Some thoughts on bookkeepers and software.

Does accounting software make the bookkeeper or does the bookkeeper master accounting software?

Most adds for bookkeepers carefully stipulate what accounting package experience the prospective bookkeeper needs to do the advertised job, and there are lots of stories out there of bookkeepers hired solely on the strength of them having done a short accounting software course.

To me, both of these approaches are not ideal. It’s the bookkeeping skills that are needed, not how to navigate a package. A skilled bookkeeper uses accounting software as a tool to accomplish the desired outcome. So, give your new bookkeeper a bit of time to learn his or her way around your package and don’t hire the candidate that only has a “short course” in some or other accounting package.

Happy Hiring!