The decision to hire a bookkeeper to help with the growth of your business should be an easy one to make. Any company serious about posterity should be keeping track of their finances with accounting & bookkeeping services. It is not only essential to comply with federal laws but will also help in making you understand your business better. You should be looking out for some qualities when choosing a bookkeeper for your small business.
Reliability
An accounting firm might have the experience and credentials, but there are no guarantees they’ll be reliable. Reliability is critical when searching for a bookkeeper since you will depend on them to help with the business's finances. You should be looking for a company with a long-standing presence in the community that they serve. You might be searching for Bookkeepers Shmunky, but you don’t know what you should be looking out for. You should not be afraid to ask for references if you’re not sure of the bookkeeper. Ask them if they’ve handled a business in the same predicament as yours.
Well-informed
A good bookkeeper should be well-informed about your business and the industry that you operate in. They should be able to provide real-time and customised reporting specific to your business. The accounting firm should also be able to offer valuable insights into the financial progress the company is making. Such information is essential in the decision-making process. You should be wary of an accounting firm still using manual techniques in today’s digital age.
Organised
It is not good to assume that every bookkeeper is naturally organised. This is where experience comes in. It is impossible to be an exceptional bookkeeper when one is not collected. This goes for all aspects of their work, so it's important to look at things like accounting pricing packages and review the specific services and procedures they offer. If the accountant can’t put their affairs in order, what are the guarantees they will do the same for your business? Ask the bookkeeper about their processes in place and how they ensure that they’re on top of their work when working with you.
Good Communication,
A good bookkeeper might be good with numbers but doesn’t do well with people. This will lead to a breakdown in communication. As the business owner, it is crucial that you’re being informed of the developments so that you react in time whenever there is an issue. Make sure that you’re working with a bookkeeper who listens to you and will explain things quickly for you to understand. The accountant should also be reachable should you have some questions about the taxes or anything to do with the business's finances.
Updates Knowledge
This brings us to the next point. No profession is static. Tax laws get changed often, and the bookkeeper must regularly update their knowledge for the betterment of your business. They should also be knowledgeable about your industry so that you don’t have to explain everything to them.
Has a Good Understanding of Your Industry
A good bookkeeper will go out of their way to understand your industry and the different dynamics involved. The understanding will come in handy when it comes to oversight and analysing patterns in the accounting data. This will reduce the reporting errors that might not reflect your business's whole picture.
They See the Bigger Picture
A bookkeeper who sees the bigger picture will help achieve long-term profitability for your business. The service offered should be beyond tax-saving and minimise penalties. They should be able to plan for:
Fundraising
The bookkeeper should have the skills and expertise to guide you along the way when the business is growing.
Make You a Priority
It doesn’t matter the number of clients the bookkeeper might have, but your business should be the priority when it comes to your time. Making you a priority will boil down to the simple things. They should be respectful of your time. They should also make sure that they get back to you if you tried to reach out and there was no response. A good bookkeeper will maintain a proactive approach when it comes to communication. They will also investigate their clients’ habits to offer the best accounting services. At the end of the day, you want to work with someone who will improve your business.
