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. 

 Registered BAS agents are legally authorised to prepare and lodge your BAS, handle GST and PAYG and deal directly with the ATO on your behalf. Unregistered bookkeepers aren't allowed to do any of that — so if someone is doing your BAS without being registered, your business could be exposed.

Registered agents are also bound by a professional code of conduct, hold appropriate insurances and have to keep their skills up to date through ongoing education. It's not just a credential — it's a layer of protection for your business.

 Accountants and bookkeepers do different things and work best together.

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

An accountant focuses on tax planning, end of year reporting and the bigger financial picture.

When both are working well together you get accurate numbers throughout the year and a smooth, efficient process when it's time to lodge. Your accountant will thank you for it too — clean books make their job easier and often more cost effective for you.

  We work with cloud based accounting software and Xero is our preferred platform — it's what we set up, what we know inside out and what we recommend for most businesses.

If you're already using MYOB or QuickBooks and it's working well for you, we're happy to continue working within those platforms. If you're setting up for the first time, we'll help you get started on Xero and make sure everything is configured properly from day one.

 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 we don't do one size fits all pricing. After your discovery session we put together a tailored proposal with three fee options based on what you've told us — your priorities, the level of support you're looking for and how hands on you want to be.

That way you can choose what works best for where your business is at right now.

  No two businesses are the same so fees are based on the scope of work and the level of support needed. After your discovery session we'll put together a clear proposal with three options so you can decide what works best.

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

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. It's only as good as what goes into it — if transactions are coded incorrectly or missed, your reports won't reflect what's actually happening in your business.

We make sure everything is set up correctly, entered accurately and reconciled consistently so your numbers actually mean something when you look at them.

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.