Amazon FBA can also understand the financial impact of Amazon settlements, FBA fees, inventory, refunds, reimbursements, advertising expenses, and marketplace transactions.

That specialised knowledge can help sellers build more accurate financial records and gain a clearer understanding of their actual profitability.

For growing Amazon businesses, effective Amazon FBA accounting can provide the financial foundation needed to manage cash flow, evaluate products, control costs, and make better decisions about growth.

Ready to Get More From Your Amazon Accounting?

If you’re unsure whether your current accounting process is keeping up with your Amazon business, Kigitz can help.

Schedule a consultation with Kigitz to learn how specialised Amazon accounting support can help organise your books, improve financial reporting, understand profitability, and build a stronger financial foundation for your business.

Learn more about bookkeeping through our articles below:

• Contract for Bookkeeping Services
• Accounting Services for Amazon Sellers
• Best Bookkeeping Services for Amazon Sellers