Every business must integrate a form of financial supervisions into their business model. The allocation of some of its operating resources is essential to ensuring that a business is financially functioning optimally. Some business will elect to have an entire onsite bookkeeping department, while others may prefer to employ an offsite bookkeeper. There is a significant cost difference between hiring an offsite bookkeeper versus employing an onsite bookkeeper. Employing an offsite bookkeeper will simply cost less money than hiring a full or even part-time onsite bookkeeping employee. There are several things to consider when making the decision regarding hiring an offsite bookkeeper.
Qualifications and Skills
Depending on the needs of a business there are a variety of different types of bookkeepers with varying levels of education, experience, and certifications. Be sure to ask what formal qualifications a perspective bookkeeper holds. Qualified bookkeepers should be able to identify and prioritize time sensitive issues and carryout them out accordingly. Some bookkeepers provide more generalized services, while others may offer specialized bookkeeping support. Bookkeepers should focus not only on accurately processing transactions, but also constantly reviewing their work so as to identify and correct any errors. There are certain basic skills a bookkeeper should have to be able to do his or her job in the most effective manner possible. Examples of these skills can include, but are not limited to: attention to detail, problem solving skills, integrity, organization skills, transparency, time management skills, technologically savvy…etc.
Industry Familiarity
Every business is different and will have distinct needs when it comes to the combination of services that will be helpful for an offsite bookkeeper to carry out. Even in a situation where a bookkeeper comes highly recommended and feels like a great fit, it could be a red flag if he or she is unfamiliar with the business’ industry, and/ or has minimal experience working as a bookkeeper within the relevant industry. Asking for a few examples of common bookkeeping issues and how the bookkeeper resolved them (within the relevant industry) can help an employer gage a prospective bookkeeper’s familiarity and experience with working in the appropriate industry. Hiring a bookkeeper that has minimal experience working in one’s industry is not necessarily harmful to one’s business, it is just important keep in mind that there will likely be a learning curve for the bookkeeper as they familiarize themselves with industry specific issues.
Communication
When a business has an inhouse bookkeeper asking a quick question or requesting clarification can be as easy as walking to that employee’s workspace and obtaining the answer. The business has full access to the bookkeeper (during working hours) as he or she is housed in the same facility as other employees in the business. When hiring an offsite bookkeeper, it is important to be on the same page regarding communication expectations. Knowing a prospective offsite bookkeeper’s preferred methods of communication, communication frequency, and general response times are all important to understand. The communication style of an offsite bookkeeper is a helpful compatibility indicator. No business has extra time or energy to spend on trying to decipher an unclear correspondence with a bookkeeper that is slow to respond. Does the bookkeeper speak and/ or write clearly and concisely? It he or she easy to understand? It is helpful to have a broad understanding of how the bookkeeper outlines and/ or executes his or her weekly or monthly obligations to assure optimum productivity.
For Further Information
There is no need for anyone to struggle through completing their taxes accurately, nor should anyone feel without guidance when it comes to effectively managing their finances. While the undertaking to identify and connect with an accountant that is a good fit and aligns with one’s needs may seem overwhelming, doing so will be worth it in the long run. Many people may feel they can sufficiency manage their finances and tax responsibilities on their own, but hiring the right accountant can help to assure maximum proficiency and will ultimately result in significant financial gain during one’s lifetime. With decades of experience and the full range of accounting services Krowne Certified Public Accountants provide, we are equipped with the expertise for which you may be in need. As a full-service public accounting firm, we at Krowne Certified Public Accountants, are able to offer unparalleled financial guidance and professional services specifically tailored to each of our client’s nuanced needs. Please feel free to reach out to us at Krowne Certified Public Accountants by filling out the form on our contact us page or via phone at 818-831-6075 to discuss your situation and find out how we can help you grow. We look forward to hearing from you.
