Frequently Asked Questions:
What does a bookkeeper do?
A bookkeeper manages the day-to-day financial records of a business. This can include recording transactions, reconciling bank accounts, managing accounts payable and receivable, preparing invoices, supporting payroll, and helping with monthly close procedures. A good bookkeeper keeps your financial data accurate, organized, and ready for reporting. South’s bookkeeper role page already highlights tasks like transaction tracking, bank reconciliations, financial statements, payroll support, and monthly close assistance.
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper?
The cost to hire a bookkeeper depends on experience level, location, software expertise, and the complexity of your accounting needs. In the U.S., bookkeepers can be significantly more expensive than remote talent. Our benchmarks list an average U.S. salary of $4,200 per month compared with an average Latin American salary of $2,000 per month, creating potential savings of up to 52%.
Can U.S.- based companies hire a remote bookkeeper from Latin America?
Yes. Many companies hire remote bookkeepers from Latin America because they can work in U.S.-aligned time zones, communicate in English, and support daily finance operations during regular business hours. This makes it easier to collaborate on invoices, reconciliations, payroll updates, expense tracking, and monthly reporting without major scheduling delays. South also screens candidates for English skills and remote-work readiness.
What skills should I look for when hiring a bookkeeper?
When hiring a bookkeeper, look for strong attention to detail, experience with double-entry bookkeeping, spreadsheet skills, and familiarity with accounting tools like QuickBooks, Xero, Excel, or similar platforms. You should also look for experience with financial reports, accounts payable, accounts receivable, reconciliations, payroll support, and confidentiality. South’s qualifications section mentions bookkeeping experience, accounting software knowledge, spreadsheet skills, and accuracy with financial records.
What accounting software should a bookkeeper know?
Most bookkeepers should be comfortable with tools like QuickBooks, Xero, Excel, Google Sheets, and other accounting or finance platforms. The right software depends on your business setup. For example, a startup may need a bookkeeper who can manage QuickBooks Online and basic reporting, while a growing company may need someone with stronger experience in payroll, reconciliations, financial statements, and month-end close support.
Is a bookkeeper the same as an accountant?
A bookkeeper and an accountant are related roles, but they usually focus on different parts of the finance function. A bookkeeper handles daily financial records, transaction categorization, reconciliations, invoices, and accounts payable or receivable. An accountant typically handles deeper financial analysis, tax strategy, compliance, and higher-level reporting. Many businesses hire a bookkeeper first to keep their books clean before bringing in an accountant for strategic or tax-related work.
How can South help me hire a bookkeeper?
South helps companies find, vet, hire, and pay pre-vetted bookkeepers from Latin America. Instead of spending weeks sourcing candidates yourself, you can share your role requirements, review qualified profiles, and hire someone who fits your business needs, time zone, and budget. South’s process includes sourcing, vetting, English assessments, interviews, reference checks, onboarding support, payroll, and compliance help. Schedule a free call here to get started!
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