Why You Must NEVER, EVER Let Your Bookkeeper Handle Cash

CASE IN POINT: Nearly 10 years ago, fledging restaurateur Irene Basset (not her real name) hired a young hostess named Suzanne to greet and seat guests at her newly opened Italian Bistro.

Irene took a personal liking to Suzanne and Suzanne quickly moved up to server, then assistant manager. When she started her family, Irene paid for Suzanne to take some accounting classes so she could be off nights and weekends as the restaurant's full charge bookkeeper.

The relationship became so close that Suzanne's family was frequently a guest at Irene's home for holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving. Irene was the godmother of Suzanne's first child. Irene, unknown to Suzanne, even had Suzanne added as a beneficiary in her will.