Accounting is an important part of any business. It is important because from it, a business owner can gather information on how the business is doing. A small business owner is not exempt from keeping business financial records. She can do it herself. You can hire a full-time accountant. Or in common practice, it can be outsourced to an accounting firm that offers bookkeeping services.

Bank reconciliation is one of the accounting services that an outsourced accountant can perform in a small business. It is a document that explains the difference between the cash balance according to the bank’s monthly statement and the company’s cash balance according to its books on a certain date, usually the end date of the account statement. This is an important activity to check for posting errors in both bank and company records.

Trial balances are also one of the accounting services that the accountant must perform. A trial balance is an accounting worksheet used to verify the mathematical correctness of accounting balances. This document can help the business owner in making decisions.

One of the accounting services that an accountant must provide is the preparation of financial statements. These financial statements are used only for internal decision making. The business owner can learn about the financial condition of his business and its financial performance, which can be beneficial for making business economic decisions. These financial statements are also useful to other stakeholders of the company such as its employees, its creditors, its suppliers, the government, and even the general public. If these financial reports are to be shared outside of the company, a CPA must issue a report on them. For this reason, it would be advisable to have a licensed CPA firm handle your bookkeeping.

General ledger maintenance is also one of the accounting services that the bookkeeper must perform for the business owner. A ledger is the heart of the company’s accounting records. All raw data is recorded, classified and summarized in the general ledger and is used as a basis in preparing the trial balance and financial statements.

Maintaining accounts receivable and accounts payable should also be one of the accounting services. Accounts Receivable is a list of all unpaid transactions from the company’s customers, while Accounts Payable is a list of all unpaid transactions that the company owes to different vendors. It is important that both accounts are current because they involve cash.

Payroll processing is also one of the accounting services that an accountant offers to his client. Payroll services must also include the correct tax deductions and payment to other agencies. The computations of bonuses and other deductions are also part of this service.

When hiring an outsourced accountant, a small business owner may consider the following tips: decide what accounting services the business needs; find an accountant near the business location; and have a shortlist of all prospective accountants near the business location. One should have a list of the services they offer and the fees of each accountant. A business owner should make a careful assessment before choosing an accountant because the future of the business is at stake.