My busiest time of the year is over, sort of. I’ve either filed taxes or filed extensions for most of my clients. But as a bookkeeper, who happens to be an accountant, I have clients year-round.
Having a bookkeeper or accountant year-round is a good idea for any small business owner because he or she can help keep your books in order and your company’s financial health in check. But if you have doubts that’s happening, or have been thinking about whether or not to keep your accountant or bookkeeper all year, here are some things to think about:
- HELP KEEP YOUR BOOKS – An accountant doesn’t normally keep a company’s books, that’s what bookkeepers do, but a good accountant should have a bookkeeping division or introduce you to a good bookkeeper who can manage your day to day financial business. If they don’t offer this service, or you think you want to do it yourself, your accountant should be able to offer you advice on best practices.
- KEEP IN TOUCH – Does your accountant only reach out to you a few weeks before tax season? Does your accountant know about important financial transactions that happen throughout the year? If your accountant doesn’t check in with you once a quarter or even twice a year, you may want to ditch him or her. Your accountant should have your best financial interest in mind, more than just during tax season.
- OFFER FINANCIAL ADVICE – An accountant may not be a financial advisor, but he or she should be keeping you up to date on big financial trends in your industry.
- EASY TO GET A HOLD OF – Is your accountant available when you call him or her? Does it take them a week to get back to you? If so, then you may want to consider firing your accountant or warning them that’s what could happen if they’re not receptive to your outreach.
I hope your accountant was able to get you a big ol’ refund this year. If so, great! But don’t make that the only reason for keeping your accountant. Make your accountant earn his or her money or at least help yours grow.
