| Introduction: | | | | bookkeeper directly for an accountancy practice. Most |
| My name is Beverley Hall. I am a Norfolk based | | | | bookkeepers will have spent a great deal of time |
| freelance travelling bookkeeper. This means that I am | | | | working for a company, maybe in the accounts |
| self employed, fully qualified and certified to practice | | | | department. This is not a rounded experience of |
| within the UK. The bookkeeping services that I offer | | | | bookkeeping services. Spending your day on bought |
| are what is known 'Client Based' bookkeeping | | | | and sales ledger maintenance is not bookkeeping and |
| services. This means that I visit and work from my | | | | anyone entering the world of professional bookkeeping |
| clients place of business. This offers my clients several | | | | services with only this experience behind them will |
| benefits. | | | | immediately be out of their depth. |
| Firstly, they are able to keep control of their | | | | Any professional bookkeeper should have worked for |
| paperwork in-house. This saves them time because a | | | | at least six months in the problem department of a |
| home working or office bound bookkeeper will require | | | | small, hard pressed accountancy firm. Anyone reading |
| the business owner to either photocopy each receipt, | | | | this, who has actually experienced this, will know |
| invoice, bank statement etc and prepare them for | | | | exactly what I am describing. In this environment you |
| email or post. | | | | will see the worst kept accounts, the ones that have |
| Secondly, it provides the client with peace of mind that | | | | several thousand outstanding transactions. You will |
| their paperwork stays within their own premises, | | | | encounter a broad variety of business types and |
| maintaining security and adhering to personal data | | | | probably meet some dodgy characters along the way. |
| legislation. The last thing you want is your business | | | | Spending time trawling through these accounts will give |
| accounts getting into the wrong hands. | | | | a professional bookkeeper all of the confidence |
| Thirdly, your 'Client Based' bookkeeper should be | | | | needed to survive in the real world. It is essential for a |
| insured and affiliated to a bookkeeper trade body. This | | | | bookkeeper to spot problems and address them. It is |
| offers both peace of mind and access to a huge | | | | also essential for a bookkeeper to be knowledgeable |
| knowledge base when problems arise. | | | | enough to realise when they are being misled by a |
| What to look for in a good Bookkeeper | | | | client. |
| In these times of financial restriction it is essential that | | | | When finding your ideal bookkeeper you should |
| your business manages its overheads in a sensible | | | | always ask them how much 'Accountancy Practice' |
| and logical fashion. You do not want to paying over | | | | experience they have. It does not have to be years, |
| the odds for your services, but you also realise the | | | | just enough to have grounded them. |
| need to get the best service available for your budget. | | | | Industry Organisation – Fellowship or Membership |
| Many company owners look to reduce their business | | | | Your bookkeeper should hold a certificate to practice |
| expenses by seeking services from a third party and | | | | bookkeeping from one of the respected bodies in the |
| accountancy / bookkeeping charges are one of the | | | | industry. If your bookkeeper is offering a professional |
| first charges that will come under scrutiny. | | | | service they should hold membership to one of the |
| There are a few variables that must be considered | | | | following organisations IAB ( International Association of |
| when you start your search for a bookkeeper. The | | | | Bookkeepers ) or ICB ( Institute of Certified |
| term 'bookkeeper' is not only a generic term for | | | | Bookkeepers ). This proves that they have passed the |
| someone who looks after the recording and organising | | | | proper level of qualification to adequately offer private |
| of day to day company financial transactions, it is also | | | | practice in the UK. |
| a qualification which holds specific requirements | | | | For my part I am am FIAB ( Fellow of International |
| including examinations, experience, insurance and | | | | Association of Bookkeepers ). The IAB website |
| organisation memberships / fellowships. | | | | describes this as “A Fellow is entitled to use both |
| In your search for value you will encounter various | | | | the designatory letters FIAB and the title of |
| prices for what seem to be the same bookkeeping | | | | ‘Registered Book-keeper'”. They will have |
| services. Unfortunately, business owners who opt for | | | | checked both my qualifications and experience and |
| the cheapest price that they can find could have a | | | | found that I fit the 'advanced' level required to display |
| shock in store when it comes to the level of service | | | | the letters FIAB after my name. The IAB is my back |
| that they receive. | | | | up when I need information regarding current legislation, |
| Examinations | | | | latest industry information and any advice regarding |
| An excellent way to appraise the quality of your | | | | client difficulties. They have proved themselves to be |
| bookkeeper is through the qualifications that he or she | | | | invaluable to my both my clients and myself. |
| holds. Although anyone can call themselves a | | | | It is definitely in your interest as a business owner to |
| bookkeeper, only a small percentage have what it | | | | retain a professional bookkeeper with certificate to |
| takes to pass the high standards that are set by these | | | | practice from either the IAB or the ICB. Otherwise you |
| courses / examinations. | | | | will have to research their qualifications and judge |
| For my part, I undertook the following examinations: | | | | whether you think they are sufficiently qualified to |
| Pitman Level 1 Book-Keeping & Accounts - First Class | | | | undertake your particular needs. |
| Pitman Level 2 Book-Keeping & Accounts - First Class | | | | Insurance |
| Pitman Level 3 Accounting - First Class | | | | Just as a footnote, I would advise you to only work |
| Pitman Level 4 Accounting - First Class | | | | with a bookkeeper who has adequate insurance. |
| IAB Diploma in Computerised Accounts (Sage Line 50) | | | | Although you will probably never have to call upon it, it |
| - Credit | | | | is best practice for a bookkeeper to have cover for |
| Pitman Level 1 Computerised Accounts (Sage Line 50) | | | | the services that they offer. |
| - First Class | | | | So, how much should I pay for my bookkeeper ? |
| These courses, I feel, offer my clients the maximum | | | | The price that a bookkeeper charges will reflect a |
| level of knowledge that a bookkeeper can hold, | | | | number of service / environmental factors. You should |
| without being a fully trained and experienced | | | | expect to pay more for a bookkeeper who offers |
| accountant. These qualifications are incredibly difficult | | | | services to city centres, travelling and parking are a big |
| to pass and many who start the process fall by the | | | | expense. You should expect to pay more if your |
| wayside as the workload is very demanding. | | | | bookkeeper is experienced / fully qualified. You should |
| When appointing a bookkeeper for our business you | | | | pay more if a bookkeeper is driving and working from |
| should always ask to see their qualifications & | | | | your place of business, but you at least witness the |
| diploma's. With these you can research their value by | | | | hours that you are invoiced for, which can provide |
| visiting the course organisation website or telephoning | | | | peace of mind. |
| them for information. Obviously, if you are operating a | | | | I charge £15.00 per hour (Jan 2010 price), I am fully |
| very small business, you may not need the level of | | | | qualified and I travel and work from my client's base, |
| bookkeeping services that I offer, but if you are given | | | | including city centres. You might find someone cheaper |
| the option and the price is right go for the qualification | | | | and as long as you have checked their references, |
| every time. | | | | qualifications, certificate to practice, experience and |
| Experience | | | | insurance, you should be able to judge whether they |
| Bookkeepers will often state that they have been | | | | are a offering a good deal or not. |
| working as a bookkeeper for many years. This may | | | | If you would like to discuss my bookkeeping services |
| be true, but this does not necessarily equate to the | | | | please visit my website, where you will find contact |
| amount of experience that they have. | | | | information etc. |
| It is essential that someone who is offering | | | | Thanks for reading. |
| bookkeeping services has worked as a professional | | | | |