2020 was a tough year for most businesses, and in a way, it brought us closer together. Realising the strength in our relationships, be it friendships or working relationships. They all mean something.
Sally and the Total Accounts team, like many bookkeepers, work furiously along-side our clients to help them through the 2020 COVID19 global pandemic.
So now, with an ever-closer bond with our clients, we thought it might be nice to get to know the super star women, and owner of Total Accounts, Sally Brindle.
Q. WHY DID YOU START A SMALL BUSINESS, AND WHY BOOKKEEPING?
I had been in private enterprise for 10 years and then a public servant for another 10 years – it was time for a change, and I was looking for something convenient to work around school hours and from home. As an accountant and after spending 10 years involved with GST audit at the ATO, I had seen how much small businesses struggled with their bookkeeping needs and I wanted to help, and so my journey into bookkeeping began! I love meeting small business owners, learning how they operate their businesses, seeing their passion and providing them with the freedom to focus on what they love, by leaving the bookkeeping up to us!
Q. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF RUNNING YOUR OWN BOOKKEEPING PRACTICE?
There are so many – I love the awesome team of friendly, fun, supportive and talented staff that I am surrounded by everyday. It has taken 7 years but the Total Accounts team is a dream team and their number one priority is providing our clients with the absolute best service that they can! We really do have our clients needs as our top priority, which in turn makes it important for me, as the business owner, to have my staff’s needs as my top priority. It is very rewarding to have happy clients and happy staff.
?Q. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR CAREER HIGHLIGHT WITH YOUR BUSINESS?
Most definitely being awarded 2018 WA Bookkeeping Partner of the Year by Xero and then having the opportunity to sit on the Xero Partner Advisory Council for 2 years, with numerous trips to Xero head office in Melbourne, joining other state winners to brainstorm and help shape the future of Xero as a product.
Q. HOW DID YOU COPE IN 2020 WITH THE CHANGES COVID BROUGHT ABOUT AND HOW DID YOU HELP YOUR CLIENTS THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT TIME?
Luckily, we were already a 100% remote team, so the lockdown did not affect the way we worked, but the impact it had on clients was in some cases catastrophic. The most difficult time was keeping up with the government announcements around stimulus packages and implementing them as quickly as possible for our clients. A positive to come out of it was our strengthened relationships with our clients and the introduction of “compulsory” cash flow forecasting to ensure all our clients could “ride the storm”. This new service has been invaluable, and the clients are enjoying the monthly check-ins to make sure their cash is on track.
Q. IF YOU COULD GIVE 1 PIECE OF ADVICE TO AN EXISTING OR PROSPECTIVE CLIENT ABOUT MANAGING THEIR BUSINESS FINANCIALS SUCCESSFULLY, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Do not underestimate the power of cash flow forecasting!
When your bookkeeping is up to date, forecasting is easy and this is something we provide to all clients every month.
Top tips would be –
- Pay your super every time you post a pay run
- Put your PAGYW into a separate tax account each pay run
- Budget and save for your BAS and any upcoming income tax bills
Too many clients bury their head in the sand and would “rather not know” what’s coming and then it is too late and the tax debts can be crippling if not budgeted for.
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That seems like sound advice heading into 2021 – maybe it’s given you something to think about? If you would like to speak to Sally about how Total Accounts could help assist your business, click below to arrange a complimentary phone call and chat!