🧾 Skills Checklist: What I Look for in a Junior Bookkeeper
When I talk to bookkeepers inside the mentorship, I often hear the same question:
“I think I need help… but how do I know if someone’s actually ready to do the work?”
I get it. The first time I brought someone into my business, it felt like stepping into the ring with a blindfold on. But just like teaching a white belt in martial arts, you learn to spot patterns, ask the right questions, and train your system to support the right people.
So here it is — the actual checklist I use when evaluating someone for a junior bookkeeping role.
✅ The Core Skills I Look For
You don’t need a unicorn. You need someone coachable, consistent, and capable of doing clean work without ego.
I don’t need a genius. I need someone who finishes what they start and takes pride in doing it right.
🥋 Bonus Traits That Set People Apart
These are the same qualities I look for in my students at the dojo — the ones I trust to lead warmups, assist younger belts, and one day run their own class.
Coachability – Open to feedback without getting defensive
Attention to Detail – Notices the extra charge that doesn’t belong
Systems Thinking – Doesn’t just do the task — wants to understand the why
Humility – Knows when to ask instead of fake it
If someone shows me these traits, I’m willing to teach the rest.
💡 How I Test for These Traits
During the interview or trial period, I’ll ask them to:
Walk through a mock reconciliation
Explain how they’d categorize tricky transactions
Draft a quick “client-style” email explaining a bookkeeping issue
Complete a 2–3 hour test file (paid, of course — respect matters)
It’s not about perfection. I’m watching for thinking, work ethic, and willingness to learn.
🧠 Final Tip: Don’t Hire Just to Buy Back Time
Hire to build your business.
Even if they only take 5–10 hours of work off your plate, that’s time you can invest in sales, strategy, or — let’s be honest — just breathing a little.
Want help writing your job post, creating a trial assignment, or evaluating candidates? I help mentees inside Black Belt Bookkeepers Mentorship with all of that.
📥 Want my full Junior Bookkeeper Assessment Template? Shoot me a message — I’ll send it over.
Coming next Tuesday:
🧠 Fail, Learn, Grow: What Hindsight Has Taught Me About Building a Bookkeeping Business That Lasts