What to Look For When Hiring a Property Management Bookkeeper

December 9, 2021
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Maintaining daily and accurate bookkeeping is a vital part of a property management business. As a property manager, you have a wide variety of responsibilities and that includes bookkeeping. Property management bookkeeping has diverse needs and it is important you have the best person or team ensuring that portion of your business runs smoothly.


Many qualifications are important when considering a bookkeeping team. Can your bookkeeper answer these questions?


Does your bookkeeper have Bookkeeper/Accounting Experience?

  • Starting off the #1 question you should always ask your bookkeeper is if they know the difference between an income statement vs balance sheet? Just because they have done Accounts Payable in the past doesn’t mean they have the experience to answer owner questions such as suppressed fees or why their 1099 amount doesn’t match their year end financials.
  • Is prepaid rent income or a liability?
  • What is the threshold for when you are required to send a 1099?

These are the most basic questions that a bookkeeper should be able to answer before they are even able to take a peek at your books!


Does your bookkeeper have Property Management Software Experience?


Some of the recommended property management softwares include AppFolio, Buildium, Propertyware, and Rent Manager. If going through the software’s training materials online was easy then you would probably do this job yourself right? The learning curve of the software is steep (time, resources, patience). 

Accounting softwares such as Appfolio is always improving or adding new features. Having a bookkeeper or team that can adapt quickly to those changes is valuable to ensure accuracy is being maintained.

Even if you find someone who says they know the software, how do you even evaluate them?

  • What’s the operational difference between a one bank setup and a two bank setup?
  • What’s the difference between a trust account and a regular business checking account?


Does your bookkeeper have Property Management experience?

A person having a property management background is crucial. PM experience is relevant when assisting with tasks such as move in or move out accounting. Certain property management terminology is typically used alongside accounting, so knowing what should be inputted into the database is important.


Have they managed properties similar to what you’re hiring for? Commercial property management is completely different compared to residential, and even more different than student housing. Making sure the bookkeeper has experience managing the same type of property as yours is a must.


Does your bookkeeper have Trust Compliance experience?

As a Property Management broker you might think finding a bookkeeper is just Accounts Receivable of Accounts Payable data entry. But did you know the data your bookkeeper enters and what they submit the risk ultimately falls on you as the license broker? You can lose your license for something your bookkeeper does and we see it happen all the time.

  • First let’s start off. What is a property management trust account?
  • What’s the difference between a Trust account and a Checking account?
  • What is the purpose of a bank reconciliation?
  • How would you handle security deposit and rent in one check?


These are just a few qualities that APM Help looks for when hiring bookkeepers. If you want to know the answers to any of these questions we are happy to answer them for you.


Once again, what your bookkeeper does ultimately falls on you as the licensed broker. Don’t let  an inexperienced property management bookkeeper jeopardize your license!


Want to skip hastle of trying to hire a qualified bookkeeper? Speak with us today about how we can get your books clean and keep them clean!

Our Services

On-Demand Consulting

On-Demand Consulting

Consulting with AppFolio, Buildium, Propertyware, & Rent Manager experts to answer any and all software related questions in less than an hour. No long-term contracts and easy to get started.

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On-Demand Consulting

Trust Bookkeeping Services

Bookkeeping services provided by expert accountants for AppFolio, Buildium, Propertyware, & Rent Manager. For less than the cost of a full-time bookkeeper you can have a whole team of experts.

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On-Demand Consulting

Corporate Bookkeeping

Let us take care of your corporate payables, receivables, reporting, and payroll with Quickbooks and Gusto. With us you can focus less on accounting and more on growth!

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On-Demand Consulting

Daily Bank Reconciliations

Get your bank reconciliations done every single day! Keep your books accurate by making sure that everything is  accounted for. Available for AppFolio, Buildium, Propertyware, & Rent Manager.

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On-Demand Consulting

Daily Audits

Curious just how clean your books are? Find out with Triple Tied Out! It's our daily auditing service that checks your bank recs, liabilities, and property balances. For AppFolio, Buildium, & Propertyware.

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Why Choose APM Help

Expertise

Our consultants are well-versed in the software solutions commonly used in property management. Whether you're using AppFolio, Buildium, Propertyware, or Rent Manager, we have the expertise to clean up your books and maintain their accuracy.

Scalable Solutions

As your business grows, so do your accounting needs. Our U.S.-based account managers with industry experience are dedicated to managing your books, giving you the time and confidence to focus on expansion.

Audit Support

Going through an audit can be a daunting task. We offer daily audits and audit preparation services to ensure your books are always audit-ready, providing you with peace of mind.

Back-Office Services

Beyond bookkeeping, we offer a range of back-office services to streamline your operations, including maintenance coordination, property improvement loans, and corporate bookkeeping.
Your Success, Our Priority
APM Help is not just a service provider; we are your partners in success. We understand thatproperty management demands a holistic approach, which is why we offer a suite of services tailoredto address the diverse needs of your business. Our goal is to empower property managers to excel intheir markets by providing them with clean books, efficient processes, and the time they need tofocus on building strong client relationships and achieving their growth ambitions.

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