What a bookkeeper does
A bookkeeper records the day-to-day financial transactions of a business and keeps the books ready for review. Work typically includes entering bills and sales, reconciling bank and credit card accounts, managing payables and receivables, preparing HST returns, processing or recording payroll and remittances, and preparing reports and year-end files for the external accountant. In small businesses the bookkeeper is often the owner's main source of financial information.
When bookkeeping falls behind, owners lose sight of their cash, filings are late and the year-end bill from the accountant grows. A good bookkeeper keeps everything current and flags problems before they become expensive. Finch screens for hands-on experience with your software, accuracy in reconciliations, knowledge of HST and payroll remittances, and the reliability to work with limited supervision. We also check references for honesty and care with financial access.
Typical responsibilities
- Record sales, bills, receipts and expenses
- Reconcile bank, credit card and loan accounts
- Manage accounts payable and receivable, including collections follow-up
- Prepare and file HST returns
- Process payroll or record payroll entries and remittances
- Prepare reports and year-end packages for the external accountant
Qualifications and credentials
- A college diploma or certificate in accounting or bookkeeping is common
- Experience with QuickBooks Online, Xero, Sage 50 or similar software
- Working knowledge of HST and payroll remittances
- Previous full-cycle bookkeeping experience
- Strong Excel skills and attention to detail
Who hires a bookkeeper
- Small and owner-managed businesses
- Construction and trades companies
- Restaurants, retail and hospitality businesses
- Medical, dental and professional practices
- Non-profit organizations
Where we recruit bookkeeper candidates
We fill bookkeeper roles for employers across Toronto and the GTA, including North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, Oshawa and Pickering, and for employers across Canada. GTA employers can meet us at our North York office by appointment.
What Finch checks before you meet a candidate
- Software skills tested on your accounting platform
- Accuracy in reconciliations and transaction coding
- Knowledge of HST, payroll remittances and year-end preparation
- Integrity and care with bank access, confirmed through references
Interview questions to ask
- How do you handle a bank reconciliation that will not balance?
- What does your month-end routine look like for a small business?
- How do you decide how to code an unusual expense?