Speaker Q&A: Jo Wood & Zoe Whitman

Introducing Jo Wood FICB PM.Dip, a Business Coach and Bookkeeper and Zoe Whitman FCCA, a Business Coach and Accountant.

 1. How did you get into the profession:

Zoe: I’ve been an accountant for ever. I started my ACCA training at 19 in my first “proper” job as a trainee accountant in local government. Becoming an accountant gave me opportunities I simply couldn’t have expected from my background. I’m very proud to be a fellow of the ACCA and we shouldn’t forget what our profession can do for social mobility.

Jo: I fell into bookkeeping after a chat with a careers officer. I’d done my GCSE maths a year early and accountancy would be the best next step for me. In reality, what appealed to me was the big briefcases (!) and the idea of having coffee with clients. I moved into bookkeeping after starting a family because it appeared to be a more flexible option.

2. What’s the most rewarding aspect of your job?

Zoe: I get to help people build businesses which work around their families. With young children myself, I know how much this matters. I’m still frustrated that so many people have to become self employed to get the flexibility they need in this industry, despite the “skills gap”, it’s a conversation we need to keep having.

Jo: When people achieve the money goals they’d never have been able to achieve within a firm with a glass ceiling. I love to encourage people to find their entrepreneurial spirit, realise anything is possible, and be unapologetically ambitious.

 3. What do you see as key trends for the bookkeeping sector in the coming year?

Zoe: I’m excited about what AI can do for us. It’s already removing so much manual input, a massive win for productivity, but what’s next?

Jo: More bookkeepers will be building multiple passive income streams around their traditional business to help improve flexibility and time and money goals. People are finally seeing the value of the human element of bookkeeping. We’ve spent so much time talking about streamlining and automation, and now it’s the time for the bookkeeper to shine. I think the industry is going to finally be paid at the level it deserves.

 4. What are you most looking forward to at Accountex? 

Zoe: Connecting with the bookkeeping community and building relationships in person. The virtual world is amazing, but there’s nothing like grabbing a real-life coffee with someone you’ve been talking to on Zoom all year.

Jo: I’m looking forward to meeting new and familiar faces and hearing the latest from thought leaders. I want to go away inspired with actions to take.

 5. What do you want visitors to take away from your sessions?

Zoe: I want bookkeepers to know they are valuable, worthy and make a difference. In every session, Jo Wood and I will work hard to send that message home whilst sharing some great insights from our community

Jo: We want people to go away feeling empowered and confident to make a change, whatever that means for them.

Zoe and Jo will be hosting the talks ‘How to increase your rates AND find clients‘ at 1-1.45pm at the Small Business & Bookkeepers Theatre on the 10 May. 

And also ‘How to be ready for a future without making tax digital‘ at 4-4.45 at the Tax & Compliance Theatre on the 10 May.

You can register for a free ticket here.

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