6 W’s of Bookkeeping: How a bookkeeper helps

  1. What is a bookkeeper?
    According to the institute of Certified Bookkeepers ‘A bookkeeper first understands how a business works and then provides accurate figures that enable the business to know exactly how well it is doing. For the bookkeeper it is demanding, exciting, challenging and above all, rewarding.’
  2. Why use a bookkeeper?
    At the basic level a bookkeeper ensures that your books satisfy HMRC requirements that you report and pay the correct amount of tax, whether personal, corporate or VAT. Your bookkeeper produces records, when required, that allow for the accurate completion of the relevant inland revenue tax returns.
  3. When to use a bookkeeper?
    Simply ask yourself…
    Do I have the technical knowledge to do this properly?
    Do I have the time to do it at all?
    If you answer no to just one of these questions you need a bookkeeper.
  4. Where to use a bookkeeper?
    Anywhere:- using any system or methodology to suit individual requirements whether on-site or off-site.
    At AFS we work with anything from bag of receipts taken off-site, sorted, recorded to produce a statement of activity, through to working on-site using the clients systems and equipment.
    Bookkeeping is Increasingly being transformed by the use of ‘cloud’ accounting. Through simple Internet connections, Ledger systems can be accessed anywhere and anytime with high level accessibilitybenefits to both the client and bookkeeper.
  5. Who to use as a bookkeeper?
    Choose a bookkeeper that is at the least is governed and qualified by The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB). This ensures that key standards of expertise are upheld. Before making a decision ask to see their Practicing Licence, or check them out on the ICB website – www.bookkeepers.org.uk
    Find somebody that you can trust and who will work with you to ensure your success, like Accounting for Smiles.
  6. How a bookkeeper helps?
    A good bookkeeper becomes a partner to your business. A strong relationship creates the benefit of effective time management and therefore more business focused activity.