Heart of the Bookkeeper

On our first Heart of the Bookkeeper for 2026, we hear from a both inspired and inspirational Bookkeeper from South Australia - Robyn Kelly. Robyn's journey of fighting through her early years of establishing her Bookkeeping practice and overall approach to Bookkeeping, is enlightening and full of some great examples of why surrounding yourself with others who can assist you gainfully with something like this, is really important no matter what stage you are at in your pathway. But it is Robyn's ultimate fight right now with a confronting health challenge, that will really make you understand why this lady is an inspiration now to others and is using those who previously inspired and influenced her in the past, to lean on during this difficult time. This is a very honest and enlightening interview and may be of assistance to others, facing health challenges of their own at this time. And then there is why a small diminishing South Australian rural community holds so much of Robyn's joy, where "Ned" Kelly fits into her journey and why Sport has played such a big part of her life, that form just some of the sidetracks we go into in this wonderful episode of the Podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

South East Queensland / Luca Award winning Bookkeeper, Natasha Stadnikoff is our guest in this episode of Heart of the Bookkeeper. An innovative and now celebrated member of the Australian Bookkeeping community, Natasha (or Tash as she prefers), outlines why she is so passionate about what she does on a daily basis and how that all came about. And for Tash, the spark and interest in Bookkeeping came pretty early in life, but as life has a habit of doing, things went in different directions for many years, before a return of the spark of doing the Books reappeared and changed everything. It was to be out of some dark times however, that the flicker of what she could achieve as a Bookkeeper was to come to life and the rest as they say, is history. And what a history it has become. Named Professional Bookkeeper of the Year - Sole Trader 2025 at the Australian ICB Luca Awards held in October of 2025, is testament to how Tash is shaking things up and finding ways to lead the professions she so loves, into a new era and with amazing energy. And then there is the Zoo, the Crocodile and Perky Penny. Now those things alone are worth the listen. We are certain you will enjoy and be inspired listening to the story of Natasha Stadnikoff. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrea Robb is someone who has served her Country in arguably the ultimate way anyone could possibly do. A very early revelation that serving in the Military was something she felt very passionate to want to do, Andrea's journey through this is a fascinating listen as to how that then morphed into her next alliteration of service ... that being to the small business communities around where she now lives and marches to a slightly different beat these days. Lessons learned while in the military and how the toughness and challenges of that choice of life can bring, come through in this episode. This includes how receiving a letter from her Dad (a veteran of the Korean War) gave her a strength and focus when all seemed too hard. The importance of logical thinking and how that may take your thinking in a certain direction at a certain point, only for that same logical thinking process to lead you to recognise that a pivot is needed to allow for the outcome that you are seeking, is a powerful aspect of what you will hear. A freshly cooked Lamb Roast and why Mums and Nana's are so special, get examined in depth, as well as of course why Andrea now can connect and reconcile all of these things in her life to her current passion and love for Bookkeeping. Based out of Brisbane and owner of Bookkeeping practice, Relief Bookkeeping, Andrea gives us a wonderful episode from a wonderful lady and an amazing Bookkeeper. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sharon Francisco is a dynamic individual with a very unique approach to Bookkeeping and in fact, life in general. Sharons journey from the "back of Bourke" to the bright lights of some of the World's biggest cities and how she sees life through a positive lens, despite many setbacks and challenges along the way, is inspirational but more importantly instructional and full of lessons learned. This episode delves into the power of conversations that can change a persons thinking and can change an outlook and perspective in a powerful way. The 'pearls of wisdom" aspect of this episode, will not possibly come in the ways that you may think they might. This is a delightfully surprising and insightful story, including how to divorce and still hold hands, what is the golden thread as well as how to discover the importance of understanding your own finances, especially for women. This is but merely a snippet of whats in store in this fabulous episode of Heart of the Bookkeeper. