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A bookkeeper manages the day-to-day financial records and processes that keep your business accounts accurate and up to date. This can include bank reconciliations, accounts payable and receivable, payroll, super and STP, BAS/IAS services where authorised, Xero, reporting and bookkeeping clean-up.At Sherpa, we believe accurate records are the starting point. Good bookkeeping should also help you understand your cash flow, costs and business performance — so your numbers are useful, not simply recorded.

A bookkeeper generally works with your financial records throughout the year, keeping transactions, reconciliations, payroll and other ongoing processes accurate and up to date. An accountant typically uses that financial information for annual accounts, taxation, business structures and broader accounting and tax advice.For many businesses, it's not a choice between the two. Good bookkeeping gives your accountant reliable, accountant-ready information to work with.

A bookkeeper can provide a range of financial record-keeping and bookkeeping services. A registered BAS Agent has additional authority to provide BAS services covered by their registration, including advising on certain GST, PAYG and other BAS obligations, lodging BAS, and representing clients in dealings with the ATO on BAS matters.In Australia, anyone providing BAS services for a fee or reward generally must be registered with the Tax Practitioners Board, unless an exemption applies.Not every bookkeeper is a registered BAS Agent. If you need BAS services, check that the person providing them is appropriately registered.Sherpa Bookkeeping is a registered BAS Agent, so we can provide bookkeeping and BAS services within the scope of our registration.

Many businesses benefit from both because they perform different roles. Your bookkeeper keeps your financial records accurate and current throughout the year, while your accountant generally handles areas such as annual accounts, income tax and broader tax and accounting advice.When the two work together, your accountant receives cleaner, reconciled and more reliable financial information — reducing the EOFY scramble.

Only if the BAS service is being provided through an appropriately registered BAS or tax agent, unless an exemption applies. A registered BAS Agent can prepare and lodge BAS and provide advice on BAS-related obligations within the scope of their registration.You can check whether a BAS Agent is registered using the Tax Practitioners Board's Public Register.

Xero is a bookkeeping platform, but it doesn't replace the need for accurate bookkeeping processes. Transactions still need to be correctly recorded and reconciled, payroll needs to be managed, GST and BAS requirements need attention, and the information in Xero needs to be reliable.A good bookkeeper helps ensure the information going into Xero is accurate and the information coming out of it is useful for running your business.

Consider hiring a bookkeeper when bookkeeping starts taking valuable time away from running your business, BAS becomes stressful, payroll gets more complicated, reconciliations fall behind or you're no longer confident your financial records are accurate.Another sign is growth: your business is getting bigger, but your financial visibility isn't keeping up. And if your books are already behind, it's not too late — that's exactly when professional clean-up and recovery can help.

It depends on how much ongoing financial administration your business requires. An in-house bookkeeper can make sense when there is enough daily work to support the role. Outsourcing can suit small and growing businesses that want ongoing access to bookkeeping expertise, systems and support without employing someone specifically for the position.At Sherpa, our view is simple: outsource the workload, not your understanding of the business.

Ask more than "How much do you charge?" Find out what's included, who will actually manage your books, whether they're appropriately registered for the BAS services you need, how often accounts are reconciled, how payroll and super are handled, what systems they use and whether they understand your industry.Also ask what information you'll receive back — and one question Sherpa considers particularly important:"If you see something in my numbers that I should know about, will you tell me?"

There isn't one standard bookkeeping price because businesses have different requirements. Cost can be affected by transaction volume, payroll, BAS requirements, accounts payable and receivable, number of accounts or entities, software integrations, reporting needs and whether your books are already up to date.Rather than comparing price alone, ask: What am I actually getting for the fee? The scope, accuracy, frequency of work, level of support and quality of information you receive all matter.

Ongoing bookkeeping should be matched to the needs of the business, but may include regular bank reconciliations, transaction processing, accounts payable and receivable, payroll, super and STP, BAS/IAS services where authorised, maintaining accurate financial records and regular financial reporting.Just as importantly, you should know how often the work is completed, what reports or information you'll receive and who to contact when you have questions.

Look at both qualifications and practical experience. If your bookkeeper will provide BAS services for a fee, those services generally need to be provided through a BAS or tax agent registered with the Tax Practitioners Board, unless an exemption applies. Registered BAS Agents must meet qualification and relevant-experience requirements, and you can verify registration on the TPB Public Register.Beyond registration, ask whether they understand your industry, software, payroll requirements and the financial pressures businesses like yours face. Technical knowledge matters, but so does the ability to recognise when something in your numbers needs attention.