When looking for the right bookkeeper for your small business, there are specific questions you should ask a bookkeeper. Not all bookkeepers are created equal for small business owners. Today, we share the right questions to ask a bookkeeper in the interview process when inquiring about their services.
Topics
Key Takeaways
- Before interviewing a bookkeeper, clarify your needs and create a list of tasks.
- Ask about their background, organizational skills, services offered, and processes to ensure a good fit.
- Focus on their experience, specialization, and their approach to bookkeeping and communication.
- Inquire about logistics, like billing, hours, and data security to align expectations.
- Consider their likability and soft skills during the interview to gauge compatibility.
Things to do before you interview a bookkeeper.
Before starting, determine who your ideal candidate is and what they should do for your business. The best way to do this is to write down the tasks you want them to do. Think back to unique situations involving accounting errors, so you have an example to explain the need.
Bookkeeper Interview Questions
We divided the questions to ask into five sections: Background, Organization, Service, Process, and Logistics. It is a good idea to note each question and determine your ideal answer before the interview. These questions go into detail so you can truly feel confident in your decision.
Background Information to Ask
This section of common interview questions will help you get a background of the person.
Do you have a degree in bookkeeping? If not, how long have you worked in the industry?
What do you specialize in? How much experience do you have in bookkeeping services?
How long have you worked in the industry?
Is this your main form of business, or do you do other things?
Are you a part of any bookkeeper associations?
Do you have client referrals I can contact?
This next section is to find out how organized the person is because some can be disorganized, and when you need to get the information back, it may not be in a readily usable order.
Bookkeeper Organizing Questions to Ask
This section of questions will help you understand how the bookkeeper organizes their digital and paper files.
How do you organize my paperwork?
Are the files you collect on my business digital or physical?
Do you create folders or a bookkeeping binder?
Do you have a task agreement list that outlines all the tasks you will be doing for my business? – The tasks agreement list helps draw the line between what they will do and what you will do.
The next set of questions is to help determine whether they provide the type of services you need and which specialties and industries they worked in.
Service Questions for the Potential Bookkeeper
This section will help you figure out which services the bookkeeper offers that you can use.
What industries have you worked in? Is it my industry? And do you primarily work with product- or service-based businesses?
Do you provide accounts payable services, such as invoicing and payroll, as well as bookkeeping?
Do you offer payroll services? Is the service a separate price? What type of payroll services do you provide? How about fringe benefits? Do you know how to do them?
Do you have an affiliation with a payroll company? What is their name?
Feel free to read our post if you don’t know what a bookkeeper does: what a bookkeeper can do for your business.
Questions about how their Process works
These questions help determine what their process is and how they work.
Please give me an example of how risky you are when it comes to your standards.
What software apps do you use? Are they online-only, or are they physically on a computer in your office? How proficient are you in …. bookkeeping software?
What are your routine daily activities? How will you contact me when you need more information? By text, by email, or by phone?
Below are the specifics and other bookkeeping service questions you may want to ask.
Logistics of their Bookkeeping Services
The potential bookkeeper will probably be a good fit if you get to this point. This set of questions will provide details on what they do and what you can expect.
How many hours a week can you work on my tasks?
Do you do payroll services that involve fringe benefits?
How often do you bill? Is it a flat rate or by the hour? What is your rate?
Do you have a team, or do you do the work by yourself? Who will I work with directly?
What is your usual procedure for getting my bank statements or sending me the financial statements?
What accounting software do you use? Is it online or on your desktop?
How do you keep your computer safe (affiliate)? Are there processes in place that will keep my data secure?
Do you have tax accountants that you prefer to work with, or are you OK with working with my accountant?
And, lastly, do you do remote work, or will you be visiting my office?
REMEMBER: When you speak with someone, be sure to take notes to remind you of the conversation. Then, take a day or two to think about it.
As they answer your questions, think about these areas.
Are they likable? Do they have soft skills that will work with you and your staff?
What are their communication skills?
How do they deal with
Do they answer the questions thoroughly, or are they short with you?
Are the answers seem detailed, or are they vague?
Frequently Asked Questions
Before the interview, define your ideal candidate and write down the specific tasks you want them to handle. Think back to any past accounting errors or unique situations to use as real examples during the conversation.
The post breaks interview questions into five categories: Background, Organization, Service, Process, and Logistics. Covering all five helps you make a confident, well-rounded hiring decision.
Ask about their degree or industry experience, specialties, length of time in the field, whether bookkeeping is their main business, association memberships (like NACPB or AIPB), and client referrals you can contact.
Some bookkeepers can be disorganized, making it difficult to retrieve your information later. Ask how they organize your paperwork, whether files are digital or physical, if they use folders or a bookkeeping binder, and whether they provide a task agreement list that clearly defines responsibilities.
Find out which industries they’ve worked in, whether they handle product- or service-based businesses, and if they offer accounts payable, invoicing, payroll, and fringe benefits. Ask whether payroll is priced separately and if they’re affiliated with a payroll company.
Ask about their risk tolerance and standards, what software they use (online or desktop), their proficiency level, daily routines, and their preferred method for contacting you when they need more information (text, email, or phone).
Ask how many hours per week they can dedicate to your business, billing frequency and rate structure (hourly vs. flat), whether they work solo or with a team, their procedure for handling bank and financial statements, data security practices, willingness to work with your tax accountant, and whether they work remotely or on-site.
ay attention to likability, communication skills, and whether their answers are thorough and detailed rather than vague or short. These qualities matter for a long-term working relationship.
No. Take notes during the conversation and give yourself a day or two to reflect before committing.
The post recommends checking organizations for bookkeepers, such as NACPB (National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers) and AIPB (American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers).
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I hope these questions to ask a bookkeeper help you find a good fit for your business. Feel free to leave any questions or comments below.
Feel free to check out the following organizations to find the bookkeeper you are looking for.
Visit our bookkeeping posts to give you some more guidance before finding your bookkeeper.
How To Make Your Budget More Effective
A Complete Guide to Home Office and Business Deductions
3 Important Things You Need To Know About Data Entry
Business Tasks You Need To Do BEFORE Years End
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