When you think of a bookkeeper, images of a desk filled with stacks of ledgers and receipts may come to mind. However, record keeping has come a long way with the advent of cloud accounting, and many modern businesses are enlisting mobile bookkeepers. A mobile bookkeeper is someone who inputs your day-to-day transactions into a QuickBooks cloud account that’s accessible from anywhere.
Finding the right mobile bookkeeper that can meet the challenges of web-based accounting software requires thoroughness and forethought. Should you hire an individual or a firm? What qualities should you consider? What questions should you ask? You should interview your potential candidates as you would any prospective employee. If you’re wondering what you should look for, check out the following list.
1. Communication and Accessibility
Not being able to reach someone when you need information is frustration you don’t need to add to your business. If you need an answer urgently and your bookkeeper is MIA, you could be losing out on valuable business deals or end up paying fines for missed payments. Timely communication is essential, and part of that will be uncovered in your initial conversations. If you have to wait to hear back from someone for more than 24 hours, it’s best to move on to another candidate.
Excellent communications mean that you are kept informed about all aspects of your books. Make sure that you will be given regular updates and will be alerted as to any irregular activity. You shouldn’t have to go digging through your transactions to find anomalies. A great bookkeeper will flag them for you.
2. Accuracy
You definitely don’t want to pay someone to do the work and then have to re-do it yourself anyway. Your books should be flawless.
3. Variety of Services
As your business grows, your bookkeeper needs to be able to grow with you. The last thing you want is to get comfortable with someone and then have to start all over with someone else as your business expands. Go with a firm that is able to handle your account as it is and is capable of adding services you’ll need in the future.
4. Team Effort
A bookkeeping firm that operates smoothly as a team will be able to handle life events like when the business owner goes on vacation, maternity leave, or even retires. Some firms assign accounts to specific managers. You’ll want a firm that plays to everyone’s strengths and keeps all managers informed of each account.
5. Impeccable record
Read reviews on their website and Google. Chances are that dissatisfied customers will make their way online to spread the word. Ask other local businesses for referrals. Word of mouth is the best way to find a superior bookkeeper.
6. Integrity
Your values should be as important to your bookkeeper as your financials. If your bookkeeper suggests something you’re not comfortable with, they don’t belong in your company.
7. Cash flow management
A great bookkeeper will monitor your cash flow and prevent you from using money influx to manage short-term crises.
8. Audit proofing
Managing your tax obligations is a huge part of bookkeeping. While JADDE Financial Solutions doesn’t do tax prep, we do work with tax laws in mind at all times. As your business grows, you’ll move to higher tax brackets. That can cripple an unprepared business. Quarterly statements will help guard against underpayments to the IRS, prevent insufficient payment fees, and keep you from being audited.
Jadde Financial Services meets all of these standards and more. We offer several mobile bookkeeping plans so you can choose the one right for your business. We’re a firm that can meet all of your small business needs now and in the future. Not sure if we’re a good fit for you? Give us a call (732-625-2734) and get to know us – we look forward to meeting you!
