Bookkeeper Girl Partners with CPA’s

November 2nd, 2009

bkgirl_header1

peter_mckesly

CPA’s Strong Relationship with Bookkeeper Girl

A West Texas native, McCleskey, his wife, Sheila, and their three teenage children have made the Denton area (Corinth) their home the past decade. For many years, McCleskey made his living in the field of agriculture. But he decided to sell his business, wondering, “What am I going to be when I grow up?” He decided on accounting. “I’ve always been interested in numbers and planning and the strategic side of things,” McCleskey said. Armed with a master’s degree in accounting from the University of Texas at Austin, he went to work. “And here we are,” McCleskey said.

His hobbies include golf and aviation. His family is active in The Village Church.

McCleskey said his firm provides “outstanding service to our clients because of our dedication to the three underlying principles of professionalism, responsiveness and quality.” “We believe in the value of relationships. We view each client relationship like a partnership, and truly believe that our success is a result of your success,” McCleskey said. “We strive to ensure that every client receives close personal and professional attention. We believe our high standards and service set our firm apart.”

McCleskey added that his firm is responsive. “Companies and individuals who choose our firm rely on the fact that we value our clients, and it shows in everything we do,” he said. “We return phone calls promptly. We strive to give accurate estimates of how long jobs will take. In general, we try to treat our clients the way we would want to be treated.”
Through hard work and a service mindset, McCleskey said, the firm has earned the respect of the business and financial communities. McCleskey noted that an accounting firm is known for the quality of its service. “The biggest thing on my plate right now is to be certain that as we continue to grow, we maintain our ability to provide personal attention and quality professional services,” he said.

The certified public accountant answered a few questions about his firm’s working relationship with Bookkeeper Girl and its owner, Kim Pollard.
What do you enjoy most about working with Bookkeeper Girl?
Their people.

How does Bookkeeper Girl save your office time by them handling the bookkeeping and you handling the year end taxes?

Obviously, for a business, the bookkeeping has to be done. Either the client has to do it, someone competent like Kim has to do it or we have to do it. It saves us time by knowing that the basic bookkeeping is done and accurate. It may need some minor adjustments by us. But they’re adjustments, not rewrites.

How does having a good set of books save clients tax dollars?
If the books are done and reliable, then it’s a matter of us knowing and applying the tax rules. It’s really very simple. If we have to take more time to put together the bookkeeping, we have to charge more.

Bookkeeper Girl Partners with Local Nonprofits

November 2nd, 2009

bkgirl_header1

Bookkeeper Girl Celebrates First Year of Businessshephards_hand

From a modest beginning of working from an office in her home, to expanding to a two-office location in Denton with a branch office located in Dallas, the Bookkeeper Girl is celebrating her year of growth and success.

In a show of appreciation for their support, Kim Pollard, president of Bookkeeper Girl, hosted an anniversary celebration on Oct. 27, for her clients, family, business associates and staff members.

In another display of appreciation for their blessings, Kim and her husband, Scott, presented a check to The Shepherd’s Hand, a local charitable organization, during the anniversary celebration.

“The staff did a lot of research before choosing this extremely worthwhile cause,” Pollard said. “There are so many needy people in this day and time, and we wanted to give within the community and know that it would make a difference and be really appreciated. We are confident this donation will be of assistance.” Pollard made a first time pledge of $350, and plans a $350 donation every month.

The Shepherd’s Hand first entered the community scene on Oct. 1, 2008 – the same day and year as Bookkeeper Girl, Inc. The Bookkeeper Girl staff did not realize this fact until after the Shepherd’s Hand was chosen to receive the donation, but it was such an inspiring and enlightening coincidence. The Shepherd’s Hand is a non-profit ministry that helps alleviate hunger in Denton County by freely distributing food, clothing and care to the hungry and those in need.

Diana Garrison, executive director of The Shepherd’s Hand, said gifts like the one from Pollard are critical. “We receive a lot of clothes and food, but very little money,” the executive director said. “Financial contributions are a real blessing.” When The Shepherd’s Hand opened its doors a year ago, the charity was serving about 400 meals a month. “Now it serves more than 5,000,” Garrison said.

