Keeping up with the changing face of Bookkeeping

The bookkeeper of ten years ago spent most of their time processing invoices and reconciling bank statements. That role still exists, but it is a fraction of what a good bookkeeper does today.

If you have the right person in your corner, here is what you should be getting.

• Someone who understands your business, not just your accounts. The numbers tell a story. A great bookkeeper reads that story and flags anything that does not look right before it becomes a real problem. They speak your language, not accountant-speak.
• More time back in your week. You should never be spending time worrying about how something is coded or whether a payment has gone out on time. That is your bookkeeper's job. Yours is to run the business.
• Day to day cashflow, handled. Payroll, supplier payments, tax obligations, accounts receivable. A good bookkeeper manages the activity so you only need to authorise the decisions.
• Technology working for your business, not against it. There are more tools available now than ever before. Invoice capture, automated reconciliations, payroll software, payment platforms. A good bookkeeper actively looks at what is available and applies it where it saves time and reduces risk.
• Compliance without the stress. IRD deadlines, GST, payday filing. A good bookkeeper has these covered so nothing slips.

At Astute Mode, this is what we mean by an outsourced finance team. Not just someone ticking boxes, but someone actively making your business easier to run.