Bookkeeper Turned Consultant Exposes Employee Theft in Three-Book Series

Charlie Montgomery, a business consultant and full-charge bookkeeper with 45 years of experience, has released a three-book series aimed at helping small and mid-sized business owners protect themselves from theft by their own bookkeepers. The series includes 36 Ways Your Bookkeeper Steals From You, How To Hire And Manage A Bookkeeper, and Blueprint for a Successful Pickpocket Bookkeeper, all available now.

The announcement matters because bookkeeper theft is a largely invisible threat that can drain a small business for years before anyone notices. Montgomery, who has consulted with more than 100 clients across real estate, construction, retail, and manufacturing, often was brought in after a company's books became too inaccurate or incomplete for a CPA to handle. In that work, she repeatedly encountered trusted bookkeepers quietly siphoning cash from the businesses that depended on them. Her series is designed to make owners aware of the warning signs and give them tools to stop the problem before it starts.

The first book, 36 Ways Your Bookkeeper Steals From You, details specific methods Montgomery has uncovered firsthand, from skimming cash to manipulating company financial systems, and explains why such theft so often goes undetected. The second, How To Hire And Manage A Bookkeeper, offers practical guidance on vetting candidates, structuring interviews, writing job descriptions, and managing a bookkeeper after hiring. The final book, Blueprint for a Successful Pickpocket Bookkeeper, breaks down how theft schemes are typically set up and escalated, the warning signs owners should watch for, and what to do once theft is suspected or confirmed, illustrated with real case studies, including several drawn from IRS cases.

Montgomery's broader background—which includes managing large residential and warehouse operations and helping owners navigate PPP loan compliance during the pandemic—shapes the books into plain-spoken guides rather than academic texts. "Theft by a bookkeeper is a really tough subject to discuss, yet it's much more prevalent than most business owners realize or care to admit," Montgomery said. "This is an underreported crime that is very costly to businesses, and can be especially devastating to small businesses."

For small and mid-sized companies, where a single trusted employee often controls the books with little oversight, the implications are significant. Montgomery's series provides a rare, detailed look at how theft happens and what owners can do to safeguard their finances. All three books are available for purchase on Amazon.