Bookkeepers are employees who manage your business finances by keeping up with payments, invoices, payroll, revenue, etc. Be sure to hire a professional, intelligent, experienced bookkeeper who can save you time and money.
But, before you begin the hiring process you need to understand that bookkeepers are not necessarily the same as accountants. While an accountant's job is to provide financial advice and recommendations, a bookkeeper's job entails things like recording income and expenses, reconciling bank statements, processing invoices, and administering payroll. If that sounds like the kind of person you need, then it's time to start shopping around for someone to fill the position. Before hiring a bookkeeper consider the following to get the right person to get the job done:
Talk to potential bookkeepers about your business and your needs. An experienced bookkeeper should be able to relate to the specific issues you are facing and should have ideas as to how to address them.
Discuss his/her specific skills with regard to computer programs your company is currently using.
Ask your potential bookkeeper what types of companies they have worked with. It is helpful to find a bookkeeper who has experience with companies similar to yours.
Ask for references. Ask about work performance, time management skills, situations of success or failure, strengths, weaknesses and other pertinent questions. If the bookkeeper you are interviewing has worked well for others, then it is likely that they will for you as well.
Inquire about their hours. Many bookkeepers work part-time or from home. This is not usually a problem, but it is important to make sure your bookkeeper will be available when you need bookkeeping services.
