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What to look for when hiring a bookkeeper

ON October 17, 2016

Why Hire a Professional Bookkeeper?

You’re a successful business owner, brimming with talent, capable of wearing many hats. But if you lack important bookkeeping skills, your business could be missing out on some huge financial opportunities. So, before you hire someone to take your company to the next level, you need to make sure you find a bookkeeper who can provide the financial information and business intelligence you need to make accurate, timely decisions. Here is some handy advice to help you when it comes time to hire a bookkeeper for a small business.

Ability to Accomplish Essential Tasks

This may seem like a no-brainer, but a good bookkeeper must have the skills and the experience to carry out key bookkeeping tasks. They need to be able to reconcile bank statements, post and update journal entries, as well as process payroll, accounts payable, and accounts receivable.

Good at Problem Solving

The bookkeeper you plan on hiring should be a great problem solver. What was this expense for? Where is this bill? Why don’t these numbers reconcile? A good number cruncher can spot issues instead of glossing over them. So make sure your bookkeeper has a nose for sniffing out problems. They will not only be able to track down solutions, but also save you time, money, and stress down the road.

Effective Communication Skills

A good bookkeeper is not only an effective problem solver, but also a proficient communicator. In today’s information-dense business world, they need to have great communication skills. If your bookkeeper is unsure about something, they have to be able to ask for you for clarification. Otherwise, mistakes (and missed opportunities) are going to happen that could harm your business, posing a serious threat to your organization and the integrity of your company.

Detailed Oriented

One of the reasons why you hire a professional bookkeeper is to handle the details. You’ve got your hands full meeting with clients, dealing with suppliers, and supervising your employees. When it comes to your financial operations, you need a bookkeeper who can focus on the little things, without you having to micromanage them. Hiring a detailed oriented bookkeeper will allow you to do what you do best—run your business.

A Willingness to Follow Through

As a business owner, you know the importance of seeing projects though to their conclusion. No one likes loose ends. That is why you want a bookkeeping professional who has the commitment to follow through. Having a bookkeeper on the payroll means you won’t have to chase down unanswered questions and complete unfinished financial tasks.

Well-maintained financial records are critical to the success of your business. If you want your business to thrive, it’s vital that you bring a knowledgeable and skilled bookkeeper on board.

Want to know how to find a good bookkeeper? Look no further than BCJ Group, Chartered Professional Accountants.

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