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Scale your business with remote Virtual Bookkeepers from countries around the world, including South Africa, the Philippines, and Nigeria – all in one, easy-to-use platform where you can hire virtual bookkeeper.
How it works
We’re making it super easy for you to hire Virtual Bookkeeper from around the world!
Hire
Find, interview, and hire amazing remote talent from around the world to scale your business via our platform.
Manage
Manage contracts, team engagement, invoices, and feedback in one centralised platform.
Pay
Pay your global team in 90+ countries in a single click without having to worry about the admin that comes with it.
What a bookkeeping virtual assistant does for your business
A virtual bookkeeper is a remote bookkeeper who works as part of your team, in your own software and on the hours you agree. Through DigiWorks you interview candidates, choose who joins and manage their work, while DigiWorks handles the contract and payments.
- Transaction entry: recording sales, expenses and receipts, and coding each one to the right account
- Bank and card reconciliations: matching your books to statements so balances are right every month
- Invoicing and collections: creating invoices, recording payments and sending reminders on overdue accounts
- Bills and expenses: entering vendor bills, tracking receipts and preparing payments for your approval
- Payroll support: keeping timesheets and payroll records ready for your payroll provider or accountant
- Month-end reports: profit and loss, balance sheet and cash flow summaries on the schedule you set
- Your software: daily work in QuickBooks Online, Xero or the tool you already use
- Clean-up: tidying the chart of accounts and catching up on months that fell behind
Still deciding whether to hand the books to an outside provider at all? See how outsourced bookkeeping works.
Is a virtual bookkeeper the same as a bookkeeping virtual assistant?
The two terms are often used for the same role. A virtual bookkeeper usually looks after the books end to end, while a bookkeeping virtual assistant may focus on data entry, invoices and receipts under your accountant's review. Tell us which tasks you need, and the candidates you meet are matched to them.
What skills should I look for?
Hands-on experience in your accounting software, a solid grasp of reconciliations, payables and receivables, and clear written English for updates. In the interview, ask each candidate to talk you through a recent month-end close. DigiWorks candidates complete skills-based assessments before you meet them.
How does hiring through DigiWorks work?
Share your tasks, software and hours, then review and interview matched candidates. Once you choose, DigiWorks handles the contract and pays your bookkeeper, so you manage the work, not the paperwork.
What Is Virtual Bookkeeping & What Are Virtual Bookkeeping Services?
A virtual bookkeeper does the same work as an in-office bookkeeper, only remotely: they record, reconcile and report on your business transactions through virtual bookkeeping services online. You’ll still receive regular statements and invoices, and you’ll be able to keep track of everything yourself. However, you won’t need to hire someone full-time to manage your books. Instead, you can make use of freelance bookkeepers and other online bookkeeping services.
There are many different types of virtual bookkeepers out there, each offering slightly different features and levels of customization. Here’s what you should look for in a virtual bookkeeper:
1. Accessibility
You want a bookkeeper you can reach during the hours your business runs. If a question about a payment or an invoice comes up and nobody answers, it could cause problems for you. Make sure you know exactly which hours your bookkeeper works, how much they overlap with yours, and how quickly they respond to requests. Not having consistent access to your bookkeeper can hinder your business and financial transactions.
2. Reporting
Do they provide you with detailed reports? Do they send you weekly or monthly summaries? How often do they update you? These are important questions because you want to make sure they’re providing you with up-to-date information. Make sure you outline how and when you’d like your financial reports.
3. Customization
The cool thing about a virtual bookkeeping service is that you can really customize it to your business and your needs. You can specifically request that your virtual bookkeeper is familiar with whatever cloud-based accounting software you prefer for your business and so on.
Learn about Virtual Bookkeepers:
- Virtual Bookkeeping
- Benefits
- Considerations For Companies Relying On Paper Documentation
- Who Should Use Online Bookkeeping Services?
- Types of virtual bookkeepers
- Freelancer, firm or dedicated virtual bookkeeper?
- How to choose a virtual bookkeeper
- How to assess virtual bookkeepers
Ready to build your remote team?
Use the DigiWorks platform to hire, manage, and pay remote talent from all over the world.
Virtual Bookkeeping Services Benefits
Remote bookkeeping allows you to access financial data from anywhere, anytime. This makes it possible to provide better customer service and improve productivity. And you don’t have to do any of this through an accounting firm.
A remote bookkeeper can automate certain accounting functions, such as payroll processing and tax preparation. They can also perform basic reconciliation activities to ensure accurate reporting.
