"I have recommended him to colleagues over the years and continue to do so."
FOR LAWYERS
As a lawyer, you have two needs to be satisfied by your bookkeeper.
Firstly, you need to comply with LSO bookkeeping rules and regulations. This is where an experienced legal bookkeeper can be the key to your success. A bookkeeper that services only the legal profession, and has attended many audits, can ensure compliance with Law Society obligations will be met.
Secondly, you need to know your law practice books are being maintained to accurately reflect your true financial status. You need to pay your government HST and payroll remittances in a timely manner to avoid interest and penalties. You need to be able to provide your accountant with logical and easy to understand year-end reports for your tax preparation. Your bookkeeper needs to be available for you or your staff, to answer questions and help with complex transactions.
MLBKS would be happy to assist you with all of the above.
ABOUT MLBKS
Muskoka Legal Bookkeeping Services is owned and operated by Clyde McDonald. Clyde has always been actively involved in the operation of businesses, from either a management or supervisory capacity. Clyde has completed additional training on PCLaw error detection & correction, and law practice procedures. Clyde has attended spot audits and assisted with practice review issues. Clyde has blogged extensively about PCLaw and LSO rules. For the past 10 years Clyde has provided his bookkeeping services exclusively to legal professionals.
- Satisfying your Law Society of Ontario obligations (Bylaws 9 & 8)
- Monthly bank reconciliations
- Monitor client trust balances
- Ensure funds are allocated correctly
- Assist with completing the Lawyer Annual Report
- Spot audits
- Complete online payroll (ADP, Ceridian)
- Payroll calculation and cheque entries
- Monthly payroll remittance
- Quarterly HST, Netfile return
- T4 slips
“We can readily and honestly recommend him to any law firm in need of top quality bookkeeping services.”
Ethan M. Rogers, Rogers & Company P.C., Oakville - PCLaw
“… a rock that we can rely on to keep our financials up to date and to answer any questions we have.”
Cara Valiquette, Falls Law Group, Bracebridge - Cosmolex
“Clyde’s years of experience in legal bookkeeping have been a tremendous asset to our firm."
Mark. A. Simpson, Simpson Law P. C., London - PCLaw
"We consider ourselves so fortunate to have found Clyde. … highly recommended.”
Lisa Madden, LWM LAW, Orillia - PCLaw
REMOTE ACCESS
MLBKS offers legal bookkeeping services via remote access throughout Ontario. However, Clyde is happy to attend at spot audits or provide on-site training for staff. Your accounting program is accessed via the Internet and programs like LogMeIn, Teamviewer, etc. MLBKS provides all clients with a signed confidentiality agreement. MLBKS is also insured.
SOFTWARE
As a legal bookkeeper, my entire practice involves the daily use of legal accounting programs. I am often asked by a new client, "What software should I purchase?" There are a lot of software options available to you. Mostly, it comes down to the area of law you practice in. If you have no or few trust transactions, a program like Simply Accounting or Quickbooks will work just fine. I have a working knowledge of any of the accounting programs currently available.
If you have an active trust account, you will need a more robust program, like PCLaw. Be careful with online programs, as most are practice management services, not true accounting programs. Basic reporting like income statements and balance sheets are not available. Many do not have a bank reconciliation tool. Manual bank reconciliations or purchasing additional programs to handle the general bank eliminates any potential cost savings of purchasing cheaper online programs. The supposed advantage of web-based is access from anywhere, but this same convenience can be achieved with remote access to PCLaw on your own computer.
RATES
REGULAR MONTHLY SERVICES
$70.00/hour
(at 6 minute intervals)
Clients are billed at this same hourly rate for all regular services, including remote assistance, training, and maintenance of PCLaw data.
SPOT AUDIT SERVICES
$90.00/hour
(for rush service)
MLBKS recognizes the urgent need to meet audit deadlines. Accordingly, we are prepared to work long hours and weekends to ensure your audit is successful.
ERROR DETECTION & CORRECTION
$90.00/hour
(for this specialized service)
PCLaw's ledgers can gather imbalance errors by using incorrect methods when entering transactions, or from data errors.
DISBURSEMENTS:
Short emails or phone conversations are no charge.
Lengthy instructional or reporting emails or phone calls are billed at the regular hourly rate.
Travel charges are levied if an on-site visit is requested.