Pollard created Bookkeeper Girl, Inc. to be a unique business, and gives the credit of her success to the touch of God’s hand, the love and support of her family, and the guidance from friends and business associates. After spending the past five years gaining experience in the online version of QuickBooks, the Bookkeeper Girl then devised the perfect combination for the company: clients and technology. Pollard specializes in online bookkeeping and helps clients ranging from individuals to large corporations by tailoring each client’s bookkeeping solutions to their individual needs.

“It helps that I am extremely organized and believe in a hands-on approach”, Pollard said. “I believe the foundation for success in any money management system, at any level, is based on concise bookkeeping with complete trust and a sense of integrity.”

She measures her success in the legacy that she leaves behind and the lives she touches along the way. “It’s not what I gain, but what I give that’s important,” Pollard said. “With Bookkeeper Girl, Inc’s success, I will provide exceptional service, great opportunities for stay-at-home parents, and heartfelt involvement for our non-profit partners. To me, this is success.”

Bookkeeper Girl Special Contributor Colette Yetka

November 2nd, 2009

bkgirl_header1

Administrative assistant Yetka is familiar face across Dentonblog_collette

If you live or work in Denton, it’s a good bet that you’ve seen the smiling face of Colette Yetka on more than one occasion.

It might be at a ribbon cutting for the Chamber of Commerce, where she serves as an ambassador, is a Leadership Denton Alumni and is a Denton Star for the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. It might be at St. Mark Catholic Church, where she serves as a eucharistic minister and a lector, or serving on the board of directors of Interfaith Ministries. It might be at the Denton Kiwanis Club, where she recently served as president, or at the Denton Benefit League, where she is an active member. It might be ballroom dancing. Or it might be taking her grandchildren on an outing.

“I especially enjoy spending time with my grandchildren,” Ashley, 13, Brooke, 11, and Logan, 3,” said the mother of two.

In addition to her grandchildren, she is extremely proud mother of her daughter, Cindy, who is a veterinarian and lives in Copper Canyon, and her son, Chad, who is president of American Home Builders& Mortgage Corp. in Denver.

Sometimes, Colette can even be found in her Denton home, where she enjoys gardening. For someone with so many activities, you’d think Colette is retired – far from it.

Colette is the administrative assistant for Bookkeeper Girl, where she has worked since the business formed on Oct. 1, 2008. “I enjoy the work,” said Colette, whose duties include networking, advertising, marketing and just about everything but bookkeeping.

She also enjoys the flexibility, allowing her to enjoy her other passions.
Obviously a real people person, Colette said her job involves dealing with the public quite a bit, and that’s a real perk. “I enjoy all the personnel I come in contact with,” she said.

Bookkeeper Girl From Kim’s Desk

November 2nd, 2009

bkgirl_header1

A Year of Personal and Professional Growth

It is hard for me to believe it has already been a year for Bookkeeper Girl, Inc.! This month we enjoyed a wonderful anniversary celebration with our clients and business acquaintances.

As I reflect on the past year, I look back and smile at not only the growth the business has experienced, but the growth I have experienced as well. As a new small business owner, I have learned so much about life itself through daily operations, through wearing many different hats, and how structure adds a calm to your life.

Having a year under my belt, I have a peace within me that I did not have a year ago. Although I continue to work hard, I have learned that sleep does matter and good planning allows time for sleep!

Personally, I have learned more about sharing with others. When I first launched the company last year, I was more like a toddler who had not learned to share her favorite toy! Now, enjoying coffee conversations with my husband and actually listening to his thoughts, rather than the reversed roles, have actually become a favorite past time of mine. I have learned to not fret so much over the small stuff- which I might add is easier said than done for me!

Although we are a young company, we have reaped the benefits of hard work and integrity this year. I remember the excitement I felt as we brought on a few new clients each month, which now has turned into adding new clients each week.

The power of togetherness means so much more to me than it did a year ago. Our company has been blessed with incredible business relationships that I feel confident will be life-long.

Teamwork has certainly been learned by all of us. Building a team and utilizing their talents was something that was taught to me from my very first client, Chuck Smith, located in Dallas. It is ironic that the wisdom he has shared with me over the years, I am now sharing and implementing into my own company. I have witnessed firsthand at how teaching what you know is a true blessing to everyone.