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a remarkable episode of Heart of the Bookkeeper. In the space of two years between 2016 and 2017, todays guest on the Podcast, Hobart based Bookkeeper, Gabrielle Osborne was diagnosed with a melanoma, struggled with severe depression and GAD and then had a daughter hospitalised for mental health reasons. Gabrielle then fractured her spine in 2017 and discovered she suffered from a form of low bone density. For Gabrielle it came at a point where she had been working long hours and sometimes weekends building her Bookkeeping business, and in her words, relying on a glass or two of wine every night and being like a deer in the headlights at every incoming email or phone call. For Gabrielle at that time, joy was not a word that meant much in life beyond the love of her beautiful family that kept her going. At this lowest of low points, it is what happened next that is the simply incredible side to Gabrielle's story. Now a Social Media activist and a champion for Women's health (especially those 50 plus), Gabrielle is a proud Tasmanian who is truly a remarkable Bookkeeper with a truly remarkable story. Don't miss having a listen to this one. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Somebody once said - "The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience". This quote well and truly sums up our guest today on Heart of the Bookkeeper. Heather Smith, Bookkeeper and Podcast host based out of Brisbane in Queensland has had countless moments in her Bookkeeping Journey to date, that have indeed led to a richer experience for her and experiences now that she can share to benefit others. Heather's eager and willing approach to adopting Tech and Apps across many years and often again, well ahead of when much of this was a consideration for most, comes through strongly in this episode and will get you thinking and perhaps reconsidering your current approaches around this. In fact, this whole episode will possibly get you rethinking many aspects of what you do and how you do it. Great insights, wonderful reflections are all part of this episode. Heathers "Accounting Apps Podcast" has been a refreshing approach to helping so many Bookkeepers, Accountants and Business Owners, tap into how to consider so many different ways to look through the lens of compliance, business analysis and business building. Heather discusses her passion for this and how she unpacks this in her Podcast. A great listen, from a experienced and well credentialed Bookkeeper here in Australia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Being a confident Bookkeeper. If everybody who has ever been a Bookkeeper or is currently on that journey is brutally honest, most would agree that finding the confidence to do so much of what a Bookkeeper is expected of and needs to do, is not as easy as some make it out to be. Our guest today on the Heart of the Bookkeeper is brutally honest of the struggle for her to reach the point of confidence in all that she does. And yet, this episode will reveal the true heart of this Bookkeeper and how she has had to take steps to get to where she desires to be. Michelle Hume from Coolum Beach in Queensland is a wonderful guest in this episode. Purchasing a Bookkeeping business and how that played out, her passion to grow in her business not just increase the size of her business necessarily and what retirement may one day look like for her, are all examined in this episode. Michelle speaks openly about some challenges that she has faced along the way, that many will associate with. Enjoy listening to this delightful interview. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 40 of Heart of the Bookkeeper allows us to tap into one of the most experienced and respected Bookkeepers in Australia - Marie Whitson from Mybiz Connexion in Adelaide, South Australia. Marie explains how a violent and abusive upbringing, transposed itself into an amazing and fruitful journey through later life including her discovery of a love for Bookkeeping and how that has helped her to deal with those traumatic early years. Reaching a point in her career where retirement from the Bookkeeping profession may be viewed as very close, Marie outlines why she believes you don't have to pull up stumps fully, just because you are of a certain age. Her telling of this will be quite inspirational for many. Marie's wisdom through a long journey of Bookkeeping shines brightly in this episode as well as some enlightening insights into her life outside Bookkeeping, which includes Mount Everest and the Kakoda Track. This amazing lady will delight and surprise in this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We kick off 2025 with a bang with our first guest of the New Year - Roslyn Van Welie of Curly Girl Numbers, based out of Perth in Western Australia. Roslyn is a very experienced Bookkeeper and has encountered much of what Bookkeeping can throw at anyone in various situations across an extensive and diverse journey, that has taken her to multiple locations and business environments across the nation. Roslyn has come through an era of Bookkeeping that in some cases, the elements of which still exist today, where "being taken seriously" as a Bookkeeper and dealing with negative comments about it being a job that women do because they don't want to do "real work", is examined in this episode. Roslyn's insights into how she dealt with such biases and negativity, are worth the listen alone. Best practice processes, lessons learned along the way and why Bookkeeping keeps continuing to evolve and how to evolve with it, are all covered in this episode and much, much more. Sit back and soak up the fabulous sharing that Roslyn brings to this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you remember why you first fell in love with Bookkeeping and being so passionate about becoming a Bookkeeper. Or perhaps you are new to Bookkeeping and need some inspiration. This episode of Heart of the Bookkeeper may well just remind many of you of why Bookkeeping can be full of joy and excitement and why you can still jump out of bed each