How to choose the right bookkeeper for your business

Bookkeeping, Business - 17/03/2022

A bookkeeper is trusted with one of the most important aspects of your business: the accounts. You need to make sure you’re working with the right one. A bookkeeper who meets your business needs, has the expert knowledge and offers honest, reliable services.

How do you know which bookkeeper is right for your business? 

What are your accounting needs?

You can’t choose the right bookkeeper if you don’t know what you need. Every business will need different things from their accounts management. For example, if you’re a smaller business, you’ll need a bookkeeper who knows how to manage that. If you use a lot of cloud-based software for your accounts, you’ll need someone with that area of digital expertise.

It helps if the person you choose has relevant experience in your specific industry. Bookkeeping is different depending on the sector. They need to be able to understand what your business does, how it operates, and know what your charging methods and main expenses are.

If your business is ready to grow, think about whether the bookkeeper you choose will be able to take on that growth too. If they aren’t experienced in larger businesses, you might decide they’re not the right fit for you. They might be now, but you don’t want to waste time finding a new bookkeeper when they can no longer meet your needs. 

Do they know the software?

Most bookkeepers will specialise in specific accounts management software. If your preferred software and the bookkeeper’s preferred software don’t match up, it might cause some problems. For example, there could be issues sharing data. 

Although it might be possible to export and import data in a suitable format, it can be time-consuming and easily cause errors. You then run the risk of your highly sensitive financial information being read as you send the data back and forth.

Can you work with them remotely?

A lot of businesses have moved themselves online and are working remotely. Working location has become much less of an issue for businesses. Using cloud accounts management, you and your bookkeeper can view identical real-time data at the same time – no matter where you are. You’re not limited to finding a bookkeeper you can practically access. You can widen the scope to find one that really meets your needs.

It’s about what you want for your business. Are you happy to communicate via telephone and video meetings? Or would you prefer to interact face-to-face? This is a question only you as a business owner can answer. Once you do, you’ll be able to start searching for a good business match.

Find a bookkeeper who works with you, not just for you

Bookkeeping is all about trust. You need to be able to trust them with extremely sensitive and important information. That won’t happen if you just pick the first one you find. 

You’ll  need one you can rely on, who has the necessary experience and who will be there when you need them.

You don’t want a bookkeeper who does the bare minimum. You want one that’ll be an extension of your team. The best ones will be your partner in all but name. They should be in tune with the more significant goals of the company, and proactive about helping you grow and develop as a business. 

When you work with Numero, that’s exactly what you get. We’re not interested in box ticking exercises, we’re here to help make the most of your accounts and move your business forward. Give us a call today and let’s talk about how we can work together.