TPL-BK — Bookkeeping (monthly recurring)
Outsourced finance function for SMEs that don't have an in-house accountant. Monthly cycle: post journals, reconcile bank, produce VAT working, deliver management reports. Recurring revenue · sticky engagement · the firm's bread-and-butter.
Template metadata
| code | TPL-BK |
| requires_workpapers | 0 |
| est_total_hours | 15-40 per month (volume-driven) |
| typical duration | Recurring monthly · annual contract |
| deliverables | Posted GL · monthly TB · bank rec · VAT working · management P&L + BS · accounts receivable + payable |
| frequency | 1 job per month per client (or umbrella + 12 child jobs) |
The monthly cycle
The 5 task phases (each month)
| planning | Document checklist sent to client · open the month's job |
| fieldwork | Post sales · post purchases · post bank · post payroll · post adjustments · reconcile |
| reporting | Mgmt P&L + BS · debtor + creditor ageing · VAT working · cash position |
| review | Senior reviews postings · partner reviews mgmt accounts |
| admin | Deliver to client · invoice (recurring monthly) · file in vault |
Operational tips
- Standard chart of accounts — use the firm's COA template across all BK clients. Speeds up posting + cross-client reporting.
- Document inbox — set up a shared email or folder where clients drop invoices/receipts daily. Avoid month-end scrambles.
- Variance discussion — every month walk the partner / owner through the management P&L; flag big movements. This is where you add value beyond just posting.
- Recurring invoice — fixed monthly fee · auto-draft on the 1st of the next month · M11 invoices module handles the cycle.
Set up an "umbrella" TPL-BK job for the year + 12 child jobs (one per month). Use comments on the umbrella to log year-to-date trends. Each month's child job carries the day-1-to-day-14 task checklist.
Bookkeeping on a client whose audit your firm performs creates an independence threat for the audit. Either the firm doesn't take both engagements, or independence safeguards (separate teams, EQCR) must be documented per IFAC Code §290. Don't let a routine bookkeeping engagement compromise the audit.
BK is recurring; if the client misses 2 months of payment, stop posting until paid. Send a letter. Polite but firm. Bookkeepers can't keep working at risk — and clients respect firmness on payment.