Steps to Take When Looking for a Bookkeeper - What to Know
The financial aspect of your business is paramount. After all, running a business is primarily about earning money and making a profit. That is why it’s critical to manage the financial health of your business.
Hiring a bookkeeper can be quite tricky yet it is crucial. You want to have someone you can have the utmost trust and confidence in. Your bookkeeper will have access to the confidential details of your company’s financial records. Along with this is ensuring that he has the knowledge, skills, and expertise in dealing with your business finances.
Below are the steps to take to get the best bookkeeper for your company.
Assessing knowledge of bookkeeping software systems
The first thing to consider is the knowledge of various bookkeeping software systems. In this time and age, there’s a wide array of software and applications that a business can utilize. These software and apps will aid companies with the process of recording financial data and information. They can even go as far as automatically doing the math for you. You can interpret figures and financial patterns for sound business decisions. Getting a bookkeeper who knows the ins and outs of these bookkeeping systems will give him or her an edge. You need not teach a bookkeeper on how to use this software. If he’s an expert on the use of this app, he can even work wonders for your company.
Having a background check
The next thing to do is to have a background check. As mentioned, a bookkeeper will be dealing with finances. We all know how money can make a person do crazy things. Even if you’re hiring a friend to help with your books, make sure that their background doesn’t raise any red flags. Failure to run a simple background check is putting your business at risk. In the end, you want to hire someone who is absolutely honest and trustworthy.
Asking for character references
Part of your hiring process is to ask for character references. First, you want to make sure your potential bookkeeper has a reputable work history. Second, you want someone who has acted with integrity in previous positions. It’s best to check with past employers, supervisors, or clients. It’s vital to confirm both the experience and character of these prospects in the workplace. You want to be sure to get an idea of what this person is like as both a colleague and an employee.
Resorting to a credit check
Finally, have a credit check. Of course, you want to hire someone who can manage his own finances responsibly. It’s a reflection of how he’s going to manage your business’s finances as well. If he can’t even properly handle his private funds, how can you expect him to manage your company’s finances, which are presumably a much broader scope and larger scale. Check if he has previously filed for bankruptcy or defaulted on a loan. This may indicate a pattern of irresponsibility regarding finances. You want to hire someone who has financial responsibility and a sense of accountability.
Ultimately, hiring a bookkeeper is critical to your business finances and your company’s overall business success. The steps mentioned above will guide you in finding bookkeeper prospects and hiring the best one for your company. At this point, you must be highly critical as well as straightforward in your recruitment process in hiring a bookkeeper.
If you’re looking for Bookkeeping by QuickBooks Certified ProAdvisors, get in touch today! We’re happy to help.