Bookkeeping Tips: Qualities To Look For In A Bookkeeper

September 10th, 2013 by

Finding a quality bookkeeper can be stressful and time consuming. However, it is an extremely important decision that is crucial to the success of your small business. You must always be careful in who you choose to manage the company books. If you choose a bookkeeper who is careless and not detailed oriented, your business processes will suffer as their lofty behavior is almost guaranteed lead to problems with the IRS in the future. To make sure you hire the right person, here are some qualities to look for when you are shopping around for your ideal bookkeeper.

 

Attention To Detail

Any bookkeeper you hire absolutely must be an extremely detail oriented person. When looking over the records, even a tiny mistake can have large implications on your business’s finances. Fortunately for you, there are some ways to gauge this off the bat. When you first interact with them, look at how they’re dressed. Does their attire seem sloppy and unkempt or do they look like they just came from a GQ magazine shoot? If you get a chance to go into their office, take a good look around. Is their office tidy and organized? If they have provided you with any sort of documentation be sure to check for spelling errors. This could indicate how much they pay attention to small details.

 

Experience In Your Particular Area Of Business

Making sure your bookkeeper has had experience with similar types of businesses is another important factor. Choosing someone who is familiar with how business in your specific industry is done is great because it lowers the potential learning curve. They will not have to go through the process of learning different costs and financial regulations associated with your industry.  Ask them how many years they have worked with firms in your industry. If you want to be sneakier, ask them for previous clients they have worked for (if they divulge that information) and look up the companies later.

 

Great Communication and IT Skills

While your bookkeeper may not need to do a lot of talking when keeping company records, it is still important that they are able to communicate with you and members of your firm so you have an understanding of what’s going on. The key here is to look for someone who is good at explaining more advanced accounting topics by putting them in terms that you can understand.

As well, it is vital that your bookkeeper has solid accounting-related IT skills. This will be beneficial so when they first take a look at your records they can properly assess what kind of accounting software you will need to efficiently run your business and implement it immediately.

If you take all these factors into consideration, then there is no reason why you and your bookkeeper shouldn’t get along famously. If you’re looking for a professional bookkeeper in the Pittsburgh area, please give us a call today!