Get to know our bookkeeper and software rockstar, Tineka, as she sits down with our marketing guru to discuss how she helps our clients on a daily basis, her range of skills and experience, and why she loves what she does.
Okay, Tineka. Thanks for chatting with me. Let’s start with the dreaded open-ended question: can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Sure! I currently live on Banks Peninsula with my husband who manages a 1300-hectare sheep and beef farm. I have three kids: Harry is 15, Gus is 13 and Addison is 10. They go to the local Akaroa and Duvauchelle schools, and we have sports games almost every day of the week. We’ve lived there for six years and before that, we lived in Methven.
Do you have a farming background?
Yes, I grew up on a farm—sheep and beef in Hawarden, North Canterbury. I’m a farming girl at heart. I used to love being on out on the farm, getting outside and enjoying the fresh air. These days, I’m lucky enough to work with lots of farm accounts and family farm businesses, bringing together my enjoyment of bookkeeping and agriculture.
What are your core strengths?
I am all about efficiency. I love creating efficiencies for my clients, and within my own job, I like to get straight to business and use my time effectively. I’m also detail-orientated. That’s where I think I add real value, getting things done properly and efficiently.
Tell me about your professional history. What brought you to here and now at LP Assist?
When I left school, I went into banking and studied towards my Legal Executive Certificate. After a stint overseas, I came back and tried my hand at a few law firms, but I didn’t enjoy it much. I studied towards my business degree majoring in Accounting and Management while I had kids. At that point, I was working in events too. Though I don’t have a formal events qualification, I’ve been running events for over 23 years. It’s a great balance for me: some bookkeeping and some event management. And it’s great to be able to do my accounts work at LP Assist, and to use my Xero and Farm Focus certifications.
So, what attracted you to join LP Assist?
They have a strong agricultural and farming client base alongside their commercial client base, and I think it’s good for me to have a mix of both. I also like working both in a team and on my own and LP Assist gives me the flexibility to do both. I work remotely often, so I have to be able to work well on my own, but I thoroughly enjoy the days I do go into the office and work with Georgia or to meet with a client for a Xero training or the like.
How is working with Georgia Goodman, our Division Manager?
Georgia is great, I’ve learnt so much from her. She’s a great teacher, she’s relaxed and friendly. There are no stupid questions with Georgia, she’s just approachable, knowledgeable and kind. I think that’s why she works so well with clients.
Describe a typical day at LP Assist
That’s a tough one, there’s a lot of variability. I usually get to work, open my emails and check what’s on my to-do list that day. On any given day, I might have a Xero set up or a Farm Focus training session with a client, and my bookkeeping work varies based on the time of month and which clients need help. For example, around the middle of the month I spend a lot of time collating bills, guiding my clients through the bills to be paid by the 20th, and also producing and reviewing GST returns. I also do accounts receivable and payable, reconciling, and anything else they need. I like the variety; it keeps things interesting and fun.
What do you think sets LP Assist apart from the competition?
Both Georgia and I have accounting backgrounds and that experience sets us apart from other bookkeepers. We know what accountants need, what our clients need, and where we (as bookkeepers and software advisors) can help. We know more than the average bookkeeper but clients get us for a bookkeeper’s rate. And when it comes to software, we can do trainings at a client’s office or home, at our office, or via Zoom and it’s all customised to their current situation and challenges. It lets clients get the best training without having to travel, unless they want to.
And finally, what do you love about your job?
I really like sorting out people’s systems. I enjoy coming in, for example, when their accounts aren’t in great shape and working hard to get their systems running smoothly and efficiently. I like helping clients streamline their businesses processes (like I said, I love creating efficiencies) and teaching them more efficient ways of using Xero, Farm Focus or whichever software they use. If they get a bit stuck, I’m always there to take a look and see what’s happening.
Recently, I had a client who said to me, “it takes me so long to pay my bills each month,” and I thought, well, it shouldn’t. So, I went in, found several ways of optimising her bills process and went through the changes with her, and now what used to take hours takes minutes. All in a one-hour Zoom call. I think that’s pretty awesome.
If you’d like to get Tineka’s help with streamlining your accounts or discuss potential software efficiencies, don’t forget that we offer a free 15-minute consultation. Simply get in touch to set that up. And stay tuned to get to know our Division Manager, Georgia Goodman, in the next in our Meet Our Team series.
