Bookkeeper: What is the cost of hiring?

Why hire a bookkeeper?

A bookkeeper can help oversee your company’s financial data and make sure you have a balanced budget. They can track how much you spend as a company and ensure that you have good cash flow.

Contributions of a great bookkeeper:

• Balance the company’s budget
• Do inventory
• Track expenses

Deciding between a full-time vs freelance bookkeeper

A bookkeeper will sometimes work for an accounting company, taking clients assigned to them. These types of jobs are full-time permanent and a really great way for bookkeepers to practice their skills.

A large majority of bookkeepers work independently, and you can hire them for one project or to help you with your year-end numbers. These bookkeepers are a great asset to small businesses as they usually work at an hourly rate meaning their services can be paid for easily.

What are the different types of bookkeepers?

A bookkeeper will help your business keep track of expenses and what money is coming in. They do not have the same training or expertise as an accountant but can still make sure your business runs within budget. Many bookkeepers will help with things such as cash flow or inventory of products. The following is a list of different types of bookkeepers.

• Accounts receivable/payable bookkeeper: Will keep track of all the money going in and out of the company.
• Payroll accountant: In charge of recording payroll and making sure each staff member is paid on time.
• Inventory bookkeeper: Will track inventory of products coming in and going out.
• Daily cash flow bookkeeper: Will track the daily cash flow of a business.

Where to find a bookkeeper

To find the right bookkeeper for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

• Colleges with bookkeeping programs: When looking for a bookkeeper, you can start by looking at local colleges that have bookkeeping programs. This way, you know the candidates have the proper training to do the job.
• Professional organizations: many bookkeepers join professional associations once they have finished their training. These associations are a great place to find bookkeepers who have the experience you need in a candidate.
• Referrals: Asking your friends, family, and colleagues for a referral for a bookkeeper is a great way to find someone who is reliable and good at their job.
• Freelance networking sites: Some bookkeepers will post a profile on freelance networking sites meaning you can find them and see reviews of their work. By doing this, you know how good the bookkeeper is at their job, making it easy for you to find a quality candidate.

Post your job online: Try posting your job on Indeed to find and attract quality candidates.

Skills to look for in a great bookkeeper

A great bookkeeper candidate will have the following skills and attributes as well as work experience that reflects:

• expert math skills
• attention to detail
• able to communicate well with clients
• very well organized
• able to meet strict deadlines
• great problem-solving skills

Writing a bookkeeper job description

A thoughtful description is important for finding qualified bookkeeper candidates. A bookkeeper job description includes a compelling summary of the role, a detailed list of duties and responsibilities, and the required and preferred skills for the position.

When writing your bookkeeper job description, consider including some or all of the following keywords to improve the visibility of your job posting. These are the most popular search terms leading to clicks on bookkeeper jobs, according to Indeed data:

• bookkeeper
• accounting
• bookkeeping
• assistant accountant
• payroll
• accountant clerk
• accounts payable

Interviewing bookkeeper candidates

Strong candidates for bookkeeper positions will be confident answering questions regarding:

• Experience with difficult clients
• Experience with meeting strict deadlines
• Ability to use accounting software
• Ability to notice small mistakes and fix them quickly
• Experience handling sensitive information

Need help coming up with interview questions? See our list of interview questions for examples (with sample answers).