Finance operations · Bookkeeping
Bookkeeping that keeps your books accurate and up to date
Monthly bookkeeping in QuickBooks® Online: we record and categorise every transaction, reconcile your bank and card accounts, keep invoices and bills in order, and close each month with reports you can rely on.
| On the bank statement | In your books | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Client payment received | Invoice marked as paid | Matched |
| Software subscription | Categorised as software | Matched |
| Card purchase | No receipt yet | Question for you |
| Bank charge | Categorised as bank fees | Matched |
| Transfer between accounts | Recorded as a transfer, not income | Matched |
What bookkeeping covers
What does a bookkeeper actually do?
Bookkeeping is the day-to-day recording of your business’s money: every sale, payment, bill and bank transaction, entered in the right place and checked against your bank statements.
Done monthly, it means you can see your real profit, what customers owe you and what you owe suppliers at any time. It also means your accountant starts tax season with clean, reconciled records instead of a backlog.
We are the bookkeeper. Your accountant or tax adviser still handles tax and year-end. The table shows how the work is usually split.
| Task | HighNode (bookkeeping) | Your accountant |
|---|---|---|
| Record and categorise transactions | Yes, every month | Reviews if needed |
| Reconcile bank and card accounts | Yes, every month | Reviews if needed |
| Invoices, bills and payment tracking | Yes | — |
| Monthly P&L and balance sheet | Prepares and sends | Uses for advice |
| Tax returns and tax advice | Not included | Yes |
| Year-end accounts and audits | Prepares clean records | Yes |
| Payroll | Not included | Or a payroll provider |
Finance operations
When you need this
Bookkeeping slips when the business gets busy. A few months behind quickly turns into a stressful year-end and decisions made without real numbers.
- Transactions are months behind or sitting uncategorised
- The balances in your books do not match your bank statements
- You are not sure which customers still owe you money
- Your accountant spends time, and your fees, cleaning records before year-end
Deliverables
What we take care of
Scope is agreed in writing before work starts. You can take the whole list or only the parts you need.
- Transaction categorisationBank and card transactions reviewed and coded to the right accounts each month, with receipts matched where you provide them.
- ReconciliationsEvery bank, credit card and payment account reconciled to its statement, with differences investigated and noted.
- Catch-up bookkeepingMonths or quarters that fell behind brought up to date in order, so your history is complete.
- Clean-upDuplicates, miscoded entries, old uncleared items and a cluttered chart of accounts corrected, with a record of what changed.
- Accounts receivableInvoices created and sent, payments matched, and overdue customers followed up on your instructions.
- Accounts payableBills entered and due dates tracked, with payments recorded so nothing is paid twice or late.
- Month-end closeThe same close checklist every month, ending with a profit and loss statement and a balance sheet.
- Monthly summaryA short note with the reports: what changed, anything unusual, and questions we need you to answer.
A typical month
What happens each month
The same routine every month, so your books never fall behind again.
- Week 1
Record
Bank and card transactions from the previous month categorised, and receipts you send us matched.
- Week 2
Reconcile
Every bank, card and payment account reconciled to its statement. Anything unclear goes on a short question list for you.
- Week 3
Receivables and payables
Unpaid invoices and upcoming bills reviewed, with payment follow-ups sent on your instructions.
- Month-end
Close and report
Month closed, then your profit and loss, balance sheet and a short summary note sent to you.
Engagements
Three ways to start
Most clients start with one of these. Each is scoped and priced in writing before any work begins.
- Ongoing
Monthly bookkeeping
The full monthly routine: record, reconcile, manage receivables and payables, close and report.
- One-off project
Catch-up bookkeeping
Months or quarters that fell behind brought up to date, in order, so monthly work can begin from accurate balances.
- One-off project
Books clean-up
An existing file corrected: duplicates removed, miscoded entries fixed and old uncleared items resolved, with a record of every change.
Process
How it works
You get a short update at each stage: what was done, what we found and what happens next.
Review
We look at your current books, accounts and backlog, then agree the scope and a monthly schedule in writing.
Access
You add us as a user in your company file and connect bank feeds. You keep ownership and can remove our access at any time.
Catch up
Any backlog or clean-up is finished first, so monthly work starts from balances you can trust.
Monthly cycle
Categorise, reconcile, close and send your reports on an agreed date each month.
Tools
Platforms we use for this work
Green tags are tools we have used hands-on. The rest are platforms we support when they are already part of your stack. Listing a tool does not imply a partnership.
Hands-on
- QuickBooks Online
Also supported
- Stripe
- PayPal
- Square
- Bank and card feeds
We keep books in QuickBooks Online. If you use a different accounting platform, ask us first and we will tell you honestly whether we can take it on.
Intuit and QuickBooks are trademarks of Intuit Inc., registered in the US and other countries. This page has not been approved by Intuit, and HighNode Digital is not affiliated with or endorsed by Intuit.
Questions
Common questions
More answers about access, timelines and how engagements work. All FAQs
Related guide: Monthly bookkeeping checklist for small businesses
Do you work with our accountant?
Yes. Most clients keep their accountant or tax adviser for tax returns and year-end. We keep the books current and give them access, or send reports in the format they ask for.
How far behind can you catch up?
There is no fixed limit. We review a sample of your records first and send a written estimate for the catch-up before any work starts.
What access do you need?
A user login in your QuickBooks Online company and statements for the accounts we reconcile. We never need your online banking password.
Do you handle sales tax, VAT or GST?
We record transactions using the sales tax, VAT or GST settings in your file. Preparing and filing those returns stays with your accountant.
Related services
Often combined with
Introductory call
Let’s get your books current and reconciled.
A 30-minute call about where your books stand today, any backlog, and what a monthly bookkeeping routine would look like for your business.
- Tell us how far behind the books are
- Talk through your accounts and QuickBooks Online file
- Agree monthly scope and timing — no obligation