Most people would agree cookies make life better. For us, they help us make our site and marketing better. But if you don't like cookies, that's cool too. Find out more in our
Cookie Policy.
Explore our vision: Incredible, effortless recruitment
£28k-£38k
Typical base salary
12 wks
Replacement guarantee
Accuracy and independence
Often the only finance person. Look for someone accurate who works without supervision.
Software fit
Match their software - Xero, Sage, QuickBooks - to yours.
VAT and basics
Probe their grasp of VAT returns and the fundamentals you need.
How to run the hire
1. Define the scope
Be clear on the tasks, software and whether it's a sole role.
2. Score for accuracy and self-sufficiency
Weight reliability and the ability to work alone.
3. Move reasonably quickly
These roles fill fairly fast.
4. Set a practical task
A bookkeeping or reconciliation exercise shows their accuracy.
5. Reference reliability
Confirm they kept clean, accurate books.
Fees typically run 15-18% of first-year salary, capped and agreed upfront.
Nothing is due until your hire starts.
Usually 3-6 weeks.
Software experience and whether it's a standalone role are the main variables.
A Bookkeeper records and maintains a business's financial transactions - sales, purchases, payments, reconciliations and often VAT returns.
In a small business they may be the entire finance function, keeping the books ready for the accountant.
Yes, since day-to-day work runs on it - we match your software (Xero, Sage, QuickBooks) where we can.
Good bookkeepers transfer between packages, so we weight accuracy alongside specific software.
Try: Walk me through your monthly bookkeeping routine.
How do you handle a VAT return?
Which software are you strongest in? and How do you keep accurate with no one checking your work?
Yes, across a broad range of small and medium businesses.
We match software and scope to your needs.
Tell us about your role and a specialist finance recruiter will call you. No fee until your hire starts.
{"@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [{"@type": "Article", "headline": "How to Hire a Bookkeeper in the UK (2026)", "description": "How to hire a Bookkeeper in the UK. Salary, time to hire and what to look for.", "datePublished": "2026-07-13", "dateModified": "2026-07-13", "author": {"@type": "Person", "name": "Mark Wilkinson", "jobTitle": "Managing Director", "url": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/coburg-markwilkinson/", "worksFor": {"@type": "Organization", "name": "Coburg Banks"}}, "publisher": {"@type": "Organization", "name": "Coburg Banks", "logo": {"@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/645cf1f1ad8cd97335eefcd6/67e52adb28b5bfce304c13dd_CB%20Sales%20Logo.svg"}}, "mainEntityOfPage": "https://www.coburgbanks.co.uk/hiring/bookkeeper"}, {"@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [{"@type": "Question", "name": "How much does it cost to hire a Bookkeeper?", "acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer", "text": "Fees typically run 15-18% of first-year salary, capped and agreed upfront. Nothing is due until your hire starts."}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "How long does it take to hire a Bookkeeper?", "acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer", "text": "Usually 3-6 weeks. Software experience and whether it's a standalone role are the main variables."}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "What does a Bookkeeper do?", "acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer", "text": "A Bookkeeper records and maintains a business's financial transactions - sales, purchases, payments, reconciliations and often VAT returns. In a small business they may be the entire finance function, keeping the books ready for the accountant."}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "Does bookkeeping software experience matter?", "acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes, since day-to-day work runs on it - we match your software (Xero, Sage, QuickBooks) where we can. Good bookkeepers transfer between packages, so we weight accuracy alongside specific software."}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "What should I ask a Bookkeeper at interview?", "acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer", "text": "Try: Walk me through your monthly bookkeeping routine. How do you handle a VAT return? Which software are you strongest in? and How do you keep accurate with no one checking your work?"}}, {"@type": "Question", "name": "Do you recruit Bookkeepers across sectors?", "acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes, across a broad range of small and medium businesses. We match software and scope to your needs."}}]}, {"@type": "ItemList", "name": "What to look for in a Bookkeeper", "itemListElement": [{"@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Accuracy and independence"}, {"@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Software fit"}, {"@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "VAT and basics"}]}, {"@type": "ProfessionalService", "name": "Coburg Banks Finance Recruitment", "url": "https://www.coburgbanks.co.uk/finance-recruitment-agencies", "telephone": "+441213622300", "foundingDate": "2002", "areaServed": {"@type": "Country", "name": "United Kingdom"}, "serviceType": "Finance Recruitment", "sameAs": ["https://www.linkedin.com/company/coburgbanks/", "https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/coburgbanks.co.uk", "https://www.facebook.com/CoburgBanksJobs/"]}]}
