5 Secrets Your Bookkeeper Wishes You Knew

Every business needs a bookkeeper, but there may be something that yours needs to tell you. We've compiled a list of the most common secrets your bookkeeper wishes you knew to help you save time and money in your business and get the most out of the services you shell out for.

1. Don’t Ignore Audits

Of course, no business owner wants to be audited, but that doesn't mean it won't happen. Fortunately, hiring a bookkeeper reduces the chance that you will need to be audited and help you to prepare if you do have to face one.

Don't slack off and forget about your audit trails until you actually have to face one. Instead, adopt a bill payment solution that automatically creates these trails for you by tracking every action in the system so that your records are as transparent as possible. Then, if you face an audit, you're far less likely to receive a fine or lose your hair due to stress.

2. Use the Cloud

You'd be surprised how many business owners resist adopting cloud-based accounting or bookkeeping software. However, cloud-based technology can centralise your financial information and make it accessible from anywhere, at any time. This is a huge time-saver and means you won't have to waste time and energy rifling through a crammed filing cabinet to double-check an old invoice.

Furthermore, the cloud offers a range of security benefits. For one thing, permissions-based access gives you complete control over which employees have access to certain information. Cloud data is also encrypted and heavily protected, meaning physical damage such as flooding or fire won't destroy all of your records.

3. Remote Working is the Way Forward

Your bookkeeper no longer needs to do house calls. Virtual bookkeeping services mean accountants and bookkeepers can do most of their work without setting foot anywhere near your office. In addition, cloud-based software means that your bookkeeper can handle all of their duties quickly and efficiently off-site, increasing flexibility and saving time for both parties.

4. Separate Your Duties

As a small business owner, there's such a thing as being too trusting. Of course, no one wants to believe that their employees would steal from them, but internal theft is very common. Research by the California Restaurant Association found that 95% of businesses have suffered from some form of employee theft.

To prevent this, consider separating duties to limit fraudulent activities within your business. For example, the employee who handles financial transactions should not be in charge of recording them, as this makes it easier for them to misappropriate funds and cover up their fraudulent actions.

5. Avoid Double Data Entry

Double data entry means entering data from one system into another. Not only is this a waste of time, but it also increases the likelihood that your records will contain inaccuracies, which could compound and create a big problem later on. Instead, integrate your technologies so that all of your records automatically stay accurate and up-to-date. Speak to your bookkeeper about connecting your cloud accounting software to your expense management so that your records remain impeccable and you can put your time to better use.

Summary

By implementing the above simple bookkeeping secrets, you can save time and money for your business. Be sure to take advantage of the power of cloud-based technology so that you don't waste time on tasks that would be far better automated or commuting when you could be working remotely. Finally, remember to separate duties to protect your business against employee theft and remember to keep your audit trails accurate and up-to-date.