Bookkeeper won't supply data?

Question

I volunteer for a non-profit agency. We decided to change bookkeepers because this one is very uncooperative and slow. She will not give us our data, so we are held hostage. What is our recourse? Is there an ethical code that bookkeepers should follow?

Answer 1

The books and records the bookkeeper worked on belong to the agency, not to her. It is illegal to hold on to things which don't belong to her. Threaten to report her to the police and if she still doesn't return the books, do it. If she was allowed to handle money, make sure nothing is stolen or lost before you let her go.