Finding a bookkeeper in Australia is easy. Finding one who will still be making your life easier in two years takes a little more care. The good news is that a few specific checks and questions separate the professionals from the rest quickly.
Four checks before you talk to anyone
- BAS agent registration. For paid BAS services, check that the responsible provider is a registered BAS or tax agent. Search the TPB public register. Our guide to registered BAS agents explains why this one check matters more than any testimonial.
- Software fit. If you run Xero, you want someone who lives in Xero, not someone who tolerates it. Certifications help, and so does a straight answer to how many client files they run on your software.
- Industry experience. Hospitality, trades and clinics each have their own bookkeeping traps. Ask for relevant experience and an explanation of the checks they use for your type of business.
- A clear scope in writing. Professionals describe exactly what is included, what is not, and when things happen. Vagueness before you sign only grows after.
Questions worth asking in the first call
- Who actually does the work on my file, and where are they based?
- How current will my books be, reconciled daily, weekly or monthly?
- What do I receive each month, and when?
- How do you handle queries, one batch or constant emails?
- How do you work with my accountant at year end?
- What happens during handover from my current setup?
The pattern in the answers matters more than any single answer. You are listening for specifics. People who do the work well can describe it precisely.
Red flags that should end the conversation
- Charging for BAS services without the appropriate BAS or tax agent registration.
- No engagement letter or written scope
- Promises about tax refunds or deductions. That is tax agent territory, and a bookkeeper making tax promises is operating outside their lane.
- They want your bank login rather than proper read only feed access
- Months of unanswered detail questions about your own numbers
Local or remote?
Bookkeeping has become location independent. Bank feeds, receipt photos and video calls mean a bookkeeper in Melbourne can run a file in Cairns identically to one across the road. What matters is responsiveness and rhythm, not distance. Choose the better bookkeeper, not the nearer one.
Happy to be measured against this list. Sterix is a registered BAS agent, works in Xero daily, and serves hospitality venues, clinics and trade businesses across Australia. Ask us these exact questions on a free discovery call.
Put the handover in writing
Record the start date, outstanding periods, who approves payments and which reports you will receive. Ask how access is granted and removed, where supporting records are kept and how an unresolved question is escalated. Keep a copy of the agreed scope alongside your engagement documents.
For more practical answers, browse our bookkeeping guides.
This article is general information for Australian small business owners. It is not tax, legal or financial advice. Your situation is specific, so talk to your registered BAS agent, tax agent or adviser before acting on anything here.