Ask the Accountant- Series 3, April 2023

Meet Catalina, Founder and CEO of Remote Hub and a QuickBooks Online expert who’s bookkeeping expertise reaches clients all over Latin America. 

“I have been in the accounting industry for 10 years, working on bookkeeping and learning about tax compliance in several industries and across different countries.

I decided to start my own practice, 100% remote, when I realized I had 3 small kids that needed their mom at home. With my husband´s help and with my know-how in process management and organizational structure, I began to develop methodologies that help SME’s and owner managed businesses make sure they have their books in place, so they can make decisions based on accurate and updated figures all the time.

Since I enjoy traveling and working remotely (I have lived in 7 different countries and I hope to add more to the list!), cloud based accounting systems are key in my day-to-day, which is why I feel so fondly about QBO. 

I enjoy spending time at the country house with my family, and sitting in front of the fireplace with a nice drink and a long night for great conversation. When I do make some time for myself, I dedicate those hours to reading novels, practicing yoga, texting my long-distance friends and improving my French skills as much as possible!“

Today we ask Catalina: How can my accountant help me grow my business?

A dedicated and involved accountant is key for any business looking for growth and stability. Unfortunately, this profession and the tasks involved are sometimes underestimated. While accounting is very important, it is almost never urgent (unless deadlines are not being met on time!), and people tend to leave admin and accounting work as their last priority.

Depending on the nature of a business, accountants can help growth in different roles/ways. You can have data entry bookkeepers to help you organize financial data, setup automation tools among the software you want to implement or also even go further in terms of financial analysis.

The work accountants do can help you identify areas where you may be spending more than you should, or where you can make adjustments to increase profit margin. On the other hand, with the implementation of technology and tools in your business, financial processes can reduce the time and efforts you require to produce information, and you have more time to focus on your business growth strategies.

For an accountant´s involvement to be productive they need to understand the business and the operation, because bank and credit card statements that translate into financial reports are the way of making our daily business lives become visual and tangible. It is important to have a close relationship with your accountant and bookkeepers, so they can provide just the information you need for decision making, on a monthly and a yearly basis.

As you can see, a dedicated and involved accountant is a key player in the development of your vision and the achievement of your strategic goals. Whether it is through data entry, automation, or financial analysis, be sure to include a reliable accountant within your team, as one of your strategies for business growth.