The benefits of working with a virtual bookkeeper include:
• Better Customer Service – You can respond faster to customers because you are always accessible via phone, email, or chat.
• Improved Productivity – With a virtual bookkeeper, employees spend less time managing accounts receivable and inventory.
• Lower Costs – By outsourcing some administrative work, you can reduce overhead expenses.
• They can oversee all your balance sheets
• They can make sure all your bank statements are saved and accessible
• They can update and organize your financial records
• They can ensure your bank accounts are synced and meet your business needs
• They can process payroll for you
• You can delegate a wide variety of financial tasks and all your basic bookkeeping needs to them so you have more time to focus on making the business decisions that matter most!
Considerations For Companies Relying On Paper Documentation
For most small businesses, it makes sense to keep track of their financial records digitally. But how do you transition away from paper invoices without losing out on important information about your customers? Here are some things to consider before making the switch.
- Assess your current processes and where your data and important financial reports are stored
- Make sure you’ve allocated time for the migration process from a paper documentation system to cloud-based software
- Make sure the right people have access to this information. If you have a virtual bookkeeper you need to ensure there’s a user-friendly way for the right people to have remote access to this information.
Who Should Use Online Bookkeeping Services?
Virtual bookkeepers make it easy for small businesses to keep up with their accounting without hiring an accountant. They do most of the work for you, so you can focus on what you do best – running your business. Online bookkeeping services are not just for financial professionals or big businesses but for anyone looking to streamline bookkeeping for their business.
Types of virtual bookkeepers
A virtual bookkeeper helps small businesses keep track of their finances and keep their records ready for month-end reports and tax season. These professionals work remotely, either as part of your team or as an outside provider. Many offer professional bookkeeping services, taking on your invoicing, bills, reconciliations and other basic bookkeeping tasks thanks to their accounting knowledge and experience.
Virtual bookkeepers enter and categorize your transactions in cloud accounting software such as QuickBooks Online or Xero, and the software performs the calculations and generates the reports. Because the work is done online, you are not limited to bookkeepers near your office, and you can hire for the hours your books actually need.
There are three types of virtual bookkeepers:
• Bookkeeping virtual assistants. These assistants handle the routine work, such as data entry, receipts, invoices and bill entry, usually under the review of your accountant or a senior bookkeeper.
• Full-charge bookkeepers. These bookkeepers look after the books end to end, from daily transactions and reconciliations through to the month-end close and financial reports.
• Specialist bookkeepers. These bookkeepers focus on one industry or one accounting system, for example ecommerce, real estate or construction, where the bookkeeping works a little differently.
The right type of virtual bookkeeper depends on how much of the work you want to hand over. If your accountant already reviews the books each month, a bookkeeping virtual assistant may be enough. If nobody is closing the books today, look for a full-charge bookkeeper, and consider a specialist when your industry calls for one.
Freelancer, firm or dedicated virtual bookkeeper?
Once you know which type of help you need, the next choice is how to hire it: a freelance bookkeeper, a bookkeeping firm or a dedicated bookkeeper who joins your team. All three can keep accurate books. The differences are in who does the work, how much say you have over it, and what happens when your needs change.
A. Virtual Bookkeeping With a Freelancer or a Firm
A freelance bookkeeper is a self-employed person who often serves several clients at once. You usually find and vet them yourself, agree the terms directly, and need a plan for the weeks they are unavailable. A virtual bookkeeping firm takes on your books as a service: its staff follow the firm’s own process, and you may not always deal with the same person. Both can suit a small, steady workload.
B. A Dedicated Bookkeeper on Your Team
A dedicated bookkeeper works remotely on your books for the hours you agree, inside your own accounting software, such as QuickBooks Online or Xero, and reports to you. You set the priorities, and the knowledge of your accounts stays with one person. This suits a business with daily transactions. On DigiWorks you interview candidates and choose who joins, and DigiWorks handles the contract and payments.
Services
Virtual bookkeeping services cover more than most small businesses expect. Beyond recording transactions, a virtual bookkeeper can reconcile bank and card accounts, send invoices, follow up on late payments, enter bills and prepare month-end reports.
Many virtual bookkeepers also help with payroll records and keep your books ready for your accountant or tax preparer. Tax and retirement advice is a different job and belongs with your accountant or a financial adviser. If you don’t know where to start, ask about what services they offer. You’ll likely find something that fits your needs.
How to choose a virtual bookkeeper
Bookkeepers are like plumbers, electricians, and roofers: people we don’t always think about choosing until something goes wrong. But even though it might seem obvious, there are still plenty of questions to answer before you start working with a bookkeeper.
