Most successful business owners watch their numbers keenly. As small and mid-sized businesses expand, their managers can't afford to wear too many hats and succeed in all. They need to have not only good bookkeepers but the best small business bookkeepers who can provide them the true figures to help them make the right business decisions.
A good small business bookkeeper must possess the basic qualities of competence and experience. A formal education or training in bookkeeping or related fields and a solid hands-on experience are necessary to perform his job. He should be technologically savvy to cope with the demands of an automated environment. He needs to be proficient in math and have good analytical skills to reflect the true condition of the business. He should likewise be able and willing to adapt to changing bookkeeping standards as businesses grow to new heights. But why settle for being just a good bookkeeper when you can be the best small business bookkeeper in town? Nurture the following virtues and you're sure to be sought after:
Trustworthiness – As a bookkeeper, you are entrusted with protecting a business' privileged financial information. Whether the business is doing well or not, you are expected to keep company records in utmost secrecy, away from the prying eyes of competitors. Honesty is a natural consequence of trustworthiness. If you cheat on your client's books or embezzle funds, you're done as a bookkeeper. Be honest, truthful and sincere and you'll earn the trust of your client.
Loyalty – Loyalty is not simply being punctual and performing your daily tasks but putting the interests of your client's business above anything else. Your client will want you to treat his company as if it were your own and expect that you would do anything to make it succeed. He should be more of a business partner. This means manifesting a strong personal devotion and genuine dedication to your sensitive responsibility as a small business bookkeeper.
Self-motivation – You can motivate yourself by dreaming to be the best bookkeeper. Bookkeeping is a noble and rewarding profession. Think of the many people on whose businesses you will be making a difference if you perform excellently as a bookkeeper.
As a small business bookkeeper, you are a key player in the success or failure of a business. A good bookkeeper is quite valuable but a trustworthy, loyal and self-motivated bookkeeper is indispensable. Now, which one would you rather be?