Do you feel the need for a bookkeeper in your organization? We suggest that every business, small or big, should have a bookkeeper to maintain the records accurately and save you from errors.
Now you are wondering how to hire a bookkeeper that would be the best fit for your company. So, the first decision you should make when hiring is if you are looking for a full-time or a freelance bookkeeper. Then you will go on to analyze other aspects that we have shared with you below to get the best bookkeeper.
How To Hire a Bookkeeper? – Every Necessary Aspect to Consider
When people question how to hire a bookkeeper, they frequently find themselves constrained. This is mostly due to the lack of a universally accepted set of qualifications or standards to hire against. Every industry is unique, and each bookkeeper has their own methods of operation. Here are some questions that you must ask when hiring a bookkeeper.
What Is the Scope of Bookkeeping?
Many firms believe that they know what a bookkeeper does! Obviously, they do, but what you should consider while hiring is if that bookkeeper knows your niche and what kind of experience they have in your niche.
Some bookkeepers act as management accountants and have skills to analyze financial statements and records, whereas some of them are limited to data entry work.
These are a few things that your bookkeeper should know:
- Bank reconciliation
- Managing accounts payable and receivables
- Creating sales invoices and following up with debtors
- Prepare P&L statement and balance sheet
- Create accurate records
- Preparing for tax season
Do They Have Appropriate Certifications?
Depending on the country, different qualifications and registration requirements apply. Find out about your bookkeeper’s certifications and whether they are authorized in your Country.
While some bookkeepers are more generalists, some are experts in specific areas. You should have a specialized bookkeeper on staff if your bookkeeping involves more tough or challenging components.
What Is Their Level of Expertise?
An efficient bookkeeper is one who is able to process your accounts accurately and communicate with you in a way that does not involve much time.
Dedicated bookkeepers have a definite work structure that they follow to make sure they cover all aspects and work with utmost accuracy. You can always ask them to share their client review to analyze their strengths and weaknesses.
Are They Familiar With Your Industry?
Make sure you ask them if they have experience in your industry. You should also ask them to give examples of common problems that people face in your industry and what they will do to resolve these problems, which will help you analyze the expertise level.
What Is Their Mode Of Communication With Clients?
First, you should make sure that a bookkeeper is able to communicate with you in your language, as it will make it easier for you to deal with them.
In case you are outsourcing or hiring a freelancer, then you should also know what modes they use to communicate with clients, such as Skype and other online modes.
Why & When Should You Hire a Bookkeeper?
Bookkeeping is very detail-oriented work. It’s possible that you require a bookkeeper to record and manage your transactions. Hence, you will need a person who is great at their work and multitasking.
Some benefits of hiring a bookkeeper
- Recording accurate transactions on a daily basis
- Automating invoicing and customer payments
- Complete monthly, quarterly, and yearly financial requirements on time.
As Tax & Accounting suggests that you should hire a bookkeeper as soon as possible so that you get help from the start. This will also help you maintain records from the very beginning and prepare you for tax season.
What to look for in a bookkeeper?
A bookkeeper must have these few skills to perform their duties efficiently. Employers should keep these in mind skills so, at the time of hiring, they can judge their candidates by the same.
- Organizational Skills
Organizing the data and recording financial transactions are the key functions of a bookkeeper. Organizational skills enable bookkeepers to complete the following activities effectively:
- Organize data
- Create a schedule to work with clients
- Maintaining the files and being ready for the tax period
- Problem shooting skills
It’s important that the documents are in proper order and the financial records are maintained accurately. Problem-shooting skills will allow the bookkeepers to catch mistakes and solve them immediately to secure the company from facing any issues.
- Attention to detail
These skills are important when it comes to the following tasks:
- Track financial statements
- Record error-free data
- Regularly check documents for any mistake
- Computer Literacy
The bookkeeper nowadays manages all the data through software, which makes it important for a bookkeeper to have computer literacy to manage and handle the software easily. Excel should also be a strong suit for a bookkeeper because it is used extensively in bookkeeping.
- Time Management
It is an essential component of bookkeeping as they have to maintain records and create reports that should be done timely and accurately. A bookkeeper should be great at time management as there is a lot of data to handle in one single day.
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper?
The common Salary of a Bookkeeper in the USA is $20 per Hour. The salary for freelance bookkeepers ranges from $8 to $40 per hour, depending on expertise.
Frequently Asked Questions On How To Hire A Bookkeeper
The charges can range from $10 to $100 per hour. This cost includes full-time and freelance bookkeepers. Make sure to analyze which one to choose according to your requirements and needs.
Yes, at any stage of business, a bookkeeper is always worth it. They can tell you cost-saving tips and are also responsible for maintaining the inflow and outflow of cash, which gives them the power to understand where you need to improve and where to save.
There are many responsibilities a bookkeeper handles:
● Bank reconciliation
● Accounts payable and receivables
● Payroll processing
● Data entry
This is a list of a few tasks that a bookkeeper does.
A bookkeeper is not liable to file taxes for your business. However, they are responsible for preparing the documents that are needed to file taxes. It is suggested that you hire a tax filer to file the taxes to make sure it is error-free.
I am Billie wilson, a financial analyst who loves to share knowledge. I believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to succeed and so I guide people in their journey to financial growth
