Hiring a Remote Bookkeeper: What You Need to Know
A remote bookkeeper can manage your financials accurately and efficiently. Here's everything you need to know before making the hire.
For most small businesses, hiring a full-time, in-house bookkeeper isn't necessary or cost-effective. A remote bookkeeper offers the same quality support at a fraction of the cost.
What a Remote Bookkeeper Does A remote bookkeeper manages your financial records and ensures your books stay accurate and up to date. Core responsibilities typically include:
- Recording income and expenses
- Reconciling bank and credit card accounts
- Managing accounts payable and receivable
- Preparing financial reports
- Maintaining accurate records for tax preparation
- QuickBooks or accounting software management
What to Look For
- Experience with your accounting software (QuickBooks, Xero, FreshBooks)
- Industry-specific experience if your business has unique needs
- Strong communication and reliability
- References from previous clients
- A clear understanding of your reporting needs
How to Evaluate Candidates Ask about the types of businesses they've worked with, the volume of transactions they handle monthly, their availability, and how they handle errors or discrepancies. A good bookkeeper will ask you the right questions back.
Setting Up for Success Give your bookkeeper access to the accounts and software they need. Establish a monthly review process where you review the financials together. The goal is to have books you can trust and reports you actually use.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Waiting until tax season to hire a bookkeeper
- Not reviewing reports regularly
- Giving access without establishing security protocols
- Expecting a bookkeeper to do CFO-level work