Since nearly anyone can call themselves a bookkeeper, you’ll want to ask about their background. Many bookkeepers will have a degree in accounting, be a CPA, or even be registered with the Tax Practitioners Board. Accountants have more education under their belts, and with additional qualifications come higher rates. Bookkeeping requires fewer skills and work, so hiring a bookkeeper instead of an accountant can save you money in the long run. Robert Half has years of experience placing bookkeepers with clients on both a temporary and full-time basis. And our recruiters are well-versed in helping companies hire remote workers.
Pay attention to the candidate’s work experience, particularly if they have prior experience as a bookkeeper or in a similar financial role. Companies often throw around titles without thinking about how the job title describes the duties for that role. A bookkeeper is different from an accountant, a comptroller, a financial analyst, and other finance-related positions.
Step 4: Check certifications and continuing education
” This step ensures that they are compliant with all relevant tax laws. Not having a CPA lined up (and consequently doing key steps in your financial management process incorrectly) can prove more costly in the long run due to mistakes, fees and delays. Taking advantage of virtual bookkeeping services can make the process more streamlined and easier to access paperwork and other statements online, rather than having to meet in person.
In that case, you might want to consider a bookkeeping app like Keeper. If there’s a discrepancy between the books and your bank, your bookkeeper will help you get to the bottom of it. They’re both condiments, and they work well together, but they’re not the same. This became a point of reference for bookkeepers over the next several hundred years.
How Professional Bookkeepers Can Enhance Business Finances
They’re similar to regular financial reports, except that they zero in on a particular aspect of your business. For example, if you run an online store, you can ask a bookkeeper to produce management accounts on your bestselling products. That said, depending on the type of bookkeeper or accountant you hire, and the situation you’re using them for, they may offer overlapping services. But depending on your situation, proper bookkeeping can also come with a steep learning curve. Assisted Bookkeeping offers affordable help from bookkeepers when you need it, with experts only a call away. It’s great for new customers, smaller businesses, or those who want to continue managing their books.
This lets them avoid the kinds of service gaps that may crop up with an individual freelancer. As you shop around, try to find out whether the remote service you’re considering is able to work with accountants. With the growing popularity of cloud-based services, many firms work remotely with clients. In hire a bookkeeper this case, you’ll need to become acquainted with and use the same bookkeeping services your firm does. Juvy is a highly experienced HR and payroll software writer with over 12 years of dedicated expertise. She has a deep passion for technology and a keen understanding of the HR and payroll industry.
Full-service bookkeeping (and accounting)
If you don’t have rights to the software, you may have issues accessing your financial information if you don’t have access to the software your bookkeeper uses. The bottom line here is to make sure you have access to the data and files the bookkeeper will be working with to ensure transparency. Accountants are often asked to interpret complex data and analyses, with duties such as producing profit-and-loss statements and filing taxes. Financial accountants calculate assets and liabilities and show outside investors how a firm is doing.
- As an alternative to accounting, bookkeeping is an appealing field for professionals who want to work with financial statements and computers.
- A freelance bookkeeper is the most affordable option if your finances are simple, and you’re okay with your bookkeeper not being available for you every single business day.
- However, bookkeepers need more work experience for CB certification than they do for CPB licensing.
- That’s why it’s important to find a bookkeeper who knows what they’re doing.
- A controller is a key financial management position responsible for overseeing the accounting operations of a company.
They will be able to help your small business with taxation, financing, and accounting needs. They offer personalized services that include unique financial knowledge. They are often found on various job platforms, which makes them relatively easy to hire. Small businesses need to put together different pieces of the financial puzzle.
For instance, you may decide to pursue additional licenses or certifications. Though bookkeepers don’t need to hold college degrees, some may see their salaries increase after completing an undergraduate degree. Bookkeepers do not have any specific education requirements beyond a high school diploma. However, professionals in this field must have several competencies they may not have learned in high school. Equivity is a good choice if you want an administrative assistant that goes beyond bookkeeping.