Finding time for every aspect of your business can be complex as a business owner. However, you must ensure the bookkeeping is done correctly and on time. Hiring a virtual assistant bookkeeper is an excellent way of handling much of this work and freeing up your time so you can focus on growing your company. There are many factors to consider when hiring a virtual assistant bookkeeper. Here are some tips to help make sure you find the right person for your business:
Tip #1: Hire a virtual assistant bookkeeper
If you’re looking to hire a virtual assistant bookkeeper, use a trusted outsourcing service. This will save you time and money. The outsourcing company will be able to source you the right candidate for your virtual bookkeeping and accounting support needs.
Tip #2: Make sure the person is an expert bookkeeper
When hiring a bookkeeper, ensuring they have the right experience is essential. This means they should have experience in your type of business and industry. It also helps if they are familiar with your accounting software and procedures.
Accounting regulations can vary from country to country, so hire someone familiar with the regulations specific to you and your business. For example, GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) is used in the United States of America. In other countries, this might not be the case—your virtual assistant may need additional training or education before they can start working for you.
Tip #3: They must have experience of your type of business
Whether you’re an accountant or a plumber, every business has unique accounting processes and requirements. For this reason, your virtual assistant bookkeeper must have experience with your type of business. You may be running a small construction company and want to hire someone to manage the company finances. Such an assistant should have experience in construction: they must understand the industry well enough to run the books correctly for your operation.
Tip #4: Location doesn’t matter
The location of your virtual assistant is not as important as you might think. Today’s business world is becoming increasingly international: many trends that allow remote working also apply to hiring a virtual assistant.
For example, a native-English speaker is the correct choice to hire someone from another country who speaks English well. You would not want someone who needs their native language translated into English so they can use your company’s accounting software. As long as they are a native-English speaker, it matters not whether they work from home in Arkansas or Hong Kong—the final result will be the same. The only difference is how much money is saved on relocation fees!
If this sounds like something that would work for you and your budget, keep reading.
Tip #5: Use the currency of your choice
When you’re hiring a virtual assistant bookkeeper, you may use the currency of your choice. Your virtual assistant bookkeeper must be familiar with this currency so there are no mistakes when converting back and forth between currencies.
Tip #6: Keep good records – and know what to look for
When hiring a virtual assistant bookkeeper, keeping good records is essential. When you have the proper documentation and information, it will be easier for your VA to do its job.
As part of the hiring process, ask how well-organized the person is regarding record keeping. If they aren’t sufficiently organized to keep their finances in order (or haven’t done so before), they might not be able to help with yours either.
Tip #7: Have good references and check them out!
Before you hire someone, examine their references. Be sure that they answer your questions honestly and in detail. If a reference says, “They did a great job for me but I can’t vouch for them personally because I don’t know them well enough,” that isn’t good enough—you need more information!
After you hire someone, ask their referees how things are going. Ask whether they can recommend anyone else to help with your bookkeeping needs.
Once you’ve hired them, keep checking up on their work! Check-in regularly to see what tasks they’ve completed and to discuss any problems or issues that may arise while working together.
Tip #8: Shop around for the right virtual assistant
Now that you have a better idea of what to look for in a virtual assistant bookkeeper, it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty and search for the right person or company.
There are several ways you can go about finding your perfect match. Please research online and read reviews from other clients who’ve hired their own VAs. Ask for references from previous clients and check their websites. If they have one, see what kind of work they do (and whether this aligns with the type of business you’re running. You could also ask them if they will provide samples of their work—this is an excellent way of gauging how well-versed they are in whatever field yours falls under (in your case, bookkeeping).
Another option is asking potential candidates whether they offer proposals. You will then know the exact costs involved before making any commitments. If possible, try setting up interviews with two or three people so there won’t be surprises when hiring someone. No hidden fees! Finally—and most importantly—make sure both parties sign an agreement outlining terms, such as how much money should be paid upfront versus later on, how long this arrangement must last, and who owns all intellectual property created during this period, among other things.
Using a virtual assistant bookkeeper allows you to focus on the necessary tasks that will make your business grow.
Focusing on what you do best to grow your business is essential. If your company is growing, it needs someone who can perform tasks unrelated to bookkeeping and accounting. This frees them up for other duties such as customer service, marketing, human resources management, payroll administration, etc.
This is also important for the person who provides customer or client services. They can focus on delivering improved customer service through enhanced communication and relationships when they have more time.
Conclusion: How to Hire a Virtual Assistant Bookkeeper for Your Business
As you can see, there are many benefits to hiring a virtual assistant bookkeeper to manage your bookkeeping and keep it up to date. In hiring one, you can focus on growing your business and not worrying about managing the finances. We hope this article has helped answer some questions about hiring a virtual assistant bookkeeper.
3 Key Takeaways
- Focus on Business Growth: Business owners can concentrate on core competencies and strategic initiatives that drive growth by delegating bookkeeping tasks to a virtual assistant. This frees up valuable time and mental energy for developing the business.
- Prioritize Expertise and Experience: When selecting a virtual assistant and skilled bookkeeper, finding someone with specific knowledge of your industry and accounting regulations is crucial. This ensures accurate financial management and compliance.
- Conduct Thorough Research and Due Diligence: The hiring process involves careful evaluation of potential candidates, including checking references, reviewing portfolios, and understanding their work processes. This helps in finding a reliable and competent virtual assistant bookkeeper.