When Lucy Johnson received the 2022 Xero Award for Sole Practitioner of the Yr, her follow – Simplex Accounting (formally often called Isle E-book-keep) – was simply 12 months outdated. Understanding the companies she was up in opposition to, Lucy acknowledged: “To even be thought of a finalist was a large deal for me; I used to be simply glad to be there.”
Lucy began Simplex Accounting after being made redundant from her job doing the books for a magnificence firm. The timing may very well be described as serendipitous, as she explains, “I principally handed my exams a few months earlier than being made redundant, and I received my training license.”
Lucy began working for herself at dwelling in March 2021, and the next yr took on her first worker, James, via the UK Authorities’s Kickstart scheme on a six month placement. Lucy was later in a position to carry James onboard as a full-time worker.
From paper-mess to paperless
Working remotely from the Isle of Wight, Simplex Accounting helps purchasers go “from paper-mess to paperless”, an ethos that helps certainly one of her agency’s core values – to make a distinction.
“With our purchasers, we’re at all times making an attempt to speak nicely with them and make them really feel snug. We’re making an attempt to make a distinction in order that they perceive all of the figures, but additionally really feel snug with the work that we’re doing,” Lucy explains.
Supporting purchasers on their digital journey with Xero additionally feeds into some nice work on an environmental entrance too. Not solely does Simplex Accounting lower out using paper for his or her purchasers, they’re additionally planting bushes to mark each consumer onboarded, press obtained or awards received for the follow. To this point Lucy has planted greater than 330 bushes, and that quantity will proceed to climb.
Driving digital
As a younger enterprise proprietor, Lucy is a large advocate for operating a digital follow. Forming the inspiration for her distant agency, digital not solely runs via the processes and software program she makes use of, however it’s additionally used to market to and educate each current and potential purchasers.
Lucy is obvious on the kinds of purchasers her follow seeks to draw: “We wish to hit those that are YouTube, Instagram and different social media apps. It’s necessary as a result of typically these are individuals who may not really feel assured relating to understanding funds, and so they need any individual to clarify issues in a method that’s jargon free.”
Lucy makes use of platforms akin to Instagram herself relating to advertising and marketing and interesting with purchasers and is quickly launching her personal YouTube channel. “Lots of people don’t wish to sit and browse stuff anymore; they need bite-sized bits of content material which might be fast and straightforward to devour.”
Lucy’s suggestions for coming into the Xero Awards
When requested what recommendation she would give to anybody trying to enter into the Xero Awards, Lucy has some recommendation:
- Apply for that award! “It’s huge credibility in your follow and even when you don’t really feel prepared (you could by no means really feel prepared), simply go for it anyway.”
- Be selective. “Concentrate on one or two particular awards that you simply actually care about, with out making use of for a number of awards at a time.”
Lucy added: “I’d been wanting round at what awards I truly needed to use for, and I keep in mind saying to my mum – ‘if I might get any award, that is the one I wish to win. This one means all the pieces to me. That is Xero, that is actually what I do and is my day-to-day. How might I not?!”.
- Contain the staff within the software course of and in writing your award nomination. “Sit down and work via as a staff what you do nicely and actually have a give it some thought. Even the little on a regular basis issues are nice, and shouldn’t be neglected.”
Now formally topped a rockstar accountant after her Xero Awards win, when requested which real-life rockstar Lucy would examine herself to, it wasn’t shocking that she selected Avril Lavigne – an impartial, self-starter with an actual edge and fervour for doing what she loves.
We’re impressed by Lucy’s story and her drive for beginning a fully-digital follow that makes life much less difficult for her purchasers. To not point out supporting a clear and inexperienced picture. We’re proud to companion with Simplex Accounting – watch this area for extra thrilling work from Lucy and her follow within the close to future.
