It depends.
A virtual assistant (VA) can do bookkeeping, provided they have the necessary knowledge, skills, and experience. In fact, some VAs specialize in bookkeeping and offer these services to clients remotely. However, the clue is in the name assistant - they are more suited to general administrative tasks.
So the question is, why get a VA when you can get a bookkeeper to do the bookkeeping? There might be several reasons you may get a VA such as, you have a VA covering other administrative work already and you want them to also do some minor bookkeeping, or sometimes VAs charge a lower rate.
But there are even more reasons to hire a dedicated bookkeeper instead, especially the more complex the bookkeeping becomes:
Expertise: A bookkeeper has specialized knowledge and training in accounting and bookkeeping, while a VA may have a general understanding of financial tasks but may not have the same level of expertise. A bookkeeper can provide more advanced financial analysis, reporting, and advice than a VA. VAs often only know how to process transactions like raising sales invoices and coding bank lines, but may not have the technical understanding of bookkeeping, accounts and debits & credits.
Time and Focus: Bookkeeping can be time-consuming and requires a high level of attention to detail. A dedicated bookkeeper can focus solely on this task, while a VA may be juggling multiple responsibilities at once. This can result in more errors and a longer turnaround time.
Technology: A bookkeeper is likely to be more familiar with bookkeeping software and other financial technology tools, which can help streamline processes and provide more accurate financial data.
Accountability: Bookkeepers are often held to a higher standard of accountability than VAs. Bookkeepers may be licensed or certified in bookkeeping or accounting, and they may be subject to regulations or standards of practice. This can provide added assurance that your financial records are being managed properly.
And remember, bookkeeping is well suited to being served online and remotely. At Vookeeper we provide online bookkeeping services and vet our bookkeepers to ensure they have the appropriate qualifications and experience to handle your books. Our bookkeepers are adept at using software such as Xero, Quickbooks and Sage. You are able to discuss your specific bookkeeping needs, including the frequency of bookkeeping tasks, the complexity of your financial transactions, and your reporting requirements. This will help ensure that the online bookkeeper is able to provide the level of bookkeeping support you need to keep your business's financial records accurate and up-to-date.
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