When Lucy Johnson gained the 2022 Xero Award for Sole Practitioner of the Yr, her follow – Simplex Accounting (formally generally known as Isle E book-keep) – was simply 12 months outdated. Understanding the companies she was up in opposition to, Lucy acknowledged: “To even be thought-about a finalist was a large deal for me; I used to be simply completely satisfied to be there.”
Lucy began Simplex Accounting after being made redundant from her job doing the books for a magnificence firm. The timing might be described as serendipitous, as she explains, “I principally handed my exams a few months earlier than being made redundant, and I obtained my working towards 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 deliver James onboard as a full-time worker.
From paper-mess to paperless
Working remotely from the Isle of Wight, Simplex Accounting helps shoppers go “from paper-mess to paperless”, an ethos that helps one among her agency’s core values – to make a distinction.
“With our shoppers, we’re at all times making an attempt to speak nicely with them and make them really feel comfy. We’re making an attempt to make a distinction in order that they perceive all of the figures, but in addition really feel comfy with the work that we’re doing,” Lucy explains.
Supporting shoppers on their digital journey with Xero additionally feeds into some nice work on an environmental entrance too. Not solely does Simplex Accounting reduce out the usage of paper for his or her shoppers, they’re additionally planting timber to mark each consumer onboarded, press acquired or awards gained for the follow. Up to now Lucy has planted greater than 330 timber, 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, nevertheless it’s additionally used to market to and educate each present and potential shoppers.
Lucy is obvious on the sorts of shoppers her follow seeks to draw: “We need to hit those that are YouTube, Instagram and different social media apps. It’s vital as a result of typically these are individuals who won’t really feel assured in terms of understanding funds, and so they need anyone to clarify issues in a approach that’s jargon free.”
Lucy makes use of platforms comparable to Instagram herself in terms of advertising and marketing and fascinating with shoppers and is quickly launching her personal YouTube channel. “Lots of people don’t need to sit and browse stuff anymore; they need bite-sized bits of content material which might be fast and simple to eat.”
Lucy’s suggestions for coming into the Xero Awards
When requested what recommendation she would give to anybody seeking to enter into the Xero Awards, Lucy has some recommendation:
- Apply for that award! “It’s huge credibility to your follow and even should you don’t really feel prepared (you could by no means really feel prepared), simply go for it anyway.”
- Be selective. “Give attention to one or two particular awards that you just actually care about, with out making use of for a number of awards at a time.”
Lucy added: “I’d been trying round at what awards I truly wished to use for, and I keep in mind saying to my mum – ‘if I may get any award, that is the one I need to win. This one means every little thing to me. That is Xero, that is actually what I do and is my day-to-day. How may I not?!”.
- Contain the crew within the software course of and in writing your award nomination. “Sit down and work via as a crew 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 shoppers. To not point out supporting a clear and inexperienced picture. We’re proud to associate with Simplex Accounting – watch this house for extra thrilling work from Lucy and her follow within the close to future.