A bookkeeper plays an important role of looking after the finances for other business owners. From reconciling accounts to processing payroll and producing insightful reports. But it’s not all about the numbers like you may think. No working day is ever the same and my role is really interesting dealing with various different VAT registered Limited Companies. All the businesses I work with are unique, some may have their similarities but no business is ever the same so it makes my role varied and keeps me really busy!
So what can a day look like for me?
Email Management
As part of our bookkeeping packages we can manage your accounts@ inbox. This means we get to see all the invoices and remittances come in without having to bother you. We can also contact your clients on your behalf from your dedicated inbox. This shows your clients that you have a team behind you and it’s not just you they have to approach for account related queries.
As well as looking after our clients emails I also have my own inbox to manage. I make sure I respond to client queries in good time and keep my clients up to date with useful information.
It’s important for me to be kept in the loop with the latest news from software providers, the ICB and HMRC. I’m sure you can imagine, I get quite a lot of correspondence!
Social Media
I like to keep my social media up to date with relevant and interesting information. I have a VA who supports me with this but I like to be involved when it comes to content and ideas. It is essential for me to be active on my social media platforms, especially LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a great place for me to stay in contact with people who I may have bumped into at a networking event or somewhere similar. I like to make sure I’m responding to any comments or questions I may receive on my social media or on other posts where I can be of help to others. Online presence is really important to me and consistency is key.
Webinars
I often watch or take part in webinars where I can learn more about new software or new features. I am part of The 6 Figure Bookkeepers Club which is a community of bookkeepers on Facebook. It’s a really supportive place where I have made some great connections. Having the right support behind you in business is critical, somewhere for you to bounce off ideas and know you will get honest feedback, especially if you’re only the director in your business.
Client meetings
Most days I will have some kind of meeting via Zoom. This can vary from;
- A new client meeting
- On-boarding a new client
- Catch up with a client
- Management Accounts meetings
- Software training for clients
- Cash flow forecasting meetings
A video call is one of the best methods of communication. Being able to see each other when you can’t necessarily meet in person is great for building client relationships. I use the share screen feature on a regular basis to talk clients through their accounts and reports. It beats just sending an email as it gives them a clearer understanding and a better insight into their finances.
Calls to HMRC
We can act as your agent with HMRC so that you don’t have to waste time on hold to them. We all know it can take a while to get through to them and you could be doing something far more productive with your time. Leave it to us, we can talk to them about things such as PAYE queries and discrepancies, incorrect payment allocations and missing payments.
Staff Meetings
I regularly get my team together virtually on Teams. This allows us to bond as a team and they’re able to take the opportunity to ask me any questions, tell me about any queries or issues they’re having and give them some training on new software or features.
Client Work
Of course my main role is looking after all my lovely clients. Here’s what my client work consists of;
- Processing receipts or invoices in Hubdoc or Autoentry
- Entering and matching transactions on the bank feeds and reconciling balances against statements
- Creating and issuing sales invoices and chasing outstanding payments or sending customer statements
- Ensuring payroll data has transferred from Brightpay to Xero or QuickBooks, and checking all payroll accounts are cleared.
- Fixing historical data we’ve inherited and tidying up discrepancies and issues in the accounting software
- Setting up new bits of functionality for clients e.g. adding tracking categories or project codes, setting up fixed asset registers or customising the reporting
- Preparing and checking VAT returns – we have a really detailed VAT process we follow to ensure the accuracy of the return
- Preparing and issuing regular management reports for discussion with clients
- Updating and checking the cash flow forecasts to identify any areas of concern
So you see my role is really varied and lots more involved in other areas than just doing the bookkeeping. There’s not many people who can say they really enjoy their job but I really do! It’s great to be surrounded by clients who are passionate about their businesses and a team that’s dedicated and hard working.
I wouldn’t change my role one bit!
A bookkeeper plays an important role of looking after the finances for other business owners. From reconciling accounts to processing payroll and producing insightful reports. But it’s not all about the numbers like you may think. No working day is ever the same and my role is really interesting dealing with various different VAT registered Limited Companies. All the businesses I work with are unique, some may have their similarities but no business is ever the same so it makes my role varied and keeps me really busy!
So what can a day look like for me?