April 7, 2015
Sylvia Chierchia, Bountiful Bookkeeping
Bio The path that led her to this point
I have worked in the financial industry pretty much my entire adult life. I left school at 18 and decided to go into banking rather than go to university. I was so young and inexperienced, but totally confident and ambitious.
It didn’t take long for me to ditch the local branch and head to a large bank in the city straight into the treasury department.
Within a few years I found myself on the dealing room floor, battling it out with the big boys. It was a tough environment for a young girl but it taught me a lot about resilience.
After I left the banking world, I dabbled in a few other things, but ultimately I went back to my passion and my skill, which was money.
I became the Group Financial Controller for a global recruitment company. I worked there for 12 years and I really enjoyed it.
Then, in September 2012, the company started to downsize.
I found myself being made redundant. I was floored. I had been with the company since they opened their doors in 2000. I had been a hard-working, loyal employee.
I felt so incredibly betrayed and angry.
That was a massive wake-up call for me. I felt that I was an integral part of that company and if they could get rid of me, they could get rid of anybody. Job security and employer loyalty was simply a thing of the past.
So I decided then and there that this would never happen to me again. Never again would someone dictate the outcome of my life. It was up to me.
While pondering how I was going to make this happen, I started to attend some women's networking events. I started to meet some great small-businesses owners and budding entrepreneurs. And while the women I met were hugely talented, charismatic and savvy in may areas of business, money didn't seem to be one of them.
I would hear them say that they were overwhelmed, frustrated, irritated and bored with the financial side of the businesses. Smart, awesome women who would become unglued when it came to money and business finances.
So it was then that I decided that I would use my strengths and my skills to work with women in business, to empower them to make great financial decisions in their businesses.
In April 2013, Bountiful Bookkeeping was born.
Q&A Insider advice & tips
What's been your greatest achievement to date?
Starting up this business a year ago. Having the guts to put myself out there and having the faith that I could do it, that I had something to offer and that I could help people.
What's been your biggest challenge so far?
In March 2013, I signed up to do a program called B-School. It totally changed my life. I knew about finance and bookkeeping, but I knew nothing about online business. Things like blogging, newsletter marketing, opt-ins etc were a totally new concept for me and it was a steep learning curve. I am still learning every day.
Best lesson you've learned along the way?
The biggest lesson I've learned is that being in business is more challenging than I could ever have imagined. You experience the highest highs and the lowest lows. If it gets too much, I just focus on my whys. Why am I doing this? This makes me pause, breathe and refocus on my goals.
A website, book or resource that has helped you in your business or inspired you and why?
Xero is my accounting system and it rocks. It has revolutionised the way bookkeepers and business owners do their accounting. The other is B-School; it was a game changer for me. Without it and the community that goes along with it, I don't believe I would be where I am today.
Which person or brand do you most admire and why?
I admire the women teaching others about female financial empowerment. I love Barbara Stanny, Suze Orman, Sherold Barr, Bari Tessler. They are leading the revolution, helping women break away from their money blocks, empowering them to find their power and teaching them how to discover their true self worth so that they can increase their net worth
What advice would you give someone starting an independent business in your industry?
It's imperative that you love what you do. Be thorough and deliver a quality service at all times. Be more than just a data entry bookkeeper. Data entry is totally replaceable.
If you offer your clients more quality advice, more business information and reporting and more of YOU, then you will be a valuable part of their business.
Finish this sentence
Everything changed for me when…
I realised that I make a difference to my clients' lives and businesses. That what I do is far more than just bookkeeping. That I am part of their business team. And I love that!
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