Finding the right bookkeeper can make all the difference for your small business. A great bookkeeper can have a positive impact on how you feel about the financial aspects of your business. They can also take care of a multitude of details while you go about running and growing your company.
When it comes to experience and expertise, bookkeepers come in all shapes and sizes. Most bookkeepers do not have formal certifications like CPAs do, and most do not have any college accounting hours. To find a qualified bookkeeper—as well as one that’s a good personality fit for your business—here are a few tips to guide you during the selection process.
Depth and Breadth of Accounting Experience
Some bookkeepers have experience in the corporate world, where they usually become good at one thing, such as matching and processing accounts-payable transactions. Other bookkeepers have maintained books for small businesses and gained experience in all areas of bookkeeping.
Ask your bookkeeping prospects the following to find out how experienced they are:
- “How long have you been bookkeeping, and what types of clients have you had?”
Also, listen for whether they’ve had similar clients or were simply an employee in a similar organization. It’s preferable if they’ve had multiple clients across a variety of industries, including the industry your small business is in, as this indicates they’ve had experience with issues you’re likely to come across. Industry experience is definitely a plus, as this gives their experience the depth you need.
Tech Check
The best bookkeepers have strong technology skills, and one of the questions you need to ask is whether they have experience in your preferred accounting software:
- “My accounting software is ______. Do you have a certification or experience in that software? Which product line and version of that software are you experienced with?“
Further qualify their answer by asking which version and product line they know. QuickBooks, for example, comes in several major lines (i.e. Pro, Premier, Enterprise and Online). Plus, a new version can come out each year, so if they’re working with a three-year-old version, they may not be familiar with some of the new features of the latest. To make sure they can handle your preferred software, be sure to ask:
- “What do you do to stay up to date in accounting and technology?”
You should also ask them how they stay current with new technology solutions in their industry as well as info on training or professional courses they may currently be taking.
Read more from Intuit