day proclaiming - I love being a Bookkeeper. Tanya Vann, the owner of TSM Bookkeeping out of Yeppoon in Queensland, is our guest today in this episode. As a younger Bookkeeper in Australia right now, Tanya explains why she so enjoys the journey of Bookkeeping and her at times unique approach to maintain that joy and reason to keep going in what can be a very challenging profession at times. Navigating motherhood and parenting whilst working, changing towns at a time of uncertainty, working alongside others in a community and how she navigated Covid to build her business as well as her relationship with a very special fellow Bookkeeper, are all found in this episode. And then there is the "Ace in the Pack" story. Please sit back and enjoy the joy, in this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dianne Green from Green Bookkeeping Solutions in Melbourne is the guest in this episode of Heart of the Bookkeeper. Dianne (despite her last name being a different colour) sees bookkeeping in Black & White, two colours that have also been important in her life in moments outside of her Bookkeeping journey. Dianne believes that bookkeeping data entry should only be a very small part of the joy and passion that can come with being a Professional Bookkeeper and that it is rather being an influencer and advisor to how Small Business can succeed and operate thanks to working with a great Bookkeeper, that makes the real joy. By working with what numbers can tell as a story and making those numbers come to life working alongside often unsure Business owners, is really what gets her out of bed each day. Lessons learned at High School about numbers and Bookkeeping and the influence of a wise teacher, form part of Dianne's story in this episode. Incapacity in her business, toxic work environments, the sad loss of a very special sister and the crack of lightening and thunder, all get their moments in this fabulous interview. Finally, the "R" word (retirement) is discussed and Dianne outlines her thoughts and why full retirement isn't necessarily on her radar, even once the time to move into a new season comes around. Wonderful insights, a wonderful and thought provoking episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cassandra Scott has been a constant in the Australian Bookkeeping scene for over 20 years and is now recognised as a leading voice when it comes to so many things impacting on the Bookkeeping Industry in Australia. Cassandra has in many ways, had to fight her natural instincts to shy away and just go along quietly over the years and yet, her vast experiences and intensive views on how important Bookkeepers are in Australia have in time, become to significant to hold back. And it is in this episode that Cassandra shares so many insights as to why Bookkeepers and Bookkeeping need to keep growing and evolving for the very existence of the profession she so passionately loves. The word Professional is examined at length in this episode, as well as dealing with a toxic work environment, the importance of systems and a particular app that changed everything for her in her practice, as well as why an exit strategy doesn't have to mean leaving and walking away. So many insights and high impact gains to be made from hearing Cassandra and her approach to bookkeeping and to life more generally in this episode. And then their is chocolate ... and for that, you will simply have to tune in to understand. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most Bookkeepers face challenges on a daily basis and it is the resilience of Bookkeepers that shines through regularly across Australia, whether that be in the large cities or towns, or way out in the bush. Our guest in this episode, Krystal Merrett, is one of those Bookkeepers who's challenges each day can vary in so many ways, mostly due to the extreme remoteness of her location. Imagine having to do a clients Payroll whilst sitting in the farm ute on the top of a ridge. Or having to travel nearly an hour, just to find a shop that has some paper for the printer. Krystal is one of a new generation of Bookkeepers in Australia who juggles the needs of businesses in her regional district, whilst also assisting her husband and two teenage kids in their own business to run the farm. Based in far western Victoria, Krystal shares the often struggles of being a regional Bookkeeper, but also the highlights of farm life and being part of a small community. A key message in this episode is the journey Krystal and her husband have been on with dealing with succession on the farm and how that can relate to anyone hoping to create longevity and legacy in a business. Another great listen - enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Professional Bookkeeper Nicole Sweeny from regional South Australia, and owner of Revolution Consulting, is our guest in this episode of Heart of the Bookkeeper.Gaining an appreciation for Small Business at a very young age, assisting her Grandpa amongst the dirt and grease of a mechanics shop, Nicole almost from the start knew that her calling would come eventually in her own time to Small Business ... she just didn't know where and when. A chance trip overseas, followed by some dark times facing a form of Domestic violence, finally saw Nicole emerge stronger and more convicted than ever to create her own pathways in the form of a Bookkeeping practice. The highs, the lows and the uncertainties of Nicole's journey, come through strongly in her story to where she finds herself today. Innovation through tech, drives Nicole