Do You Have a Thief In Your Business?
Most small businesses are embezzled from. Do you know who is the most likely to do it? Your bookkeeper.
Here are some warning signs:
- Financial records are late,
- The bookkeeper is overly secretive and will not share back-up information,
- The financial statements don’t make sense,
- The bookkeeper won’t go on vacation, or
- It just doesn’t feel right.
If you’ve ever wondered whether something isn’t right with one of your employees, that’s usually a good clue. Unless you’re a normally suspicious person, it’s not normal to wonder whether you should fire an employee.
The best protection, though, starts with the hiring process. Check references. Hire solid candidates. Have written systems and insist on adherence to those. If you have a one-person accounting staff, consider outsourcing some of it, such as the bank reconciliation and financial analysis.
An embezzler can put you out of business. Don’t be a victim.
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