For some businesses, the pressure is seasonal, while for others, it comes down to timing: a resignation just before EOFY, a period of leave, or simply extra work that needs to be cleared quickly.

That is where temporary or contract bookkeeping support can be useful. Rather than asking the wider team to absorb finance tasks indefinitely, bringing in an experienced bookkeeper for a defined period can help keep things moving while the business works out what comes next.

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Why businesses hire temporary bookkeepers

According to WellsGray Talent Manager of Temporary Solutions, Eleanor Methley, businesses may need extra bookkeeping support at particularly busy times of year, including the end of the calendar year or in the lead-up to EOFY and tax time.

It may also be prompted by something much more immediate, such as a bookkeeper or accounts team member leaving unexpectedly. As Eleanor puts it: “Sometimes it’s about the time of year and needing extra financial support. Other times, someone has left, and the business simply needs temporary help while they work out the permanent replacement.”

In those situations, the priority is often less about redesigning the finance function and more about making sure important work does not stall in the meantime.

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A temporary bookkeeper may be a better short-term solution than a permanent one

Sometimes the timing simply does not allow for a permanent hire. Why? Permanent recruitment takes time.

If an accounts team member resigns at the end of May and EOFY is approaching, waiting several weeks for a permanent recruitment process may not be realistic. Eleanor says this is one of the situations in which temporary support can make particular sense.

A temporary or contract bookkeeper can step in while the business continues its longer-term recruitment process, or simply provide support for the period when workload is at its highest. We’ve looked more broadly at when businesses should consider temporary staff in a separate article.

That does not necessarily mean the assignment is only a few days long. At WellsGray, temporary placements can range from a couple of weeks through to several months, depending on what the business needs. The important part is matching the support to the actual gap within the business.

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What happens when the backlog gets too big?

Bookkeeping is one of those functions where unfinished work accumulates rather than disappears. When pressure is left unresolved, businesses can find themselves dealing with backdated information that needs to be cleaned up before the current work can properly move forward.

Eleanor described situations where a bookkeeper may need to alternate between catching up on older records and keeping current work on track at the same time. This sort of thing can create a genuine bottleneck. And, of course, the longer the backlog grows, the harder it can be for the existing team to regain control, particularly when the same people are also trying to stay on top of day-to-day finance tasks.

Bringing in extra support earlier can give the business more capacity to clear outstanding work before it becomes a larger clean-up exercise.

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A good temporary bookkeeper needs to get moving quickly

Technical bookkeeping capability is obviously important, but a temporary assignment brings another challenge: there is usually less time to settle in. The person may be stepping into someone else’s role, joining at a busy time, or working with processes that are completely new to them.

For Eleanor, that means strong temporary bookkeepers need to be quick learners, adaptable and comfortable asking questions when they need to.

Accuracy is also non-negotiable. She says: “Bookkeepers need really strong attention to detail. When you’re working with finance and numbers, one small error can create a much bigger problem, as they have the potential to affect everything.”

The ability to learn systems quickly is another major advantage. Eleanor regularly sees clients looking for experience across platforms such as Xero, MYOB, SAP and Excel, including the ability to pull monthly or quarterly financial reports, for example. But technical skills are only part of the picture.

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Flexibility and communication are important in temporary bookkeeper roles

A contract bookkeeper may be entering a business because something has already changed unexpectedly. That means the assignment can require a degree of flexibility from day one. Eleanor says strong communication is important, particularly when someone is joining an unfamiliar business and needs to understand how that organisation does things.

Every company has its own systems, processes and expectations. A good contractor needs enough confidence to ask the right questions, while also being able to work independently once they understand what is required.

Confidentiality matters too. Finance professionals are often working with sensitive business information, so discretion and professionalism remain essential regardless of the length of the assignment.

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Does your business need extra bookkeeping support?

If your bookkeeping workload has started to pile up, someone has left unexpectedly, or you need extra support through a busy financial period, bringing in a temporary or contract bookkeeper can help give your existing team some breathing room.

WellsGray recruits temporary and contract finance support for Melbourne businesses, helping clients find experienced people who can step into an established team and get to work quickly.

If you need bookkeeping support for a few weeks, several months or somewhere in between, speak with the WellsGray team about the gap you need to fill. Contact our WellsGray Recruitment team at reception@wellsgray.com.au or call 0432 277 696.

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