Here are some things to consider before you decide whether to work with a virtual bookkeeper or hire a traditional bookkeeper yourself.
1. What Accounting Method Do You Prefer?
There are two main accounting methods. Cash basis records income and expenses when money actually moves in or out of your bank account. Accrual basis records them when they are earned or owed, even if the payment comes later. Cash basis is simpler, while accrual gives a fuller picture of what you owe and what you are owed. Your accountant can tell you which method your business should use. If you’re looking for a professional bookkeeper, make sure they have kept books on that method before.
2. How Many Transactions Do You Expect To Do In An Average Month?
The number of transactions decides how much bookkeeping time you need. Before you speak to candidates, count your typical monthly sales, bills, bank and card lines and payroll runs. A business with a low volume may only need a few hours of bookkeeping each week, while one with daily sales, several bank accounts or inventory needs a bookkeeper who is in the books every day. Sharing these numbers up front helps you hire for the right hours.
3. Which Bookkeeping Software Do You Use?
You need to make sure the person you choose to hire is familiar with your preferred accounting software.
How to assess virtual bookkeepers
A virtual bookkeeper should have a track record you can check. Ask each candidate for their work history, the kinds of businesses they have kept books for, and the accounting software they use every day. If your business has its own quirks, such as inventory, several currencies or a high volume of invoices, ask for examples of similar work. In the interview, have them talk you through a recent month-end close step by step. A strong candidate can explain what they reconcile, what they check before sending reports, and what they do when the numbers do not match.
References are important. Ask for clients or past employers you can contact, and ask them about accuracy, deadlines and communication. Someone who has worked with a bookkeeper can tell you more than a resume can.
Virtual bookkeepers should know how the software works. This includes spreadsheets, invoicing, and accounting programs. The best way to check is a short practical test. Give candidates a sample bank statement to reconcile, or ask them to share their screen and show how they would record a bill and a customer payment in your software. Look for accuracy first, then speed.
If you would rather not run the entire hiring and assessing process yourself, you might consider making use of a hiring platform like DigiWorks. Candidates on DigiWorks go through skills-based assessments, and the platform matches you with bookkeepers and admin assistants who fit your needs. You interview them and choose who joins your team, while DigiWorks handles contracts and payments. DigiWorks talent comes from countries including South Africa, the Philippines, Nigeria, Mexico and Vietnam, so you are not limited to the bookkeepers available in your area.
Ready to build your remote team?
Use the DigiWorks platform to hire, manage, and pay remote talent from all over the world.
Conclusion
Virtual Bookkeepers are here to assist you in running your business. They are not there for you to do your work for you. You must make sure that they offer any add-ons such as payroll processing and tax preparation because it is important to know what they can do for you. Finally, look for a good price. With massive freelance marketplaces and being able to unlock the global talent pool with companies like DigiWorks, affordable and competent virtual bookkeepers have never been more accessible!
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About DigiWorks
DigiWorks is an easy-to-use platform that helps small businesses and start-ups hire amazing remote talent from around the world. DigiWorks offers a way for you to hire, manage, and pay people from all countries. If you find an amazing virtual assistant from the Philippines, a content writer from Nigeria, or an operations manager from South Africa – manage and pay your entire team from one platform with no hassle.
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What are virtual bookkeeping services?
Virtual bookkeeping services are online solutions where professional bookkeepers manage your business finances remotely. They handle tasks like invoicing, payroll, and expense tracking, allowing you to focus on growing your business without hiring full-time staff.
How do online bookkeeping services work?
Online bookkeeping services use cloud-based software to track, record, and report financial transactions. You can access your financial data from anywhere, receive real-time updates, and collaborate with your virtual bookkeeper seamlessly.
Who can benefit from professional bookkeeping services?
Small and medium-sized businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs who need accurate financial management without the overhead of an in-house accountant can benefit from professional bookkeeping services. They provide reliable, expert support tailored to your business needs.
How can I hire virtual bookkeeper through DigiWorks?
You can hire virtual bookkeeper from DigiWorks by signing up on our platform, reviewing candidates, and selecting the right professional for your business. Our platform simplifies hiring, managing, and paying remote bookkeeping professionals globally.
What tasks can a virtual bookkeeper handle?
A virtual bookkeeper can manage day-to-day financial operations such as bank reconciliations, payroll, tax preparation, expense tracking, and report generation, all through virtual bookkeeping services.
FAQs
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