This blog piece is an introduction to Rachael (me), the person behind the name of Independent Bookkeeping, how Independent Bookkeeping came about and why I became a bookkeeper.
History
I left school with no grades or qualifications and bounced around the hotel industry for a few years before deciding to go to college and focus on Administration and Information Technology. In 2010 I gained my HNC however found it difficult to get a job within an office setting and became a cleaner.
A friend worked for a local car dealership in the Accounts department and put me forward to help ‘push paper’ to cover sick leave. What was initially a six-week temporary contract turned into a full-time permanent position as an Accounts Assistant dealing with all of the Purchase Ledger transactions and payments for the dealership. At the same time, I also wentto night school supported by my employer to gain my Level 6 Diploma with the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT).
I stayed with the dealership for two years before transferring to a busier Edinburgh dealership taking on a little more responsibility and traveling to other dealerships throughout Scotland to help them out.
After two years in Edinburgh, I was eager to move up the ladder and changed company to begin my role as an Assistant Accountant. I loved the challenge, the role and the learning curve.
After a year and a half and things not going well at home I, for some reason, decided that a change to my career was needed and became a carer. I loved this job and thrived on helping people. But after burning myself out I began to struggle.
Beginning
However, at home I knew that I wasn’t getting the same satisfaction from being a carer and began speaking to family about it and missing ‘accounting’. I was encouraged by family and friends to begin my own bookkeeping practise since I help a few people already, why not?
Independent Bookkeeping was born in July 2018 and I got my first client. I was amazed at how much money this self-employed barber was paying a chartered accountant to confirm and submit her tax return every year. I offered to do all her record keeping for her every month and submit her return for less than 50% of what she was being charged elsewhere. All she had to do was provide me with the information at the end of each month. So, this is what we done. And I am happy to say two and a half years later, I still have my first client.
Realisation of my Goals
And this was when I realised, I want to help people and their businesses or charitable organisations do what they do best. While I want to make a living, I don’t want to get rich by means of these people, I want them to see the quality service provided, and be able to get that at a decent price and be able to put more into what they do, whether that comes in the form of time to do what they love, or not stress about whether their books are up to date/correct because that isn’t a bow they have in their quiver or whether that comes in the form of saving money to put it back in to their business or organisation to enable them to continue and grow and build on what they are doing already.
Due to illness in 2019 Independent Bookkeeping’s growth levelled out quickly while I recovered however in 2020 it began to build and take shape as my health got better and I managed to fully recover.
Now
Building a bookkeeping practice has been a major learning curve, there isn’t a specific way to find out the do’s and don’ts, even when you are registered with a regulator (International Association of Bookkeepers) there are still things that come at you from left field or you know that you can do something but can figure out how to set it up. This learning experience to me has been invaluable and still now I am finding things out that I didn’t know – which is fun- seriously no sarcasm here!
Independent Bookkeeping is based in Dundee, I moved here from Dunfermline towards the end of 2020 however due to ‘the cloud’ we are able to work with clients across the UK.
When I am not wearing the hat of bookkeeper, I am mum to Thor my 7-year-old Rottweiler and fiancé to James, I am an avid book reader – mostly science fiction and love my WW2 documentaries and anything Marvel and when the mood takes me, I will sit and knit or crochet for weeks on end…. Blanket anyone?!