Bookkeepers are not just there to do the specific tasks of entering your business’ numbers into ledgers and balancing your books. If you have been running a business for a while, then you also know that you need to stay on top of your finances and have a good flow of cash, and only with a bookkeeper’s help can you ascertain how financially-stable your business is and how well it is performing. Bookkeepers and bookkeeping services may be a dime a dozen, as they say, but if you are in the process of choosing one, it’s vital that you choose correctly. They are, after all, your potential partner in regards to keeping your business steady and ensuring its growth. So what are the top aspects you should look for in a bookkeeping service or bookkeeper? Let’s find out.

Organisation
First and foremost, your bookkeeper or bookkeeping service needs to be organised. The process of bookkeeping will often involve routine or repetitive tasks and activities, and you need someone who can do these tasks in a timely manner as well. They will have to be mindful of deadlines, and bookkeepers are supposed to be as organised as possible and have a good awareness of your business’ key dates and deadlines. Your bookkeeper should also be mindful of which tasks to prioritise and which to leave for later. With proper checklists, your bookkeeper or bookkeeping service should ensure that you stay on top of deadlines and spread the tasks accordingly.

Good communication
Good bookkeepers or bookkeeping services will also need to be able to communicate well with you. They will, after all, be discussing certain aspects of your business that deal with your finances, and these include standard financial reports like balance sheets, and they need to give you updates on your cash flow as well. Aside from this, your bookkeeper or bookkeeping service may well be in charge of managing your credit control, and they need proper communication for this. They need to supply you with debtor reports, so you know which customers have outstanding invoices that have yet to be paid, and if they offer such a service, they may also have to contact your customers in order to collect payments.

Proper qualifications and experience
While you have the choice to hire a bookkeeping service or bookkeeper who doesn't have professional qualifications, it is in your best interest to rely on those who have at least a certain level of qualifications or experience. If you want, you can look for bookkeepers who have studied for exams with the IAB (International Association of Bookkeepers) or are members of a professional body or authority, which ensures their continued skill and knowledge and their adherence to rules and regulations. Experience may matter as well, especially if you are in a specialist sector; in this regard, it may be a good idea to look for bookkeepers or bookkeeping services that have a degree of experience with clients in your own sector.

There are other aspects you may want to look for in your chosen bookkeeper or bookkeeping service: having an enquiring and curious mind (especially if they have to investigate costs and accounts), being happy working with numbers and figures, and being trustworthy and honest.

Article contributed by kenbellaccounting.co.uk - providers of bookkeeping services

Home

FAQ

+ Submit a Website

Edit Your Listings

Benefits