A good bookkeeper is crucial to the success of any business. If your company’s financial data is not managed correctly it could even spell disaster. You need to find a bookkeeper who can be relied upon and has the training and experience in order to do the job right.
Hiring someone who is not right for the job can be worse than hiring no one at all. Some business owners try to save money by doing their own bookkeeping or hiring an inexperienced member of their staff, such as a receptionist do their bookkeeping, without understanding the damaging impact it can have on the business.
A small mistake can be easy to make, especially by an inexperienced bookkeeper, and can ultimately lead to a huge expense farther down the road when someone else has to come in to try to make sense of the books.
To avoid a financial nightmare for your business, what should you look for if you want to find a bookkeeper who will do the job right?
Knowledge and experience
While a good bookkeeper does not need to have degree in accounting, they should have completed some formal coursework in bookkeeping or have been certified from an institution like the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers.
Of course there is no substitute for real world experience; the best way to find out how they’ll perform in a bookkeeping position for your business is to speak with one of their former employers or a past client about their past performance.
Personality
The best bookkeepers are detail oriented, well organized, analytical, and have good time management skills. During an interview, ask the candidate for an example of how his/her attention to detail has specifically helped him or her get the job done in the past.
Pay attention to their body language during the interview as well. If they seem frazzled and anxious or disorganized, they might not be the right person for the job.
Available
It won’t help you to find a bookkeeper if that person isn’t available to commit the time your business needs. The bookkeeper should be available and dependable.
Accountable
It’s imperative that the bookkeeper have good communication skills and not be afraid to hold you accountable for any discrepancies that might arise. They should be assertive enough that if they have any doubts about a deposit, check or other financial transaction, they’ll be able to question you about it to be certain that it is categorized or coded correctly.
By asking the right questions, you’ll be much more likely to find a bookkeeper who will do the job right, and increase the chances of success for your business.