My retail store has been very successful and time consuming, so I need to hire a bookkeeper to take care of the finances. What questions should I ask candidates to ensure that I hire a competent bookkeeper?
Hiring a bookkeeper for the first time marks a milestone for a small business. In addition to ensuring the applicant has the right personality and soft skills to be successful in their role with your company, you’ll want to make sure the new hire has the technical knowledge required to do the job. When you’re interviewing or screening a potential candidate consider asking the following technical questions:
- Do you have experience working in this particular industry?
- What accounting software have you worked with in the past?
- When do we send Form 1099 to vendors?
- How often are payroll tax returns due?
- Does the accounts payable account usually have a debit or credit balance?
- What would you do if your bank reconciliation was off by a few dollars?
Since this person will handle the crucial details of your business, the answers to these questions will let you know if they have the accounting skills you need.
Client Profile is based on a hypothetical situation. The solutions we discuss may or may not be appropriate for you.