Bookkeeping and time management
Do you experience delays in requesting for essential documents from your bookkeeper?Does your bookkeeper keep on missing deadlines without providing any valid reason? If you have been constantly giving the reminders of the importance of the assigned task, something needs to be done in order to correct the problem. While some tasks may not be time-sensitive, but it is the job of your bookkeeper to be mindful of deadlines because it is part and parcel of keeping your business in check. Time management is often an issue that bookkeepers tend to overlook and putting a system in place will be able to address this problem and get work done.
Time Management Skills
When was the last time you and your bookkeeper talked? If it has been months, you may need to set a regular meeting to touchbase with them. This way, you will know the things you need to do to correct issues such as delayed submission of financial report. The problem is not the tight deadline but the lack of a system that is supposed to prevent delays. You need to find out the causes of delays.
Do you contribute to the delay? Have you provided the things they need to deliver the document you requested? If the delay is due to the failure on the bookkeeper’s part to attend to your needs, then you need to talk to find out how you can improve the process and address the issue to prevent delayed or unfinished tasks.
Creating a to-do list will help your bookkeeper finish the task. While it is an easy way to get things done, it still works because your bookkeeper takes care of bookkeeping tasks in a systematic way. Once your bookkeeper knows which task to prioritise first, it will be much easier to identify the task that needs immediate attention.
There are instances when your bookkeeper may have so much on their plate and an extra workload may cause delay so you need to talk to them ahead of time before assigning any additional task. If you need your bookkeeper to generate reports for filing tax returns, make sure it is delivered ahead of time so you will still have ample time to check the report for errors or irregularities. Financial reports still need to be discussed with your bookkeeper so they need to get the documents or reports ready. Time management will never be an issue with your bookkeeper if there is a system that keeps track of their progress. However, if they keep on missing deadlines without any valid reason, you may want to consider other bookkeeping options.
