What a Proper Handover Actually Covers
A bookkeeper handover comes down to three things: system access, historical catch-up, and a reporting rhythm going forward. System access means admin rights to your accounting software, usually Xero or MYOB, your live bank feed connections, and any receipt-capture tools such as Dext or Hubdoc that sit alongside it. Historical catch-up means reconciling any backlog of unreconciled transactions back to a known, agreed date rather than starting to report on incomplete figures. The reporting rhythm is the ongoing cadence, monthly management reports, quarterly BAS, and whatever cash flow visibility you actually need to run the business.
| Week | What happens | What you should see |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Access handover and chart of accounts review | Bank feeds connected, software access confirmed |
| Weeks 2 to 3 | Catch-up reconciliation | Backlog cleared to an agreed reconciled date |
| Week 4 | First reporting cycle | P&L, balance sheet, BAS-ready GST figures |
Watch: What Happens When You Switch Bookkeepers in Melbourne
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Handing Over From Your Old Bookkeeper or From DIY Xero
If you're leaving another bookkeeper, the cleanest handover happens when the accounting software subscription belongs to your business rather than to them, since that means your full transaction history and prior-year reports move with you automatically. If you've been doing your own books, the handover is more of an audit, your new bookkeeper reviews the existing chart of accounts, checks how transactions have been coded historically, and flags anything that needs correcting before ongoing monthly reporting begins.
A handover that doesn't drop anything
We run a structured access, catch-up and reporting handover for Melbourne businesses switching bookkeepers or coming off DIY Xero. Book a free call to talk through what yours would look like.
Book a Free 20-Minute CallWhat Your New Bookkeeper Should Ask You For
- ✓ Xero or MYOB admin access, not just a read-only login
- ✓ Your last lodged BAS and current ATO integrated client account details
- ✓ Payroll and Single Touch Payroll setup details, if you have employees
- ✓ Any outstanding loans, hire purchase or asset finance schedules
- ✓ A list of recurring subscriptions and how they're currently categorised
How Long Catch-Up Reconciliation Actually Takes
This depends entirely on how far behind the books are. A few weeks of unreconciled bank transactions is usually a two to three day job. Six months or more of backlog, particularly with employees on payroll or unreconciled loan accounts, is typically quoted as a separate fixed-fee catch-up project rather than folded into the ongoing monthly rate, so the scope and cost are clear before work starts.
What Changes By Your Next BAS
By the time your next quarterly BAS is due, 28 days after the end of the quarter, your GST figures should be reconciled against actual bank activity rather than estimated, and you should have a current P&L and balance sheet you can read without needing it explained line by line. If your handover finishes and you still can't tell what your GST liability actually is without asking, the catch-up phase wasn't finished properly.
Ready for a clean start with your books?
We handle the full handover, access, catch-up and your first reporting cycle, so nothing falls through the gap between bookkeepers.
Book a Free 20-Minute Call