It’s my belief that hiring a virtual assistant for CPAs is one of the best choices you can make when scaling your firm.
This guide will shed light on how a virtual assistant (VA) can help, what they can do, and where to find them.
Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
- What is a Virtual Assistant for Certified Public Accountants?
- What Can a Virtual Assistant Do at Your Firm?
- How to Find Virtual Assistants for Your Firm
What is a Virtual Assistant for Certified Public Accountants?
A virtual assistant (VA) provides administrative tasks and various services remotely.
They are also known as a remote personal assistant that is often used by small business owners to offload tasks that take up too much time.
In my previous firm, I never had a VA to help me out, but I would definitely hire one had I known about the benefits they bring and what they could do.
In my opinion, every firm owner needs at least 1 remote assistant to take some recurring and time-consuming tasks off their plate.
Right now in Future Firm, I have 4 VAs on the team and each of them is handling different duties, but they are very diverse in what they can handle.
4 Benefits of VAs for CPAs
There are a lot of benefits to hiring a virtual assistant, and here are some of them:
1) They’re Flexible
VAs are flexible and willing to work outside of typical business hours to fit your schedule, which can be particularly helpful if you have clients or customers in different time zones.
Personally, I don’t want people working hours that they don’t want to be working, but that option does exist.
2) They’re Affordable
You can find VAs from all over the world with most of them charging lower rates than ones who are based in North America or Europe.
I have a preference for VAs in the Philippines.
3) They Can Handle Most Tasks
As long as you provide clear instructions, a skilled VA can handle various tasks such as bookkeeping, appointment scheduling, or even complex administrative duties.
4) They Free Up Your Time
Too many CPAs and firm owners have a whole host of tasks they’re handling that are eating up their precious time.
By delegating the tasks that you don’t have time for, they can help you free up your time so that you can focus on revenue-generating activities.
What Can a Virtual Assistant Do at Your Firm?
A VA can take on various tasks for an accounting firm such as:
- Handling administrative tasks
- Digital marketing and data entry
- Email and client support
- Researching potential clients or leads
- Basic bookkeeping tasks
- Scheduling meetings
- Answering phone calls
- Replying to emails
- Managing social media accounts
- Marketing tasks
- Send invoices
…and more!
This frees up time for acquiring new clients and focusing on strategy.
Hiring a VA can save a lot of time in the long run.
Virtual assistants for CPAs can also handle invoicing and billing, oversee deadlines, and are capable of creating documents and spreadsheets.
You can pretty much offload a lot of your daily tasks as long as you are able to hire and train them according to company standards.
How to Find Virtual Assistants for Your CPA Firm
Now that we know what VAs can do and how they can help CPAs, it’s time to find a virtual assistant for your firm.
There are many websites that connect businesses with virtual assistants and here are a few of them:
- You can post a job ad on sites like the following:
Indeed
Upwork
Onlinejobs.ph
- You can search for VAs on social media platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook
- You can also ask for referrals from other CPAs who have already hired VAs
To ensure you find the best candidate, thoroughly vet potential hires by checking references, administering an assessment test, and conducting a virtual interview.
On websites like Upwork, you can filter for experienced professionals or novice VAs.
Keep in mind that experienced CPA VAs may have additional skills, such as tax preparation, but may charge a higher rate.
Before beginning the hiring process, make a list of the qualities you want in a virtual assistant.
It could be the following:
Excellent Written and Verbal Communication Skills
When hiring a virtual assistant overseas, it’s important to find someone who can effectively communicate with you and understand instructions for both simple and complex tasks.
Detail-Oriented
You want a virtual assistant who is detail-oriented in order to ensure quality work for your business.
Someone who gives each project their full attention and quick when it comes to catching errors.
Organized and Able to Multitask
People with this skill effectively manage their time and energy in order to complete tasks. Spending their time and resources in an efficient manner indicates that they value their work.
Resourcefulness
This is one of the essential qualities to look for when hiring your first VA.
Accounting firm owners are always pressed for time, especially during the busy season, so it’s best to have someone to find accurate solutions for you.
Knowing how to perform hard tasks and find ways to solve a problem is always valued by employers.
Tech Savvy
A virtual assistant for a CPA firm should be proficient in using accounting software or project management software, as well as other relevant technology.
This includes having the necessary skills and knowledge to use modern gadgets and apps.
Over to You
With the right virtual assistant on your team, you can grow your firm without breaking the bank. And because they can take on various types of tasks, you can forget about laborious tasks and concentrate on things that matter the most.
If you’re thinking of hiring one in the future, be sure to check out the websites above. With a little bit of searching, you’re sure to find the perfect fit for your firm.
Do you have a virtual assistant? How has your experience been? Let us know in the comments below!
