Frequently Asked Questions

 A bookkeeper helps you manage your day-to-day financial records — things like reconciling accounts, tracking income and expenses, and maintaining accurate books.

A BAS agent, on the other hand, is a registered professional who meets strict qualification, experience and insurance requirements set by the Tax Practitioners Board. BAS agents are authorised to prepare and lodge Business Activity Statements (BAS), make GST and PAYG determinations, and deal directly with the ATO on your behalf.

It’s important to know that unregistered bookkeepers aren’t legally allowed to provide BAS-related services, calculate or advise on GST, or handle payroll and superannuation compliance. Using a registered BAS agent ensures your records are accurate, compliant, and your business is protected under the Code of Professional Conduct. 

 Using a registered BAS agent gives you confidence that your work is being completed accurately and in line with ATO and TPB requirements.

Registered BAS agents are bound by the Code of Professional Conduct, hold appropriate insurances, and must maintain their skills through ongoing education — meaning you’re protected and your business stays compliant. 

 Accountants and bookkeepers play different but complementary roles in your business.

A bookkeeper focuses on the day-to-day financial operations — keeping transactions accurate, reconciled, and up to date so you always know where your business stands.

An accountant focuses on strategic and statutory work, such as tax planning, compliance, and end-of-year financial reporting.

When both work together, you get the best of both worlds — accurate data throughout the year and a smooth, efficient tax process when it’s time to lodge. 

 I work with cloud-based accounting software, including Xero, MYOB and QuickBooks Online.

Xero is my preferred platform because of its functionality and ease of use, but the software always needs to suit the needs of the business. If you’re already using another system that’s working well, I’m happy to continue with that. If you’re setting up for the first time, I can help you choose the option that best fits your goals and workflow. 

 Yes — software transitions are something I help with often. I’ll make sure your data is transferred accurately, that your chart of accounts and settings are configured correctly, and that you feel confident using the new system. 

Your Discovery Session is where we discuss your business, current systems, goals, and any challenges you’re facing.
From there, I’ll review your information and prepare a tailored proposal outlining how I can best support you based on what you have told me in the discovery session. Once you’re happy to proceed, we’ll set up your onboarding plan and start working through the agreed steps together. 

  It really depends on your situation and how quickly we can collect the information we need to get started.

Once we’ve had your Discovery Session and you’ve approved your proposal, we’ll agree on a clear start date so everything stays on track. 

 You’re not alone — that’s something I help with all the time (and I secretly love a good catch-up job!).

Before we move into ongoing bookkeeping, I’ll assess what needs to be caught up and create a separate clean-up or rescue plan to bring everything up to date.

This work is completed as a stand-alone service with its own fee and process, and once your books are back to a clean, compliant state, we can look at a regular maintenance plan to keep things running smoothly.

 Every business has different needs, so instead of one-size-fits-all pricing, I create a tailored proposal after your Discovery Session.

Each proposal includes three fee options, built from what we’ve discussed — your priorities, the level of support you’re looking for, and how hands-on you want to be with your bookkeeping.

This allows you to choose the option that best fits your business.

 No two businesses are the same, so fees are based on the scope of work and the level of support required.

Once we’ve discussed your needs in your Discovery Session, I’ll prepare a clear proposal with three tailored options so you can decide what works best.

Everything is agreed to in writing before any work begins — no hidden costs or surprises. 

Your business won’t stay the same forever — and your bookkeeping shouldn’t either. We regularly review your services to make sure they’re still the right fit, and can adjust your package or add specialist support as your business grows. 

Yes. As a registered BAS agent, I’m authorised to communicate with the ATO about your BAS and related obligations. This includes lodging activity statements, updating details, or helping to resolve issues that may arise. 

Yes — payroll compliance is one of my core services. I can help with everything from setup and processing to ensuring superannuation and PAYG obligations are accurate and lodged on time. 

 Your accountant and bookkeeper play different but equally important roles.

Your accountant focuses on tax planning, compliance, and end-of-year reporting, while your bookkeeper manages the day-to-day financial operations — keeping your records accurate, up to date, and ready for your accountant to work from.

When your books are well-maintained, your accountant’s work becomes easier, faster, and often more cost-effective. It also means you have clear, reliable numbers throughout the year to make confident business decisions — not just at tax time.

Software makes bookkeeping easier, but it doesn’t replace a trained eye. The system is only as good as the information that’s entered — if transactions are coded incorrectly or missed, your reports won’t reflect your true financial position.

A bookkeeper ensures everything is set up correctly, processed accurately, and reconciled consistently so you can rely on your numbers to make confident business decisions. 

Yes — while I love supporting local businesses around Victor Harbor and the Fleurieu Peninsula, I also work with clients remotely across South Australia and beyond. Cloud accounting makes it easy to collaborate securely from anywhere. 

 Even if you feel your books are under control, it can be hard to know if everything is truly accurate or compliant — especially as your business grows and things become more complex.

Common signs include spending hours catching up on data entry, avoiding bookkeeping tasks because they feel overwhelming, or feeling stressed about compliance deadlines.

Outsourcing doesn’t mean handing everything over — you can stay as involved as you like. It simply means having professional support to make sure your books, payroll and BAS obligations are accurate, compliant, and giving you a clear picture of how your business is performing.