To celebrate Global Bookkeeping Week, we’re asking the question “What makes a good bookkeeper?”. Is it a dashing suit and smile? It’s a bit more than that! Here’s what we think makes a good bookkeeper.

Attention to detail

As bookkeepers our role revolves around the detail. We look for patterns, changes and missing links. We literally put 2 and 2 together to provide the client with what they need. Being passionate about the detail is essential so that we can ensure nothing is missing and everything matches up the way it should. If something isn’t right we have to speak up. The pence really do matter.

Initiative

If we see that a task could take half the time, if a new software was implemented or a process was changed, then we will suggest it to the client. Sometimes the client is reluctant to change their processes and that’s their initiative. Despite this, you are respected more for speaking up and making suggestions than to not say anything at all. It’s also important to speak up if something in the accounts looks odd. We ask questions like “Why is that there and not there?” and “Why has that been done in that way?”. There might be a valid explanation or there could be an error.

Open to new software

At COS we believe it’s important to stay up to date with accounting software and technology. This means we can make better suggestions to our customers and enables us to be more efficient too. We believe that one software does not fit all. Being open to new software means customers feel they can also make suggestions to us and know that we are willing to learn new systems. You never stop learning!

Forming good relationships with clients

In order to work to the best of our ability for a company we need to understand a business, its processes, its goals, and really get to know the Directors, staff and the way the company runs. We need to form a trusting bond with them. They must feel that they can approach us if there is a problem and they need to have the confidence in us to go away and fix it.

Patience

We often spend time chasing information and reminding individuals to send things over, for us to do our jobs. We understand that it doesn’t always feel like a priority and people are busy trying to run their business. Therefore, it is essential we carry the virtue of patience with us. We must be there to remind, chase and pester whenever needed so that the books are up to date.

If you’re feeling stuck with your books then schedule a free exploratory meeting to share your worries by following the link below.