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12 QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN HIRING A BOOKKEEPER
Without sounding like alarmists, the fact
is that hiring the wrong bookkeeper can destroy your business.
Before choosing a company with whom to work, it is imperative
to clearly define what you expect from your bookkeeper. Choosing
a company to assist you in maintaining your financial records
is an important decision. We at NALH we want you to be confident
in your choice and encourage
our clients to ask questions.
Below,
we have compiled a list of questions that are important to
ask - and have answered clearly - before you select a company
to handle your accounting and bookkeeping needs.
Click the link below to download 12 Questions to Ask When Hiring
a Bookkeeper in printable Adobe Acrobat PDF format.
 DOWNLOAD
12 QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN HIRING A BOOKKEEPER (72kb)
WHAT TO ASK ABOUT THE COMPANY
- How long has the company been in business and
how many clients does it serve?NALH has been in business
for over 27 years and has an active client roster of nearly
200 companies.
- What is the size of the
firm's average client?
Asking this questions will help
determine what size business the bookkeeper is most experienced
in dealing with. The size of NALH's average client company
is...
- Does the company specialize in working with
specific types of businesses or industries?
NALH has had the opportunity to work with companies in a
diverse range of industries and specialties - from language
schools to film productions.
- Is the company a full-time
business for the vendor or a side job?
Depending on your needs, you'll be either be comfortable
with someone who is only available part time or you'll
need someone who is committed to providing bookkeeping
services full time.
NALH is strictly a bookkeeping organization
and has earned a reputation for using the right combination of people
skills and
technology to provide professional bookkeeping services,
support and training.
- Can the company provide
contact information for existing clients with whom they work?
NALH
is happy to provide any prospective client with contact information
for current customers who will be more than happy to provide
you with feedback on their experience in working with us.
In contacting referrals from bookkeepers, you may want to
ask:
- How long have you been working with your bookkeeper
service?
- Does the company complete the work accurately and on
time?
- What value-added services do they provide?
- If unavailable when you call, do they get
back to you in a timely manner?
- Are you able to reach them 90% of the time?
- Does the company offer the opportunity to visit
their office to tour the facility and meet the staff?
NALH
is happy to have prospective clients visit our office and
meet our staff. All of our team members are friendly and
approachable and you will have the chance to observe how
we handle each individual client effectively. We systematized
on how we handle each client individually effectively.
We have specific templates customized to be able to”consistenly” move
paper and files efficiently and effectively. Look for
this when you visit your potential bookkeeping service. Please
feel free to contact
us to schedule a visit to our office.
- Is the company a single person operation or
do they employ support staff?
At NALH, we have an infrastructure of numerous accounting
technicians so that you are not left in chaos if your
technician gets sick, takes holidays, or finds a better opportunity.
With a stable background of 27+ years in business, you can
rest assured that we will always be available.
WHAT TO ASK ABOUT PROCEDURE & WORKFLOW
- What is your procedure for checking work before
it goes out?
It is important to find out if the bookkeeper has any
procedures for checking their work or follows any type
procedures, to be on a consistent basis.
At NALH, our procedures are applied consistently, whether
the task be handling petty cash
or GST filing.
- How is filing
handled? What does the company present to you upon completion?If
you prefer not to spend time doing your own accounting
software data entry, you may also prefer to leave filing
to your bookkeeper as well. You may simply want to have
all your information prepared and returned to you in a manner
that allows for easy storage and quick accessibility when
needed.
NALH
can remind you when your instalments
are due, calculate the payments and remit your cheques.
- How much does the company charge? What is
included? Are there extra charges for filing, folders, pick-up
and delivery?
Before engaging a company, it's crucial to find out how
their fees are calculated. Will the bookkeeper charge you
for every phone discussion? To avoid friction later, it is
essential to discuss the bookkeeper's fee structure. If
the bookkeeper uses a time-based system, discuss the hourly
rate of the bookkeeper and staff.
NALH offers competitive rates for both on-site and off-site
services. We would be happy to answer any questions you may
have about our services and fee structure. Please feel free
to contact us.
WHAT TO ASK ABOUT TECHNOLOGY & SECURITY
- What
kind of software is used and how is my data stored?
A
good bookkeeper should use the right software to keep and
process your financial data – ie:
Windows or Web-based instead of DOS; industry-standard
legal accounting software instead of Excel spreadsheets.
NALH provides a full range of bookkeeping services
using QuickBooks, MYOB and other accounting software,
helping clients assess expenditures and prepare electronic
books for quarterly and year-end accounting requirements.
NALH
has worked with the Seven Group, based
in Burnaby, BC, to establish a solid network structure
to house and secure all of our client data. Seven
Group implemented a network server that is maintained
on a regular basis. To ensure NALH always has the most
current data secured, our server is backed up daily.
- What security and
privacy measures are utilized to preserve the confidentiality
of financial information?
Maintaining the privacy and security of sensitive
financial information is important to every business.
NALH's team members treat all client information with
respect and care and consider all information provided
to us by our clients as confidential.
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