A Chat with Eleven Accounts

We all know that bookkeepers are the unsung hereos of the business world, and their hard work often goes unnoticed. Bookkeeping Boss Louise has been working 9 to 5 to transform the businesses she works with, after leaving her previous path in the NHS. She's shared with us some words of advice about finding your path and the importance of community...

What did your journey into bookkeeping look like, and did you always want to be a bookkeeper?

I only got into Bookkeeping fairly recently. I was an NHS nurse for 12 years previously, so a big change.  I was on maternity leave with my second child and knew that I no longer wanted to return to nursing – I had lost my love for it and with the challenges that nurses face you still have to have a passion for the work or it just wears you down.  I started to look at what other jobs I could retrain to do. For me it was important to still have a professional role and something that played to my strengths. An internet search lead me to bookkeeping which suited me perfectly. I have always liked to be organised, have an element of control and love a good set of rules to follow.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far in your business?

I experienced quite a fast growth period in the business which was amazing and I’m so grateful for it, but I did find it a big challenge to get the balance right – when do I say no? When do I enlist help, and what level of help do I get? I found myself working full time and then some (all through that little blip of a pandemic and home-schooling) and had to stop and think about the reasons I got into this in the first place.

What do you love most about your job?

Although I lost my love for nursing, that was more to do with the limitations and funding and lack of career progression than the actual act of helping people. Although bookkeeping is completely different I am still helping people, supporting them and referring them to those that can help if I can’t – all skills I picked up in my previous life and things that I love to do.

Which tools (apps, software etc) could you not live without?

Xero and Hubdoc are the essential tools to my trade – although I do love the occasional bag of receipts, keeping everything digital is so much more efficient. The more we can streamline and integrate additional software, which Xero does very well, the more time we can save – which of course is invaluable to everyone.

If you had to choose one - Xero, Sage or Quickbooks?

I think you know the answer to that one. Team Blue all the way!

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given by another bookkeeper or someone in the industry?

Collaboration over competition!  I am a far better bookkeeper because I have surrounded myself with amazing bookkeepers and accountants from day one. Finding your team is so important, especially when working remotely, and I am lucky to have found an amazing online network.

When you’re not bookkeeping, what do you love doing?

I make a point to go to the cinema every week. I have a set day and try my best not to miss it. The main aim was to get some time to myself, time where I sit and do nothing, no phone scrolling or meeting snack demands of kids, just immersed in a movie and I love it (the cheesy nachos help too). I am a big musical theatre fan too and although I don’t have the skills to join in I do try to catch a musical as often as I can. The beauty of living so close to a major city.

If you could travel back in time, what would you tell yourself when you were first starting out?

I think we all have a degree of imposter syndrome when starting out. So I would remind myself that I do know what I am doing, I am good enough and I’ve got this!  Also on a more technical note. Get processes written down and streamlined from day 1.

Would you rather fight one hundred duck-sized horses, or one horse-sized duck?

I think I’d like to try my chances with the duck sized horses. One peck from the big guy and you’d be a goner.

Who are your biggest role models - in both your work and personal life?

Dolly Parton is a huge idol of mine and its not particularly due to her music, although I do love a lot of it.  She is a huge success, the top of her profession. But she is constantly trying to do good and help improve the lives of other people. I hugely admire how unapologetically Dolly she is too. I think we can all learn a lesson or two from her.

Professionally Zoe Whitman and Jo Wood of The 6 Figure Bookkeeper have been huge role models and helped massively in getting me to the position I am today. They are making waves in the accounting world and getting Bookkeepers on a platform where they have never been before.

How can people reach out to work with you?

I am usually hanging around on Instagram or Twitter so always happy for DMs if anyone wants a quick chat @eleven_accounts.

Or an email to Office@elevenaccounts.com would be great and we can go from there!

We love celebrating the brilliant work bookkeepers do. Want to feature on the TimeKeeper blog? Get in touch with penelope@timekeeper.co.uk