and her Bookkeeping business currently and we get to examine this, in this wonderful episode. Don't miss having a listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Often, for those in business, finding self value and worth can be a great challenge, one that can lead down a number of pathways. This episode explores the learnings of someone who has confronted those challenges in business (and in life more generally) and has learned to believe in themselves along the way and to forgive what they don't know. Jo Tindale is the owner of In Control Bookkeeping, based in the Great Southern region of Western Australia and expresses with refreshing honesty, how she has had to confront plenty over her years in her growing as a Bookkeeper. Moving countries, a battle with Cancer, dealing with disappointment in others, finding boundaries in business and how she has emerged from much of this and now looks to inspire younger women and young Mums fighting for their families by working in business ... well ... it just simply is a great listen. We reckon you will enjoy this one. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It would be safe to say that a large percentage of Australia (and the Worlds) population, do not dream of becoming a Bookkeeper as an occupation. Renae Petersen originally from Taranaki in New Zealand and now based in Melbourne Australia, is not one of those people. In fact, Renae was thinking Bookkeeping from a lot younger age than most and made sure that at every turn over the past few decades, she has been working towards her dream of creating and owning, her own Bookkeeping business. It is how Renae achieved that and the adversity she had to go through as part of that journey, that makes this episode of Herat of the Bookkeeper, a very special listen and one that many will find inspiring. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Highly experienced and well respected Bookkeeper, Elizabeth Haverfield from Bookkeeping and Consulting firm, Lime Results in Melbourne Victoria, is our guest today on Heart of the Bookkeeper. Having been and around the Bookkeeping Industry for over 25 years and still going strong, Elizabeth brings a wealth of insights and revelations to this episode that will have you reaching for the notebook and pen. Elizabeths longevity can be seen and heard in phases of her life and with each passing season of her journey, new and different challenges have had to be confronted and overcome and new discoveries made. This is the heart of a bookkeeper on full display for all to hear. Falling from the sky, food that you may have never eaten or tried and curly questions are all part of todays fantastic episode with Elizabeth. Don't miss out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you know if Bookkeeping is something that you could learn to love and want to do and be a part of, in your every day? Well, this episode is one that you will want to listen to and discover the answer to that question. Ness Hartge from regional NSW is our guest on this episode of Heart of the Bookkeeper and is the owner of "In Order Business Solutions". The journey of Ness is one of somewhat "accidental" and somewhat "destiny", but the end result is a journey that will inspire many who are possibly on a similar pathway right now or even someone who has "been there and done that". COVID challenges, nappies, polocrosse and ultra marathon running all get discussed in this episode as Ness's Bookkeeping Practice growth has unfolded over many years. You are absolutely going to love this very enjoyable, bright and passionate episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pam Taylor has seen both ends of the spectrum as a Bookkeeper. After being described as a "Trailblazer" by colleagues when she first entered the world of Bookkeeping at a very young age, suddenly thrust into a very male dominated environment and practice, Pam soon discovered challenges and adversity that led to her requiring a "starting again" phase and a season of rebuilding. Pam currently is the founder and owner of Greenspace Bookkeeping in Cockburn Western Australia, a bookkeeping practice that is innovating and constantly finding new ways to lead and grow. Pam is also a Director of the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers and has a huge passion to see the Bookkeeping Industry in Australia continue to grow and prosper and see new talent emerge. This is an episode that you will find is very honest and at times vulnerable, but with many learnings and take outs for all to benefit from. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Women can do anything" is a motto often used by Sandies Menzies, Gold Coast Bookkeeper and co-owner of Australian Bookkeeping franchise success story, Shoebox Bookkeeping and Tax. And it is in this episode that you will come to understand why Sandie uses that statement with such confidence these days, because this episode is one of undeniable and intense adversity that required strength and resolve to endure, that will both shock you and inspire you at times and yet Sandie's revelations will make you understand why she believes strongly in the "women can do anything" mantra. What Sandie has had to work through in her life, to get to where she is now, is simply almost unbelievable. But as you will hear, there can truly be a pathway of endurance through trials and tests in life ... you just have to find a way and often, it can only be your way. No more teasers on this one, this is a "must listen". Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.