Choosing the right bookkeeper for your business is a big decision. 

After all, they will handle a lot of your sensitive financial information and will become a key part of your team. 

So, it is essential that you find someone that you are comfortable with and that you can trust. 

Here at the Institute of Certified NZ Bookkeepers, we’ve put together a list of our top tips on how to hire the best bookkeeper for your business.  

 How To Hire The Best Bookkeeper For Your Business 

The Importance Of A Good Bookkeeper 

Finding a good bookkeeper is essential for running a successful business. A skilled bookkeeper will help maintain your financial records so that they are tidy, accurate and up to date. While this might seem like a small thing, it’s actually huge!  

Accurate financial records are crucial for being able to make informed business decisions, analysing the data in your financial reports, and ensuring you are compliant with all your legal and tax obligations. Basically, all the things you need to set your business on the path for growth and progress. 

How do they do that? Well, accurate financial records allow you to do things like develop a practical business budget and clearly forecast for the future. They allow you to identify cost-saving opportunities and areas to amplify. You can also set achievable goals because you have a clear picture of the financial position of your business.  

Along with keeping accurate financial records, a good bookkeeper can help you take your business to the next level. When you know your bookkeeper has your finances handled, it frees up your time to focus on other critical business aspects like strategy, customer nurturing and brand building.  

Now that we know how important a good bookkeeper is, let’s explore how you can find the best bookkeeper for your business. 

Hiring The Best Bookkeeper 

As we just learned, hiring the right bookkeeper is going to play a crucial part in positioning your business for success. So, follow this step-by-step guide to find the best bookkeeper for you: 

1: Determine Your Needs 

The first thing you need to do is determine the financial aspects you’d like assistance with so that you can find someone with the necessary skills to match. Clearly, you will want someone to help with the maintenance of your day-to-day financial records, but will you also need assistance with payroll or tax return preparation?  

Knowing what you need from your bookkeeper will help make your search easier. 

2: Browse The ICNZB Directory 

The best place to find a bookkeeper in NZ is in the ICNZB Directory. That’s because all of the bookkeepers in our directory have met the professional standards recognised by our professional association and have passed an assessment to demonstrate their comprehensive knowledge of bookkeeping. 

Knowledgeable and great at what they do, our ICNZB certified and master members are bound by a code of ethical conduct, so you will get the very best, professional assistance from them.  

Our directory also makes it easy to find exactly what you need. You can search for a bookkeeper by name, by region, by service, or by any number of specialisations. This helps to narrow your search and present you with the best options available. 

3: Make A Shortlist 

When searching our directory, you’ll be spoiled for choice as we have fantastic bookkeepers from every area of New Zealand. So, we recommend making a shortlist of the potential candidates that stand out to you based on their skill, knowledge or expertise.  

On your shortlist, select 3-5 bookkeepers who you think might be a good fit for your business. 

4: Narrow It Down 

With a shortlist of candidates in front of you, it’s time to narrow down your options to find the best bookkeeper for your business. Consider the following: 

• Experience: A bookkeeper with industry-specific experience can be valuable, especially if there are unique accounting or tax considerations in your business. 
• Skills: Will the potential candidates have the necessary skills to complete the tasks you need them to - look for particular proficiencies like payroll or monthly reports, if applicable. 
• Software: Check that your candidates have skills in the accounting software your business uses, eg. Xero or MYOB. 
• Online Presence: Take a look at their website or business social media pages to get a feel for who they are and their style of work. 
• Reviews: Read the reviews people have left to see what their past and present clients liked about working with them. 

5: It’s Time To Chat 

The next step in the process is to arrange a time to chat with your top one to two options. Physically speaking to each top candidate is a really important step as you will get an idea of their vibe, their working style and how they communicate. 

You can use this time to discuss important factors like their rates so that you can assess whether they fit within your budget. You can also establish their availability and whether they will have the capacity to carry out the work you need. 

From here, it should be easy to make the choice about who is the best bookkeeper for your business. 

6: Welcome Them Into Your Business 

Now that you’ve found the right bookkeeper, it’s time to welcome them into your business. Deal with any of the admin tasks like signing contracts, setting up payment terms and deciding on communication channels that work for you both. 

Then, onboard them into your business by introducing them to key personnel, providing access to your files and software systems and carrying out any training necessary.  

Work together in the coming months to create a suitable working routine and keep the communication channels open for queries or feedback. Then, simply sit back and enjoy the peace of mind a skilled bookkeeper will bring to your business and consider what strategic tasks you can now focus on with all your extra time! 

Start Your Search Now 

Ready to hire the best bookkeeper for your business? Great!  Make a list of the areas of your finances you need help with and head over to our directory to begin your search today.