If your books don't match your bank statements, you need someone to find the gaps and explain them. Start with the records. Get clear on what needs to be checked. Then agree on who will do the work.
One of our operators told me about a job at a business that ran 20 retirement properties.
The business was facing an audit. Its books were a mess.
It needed someone to match the main ledger with its own records and bank statements. The main ledger is the file that holds the business's money entries.
The operator took on the job. He said it took a long time to get through it all.
The business needed its records sorted before the audit. The operator took that job off its hands.
What needs to match?
In this case, there were three sets of records to check.
- The main ledger.
- The business's own books.
- The bank statements.
The job was to go through them and get them to agree.
The operator had strong data skills. He used those skills to help with the work. This was a records cleanup job. He didn't claim to be the person doing the audit.
Ask for a clear scope
I want the owner to know what they are buying.
Which records will be checked? What period do they cover? What files does the person need? What will they hand back to you?
A vague offer to help with your numbers is hard to judge.
A clear offer gives you something to work with. You can see the job. You can see what the person will own.
In this story, the need was urgent. The operator said the business had a task that needed to be done right away. That gave both sides a clear place to start.
Some jobs need a person who will do the work
The owner doesn't need one more task list.
They need someone to open the files, work through the gaps, and explain what they found.
That's the kind of help I want our operators to give. Do the work. Make the owner's job easier.
I make that point in my Loom feedback, too. A good offer should show the value to the business and the work that will come off the owner's plate.
One job can be the right place to start
This was a one-time job. It didn't need to become a broad role to be useful.
Other businesses may need ongoing help. The right scope depends on the work you need done.
If you have more raw files than clear answers, read why missing records matter when you sell your business.
If your own books need a closer look, get matched with an operator who can help with that task. Ask what they'll check, what they'll own, and what you'll get back.