Professionalism
Professionalism can apply to anyone in any industry. For a bookkeeper, it is essential! Bookkeepers work behind the scenes in a variety of industries and settings. Before you just pick one out of a hat or off the top of a google search you should ask around at businesses you know and trust to get references and recommendations. Remember this person is going to be seeing and using some of the most intimate information about your business. You want to find someone that has a track record of Responsibility, Confidentiality and Integrity.
Responsibility
Your bookkeeper deals with proprietary information, tax and personal identifiable information as well as your financial information, personal and professional. It’s their duty to uphold the law in all of those areas. While these things may seem like common sense, sometimes the lower bar of entry to the profession of bookkeeping means that not all bookkeepers have been vetted or trained on their responsibilities pertaining to keeping this information safe. A breach of trust in any of these areas can cause damage and lasting effects on your business. Being sure the bookkeeper you hire aligns with your values will help make your relationship go smoothly and keep you out of trouble. You should be able to find your bookkeepers core values in a mission statement or creed.
Confidentiality
It’s normal, especially in more social work settings, to want to discuss the things we are working on. Maybe to share a juicy tidbit from work with a spouse or friends at dinner. Your bookkeeper, like a lawyer or doctor, has a responsibility to keep your information private from any and all third parties, even their spouse. Since they see your business’s inner workings sharing information outside of a legally defined group, it is not only unprofessional but could potentially be a crime. The saying goes that two can keep a secret if one of them is dead. I don’t suggest a mob hit to keep your bookkeeper quiet but information leaking outside that group can spread much further than expected. The person they share it with might be dating someone who manages your direct competition. Because of these risks a professional bookkeeper might insist you sign an engagement and confidentiality agreement before ever gaining access to your information. Their initiative to take responsibility for your confidential information speaks volumes about how seriously they take your confidentiality.
Honesty and Integrity
A lot of your relationship with your bookkeeper is based on trust. Trust in their knowledge, but also in their word. It is what makes the service they offer of any use to you at all. If you don’t have a high level of trust then a more professional bookkeeper may be needed. Your bookkeeper needs to be thorough and honest in how they present information so that you can use any advice they give to take any appropriate steps in your business.