A company’s efficiency is seen in the accuracy and orderliness of its records. The bookkeeping assistant you hire should have good data entry service skills. To organize and validate business records, bookkeeping assistants must regularly provide various data entry services to the company.
Decide which skills are related to data entry tasks to look for when hiring a bookkeeping assistant. Additionally, organize your company’s data entry services requirements to ensure you get the proper assistance.
What are data entry services in bookkeeping?
Data entry services required for bookkeeping include recording all financial transactions of a business and updating company data in specific electronic databases or services. Good data entry services ensure accurate financial records and facilitate tracking and retrieving information when needed. This makes compiling reports on such data more accessible and less tedious.
A bookkeeping assistant with strong data entry skills requires little to no administration and won’t take up much time after being introduced to the company. They can also accurately and efficiently provide data entry services for any business.
Below is a list of data entry skills that you can check to verify the qualifications of your data entry personnel.
- Keen eye for detail
The ability to pay close attention to detail is essential for any bookkeeping assistant. It allows focusing on specific data entry jobs to be performed faster and more accurately. In contrast, not paying attention to details leads to more errors and time spent checking data input.
Organizations value detail-oriented bookkeeping assistants because they help them accurately get the data entry service and reduce the risk of errors.
- Basic computer function and software knowledge
Bookkeeping assistants responsible for data entry services should know how to use office equipment and software efficiently. Office equipment includes cameras, touch screens, scanners, printers, and typewriters. Prospective bookkeeping employees must be able to utilize standard data entry software and general computer programs like Excel, Word, and Doc files. Furthermore, they should be comfortable with databases and record management software. In addition, they must be competent in entering statistical, financial, and coded data using a scanner, keyboard, and mouse.
As a business owner, you can conduct data entry skills testing as part of your hiring process. This will give you an idea if the applicant has the software skills you are looking for in an assistant.
- Spoken and written communication proficiency
Bookkeeping assistants should possess good written communication skills. Since they are constantly encoding data, incorrect grammar and misspelled words are not acceptable. Accurate financial transaction records include using correct grammar and spelling.
As part of the project, they also exchange information with other team members, clients, and managers. They may need to discuss tax filing details or payroll at times. To be effective, they’ll need to communicate well, whether over the phone or in writing.
- Establish Typing Speed and Accuracy
To improve the typing speed per minute, a bookkeeping employee needs to be familiar with the input devices used in your company, especially keyboards. The primary typing rate data is 40 words per minute, but the average is 50 words per minute. However, superior typing speed should be around 70, which an expert bookkeeping assistant should have. Additionally, data entry service professionals should strive for 92% typing accuracy. That’s eight mistyped words out of 100, compared to a professional typist’s average of 3 mistakes per 100 words.
Data entry service experience allows bookkeeping assistants to develop perfect typing expertise. Accuracy is a must because mistakes disappoint customers and waste money and time. Focusing on the job and getting into the habit of double-checking the work will help them minimize errors. This includes accuracy of grammar, spelling, and encoded data precision.
- Research and data assortment abilities
There will always be research and data collection involved when providing data entry services. This knowledge will help them do better when preparing financial, monthly, or fiscal year-end reports. A bookkeeping assistant should be able to effectively handle credit control, bank settlements, and information management skills.
- Team effort
Bookkeeping assistants are always part of the team, whether in the office or working remotely. Employees who value teamwork help create more effective working conditions.
Below are some examples of teamwork skills.
- Listening ability
- Reflective thinking skills
- Open communication
- Communication skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Organizational potency
Time management skills are often combined with organizational skills. This integration is the most efficient way to provide smooth data entry services. Data entry involves entering as much information as quickly and accurately as possible. A bookkeeping assistant with good organizational skills can effectively plan, prioritize, and execute daily tasks. Additionally, this skill will allow them to quickly organize, batch process, and archive files.
When looking to hire a bookkeeping assistant with expertise in data entry service, be sure to conduct a thorough background check. To get to know potential employees better, reach out to their previous employers or look through their social media accounts. You can ask questions to get a sense of their character and whether or not they would be a good fit for your company.
