From running a rural pub to building a thriving bookkeeping practice in the Yorkshire Dales, Debbie Roe’s career has been shaped by curiosity, confidence and a love of working closely with people. As the owner of Beck Cottage Bookkeeping, Debbie has created a business that fits her life perfectly and she would not have it any other way.
Debbie Roe did not set out to become a bookkeeper. With a degree in retail marketing and a career in HR behind her, life took a different turn when she and her husband moved from Essex to North Yorkshire to buy and run a pub.
“I took on all the bookkeeping and the people side of the business,” Debbie explains. “I realised I really enjoyed it and it played to my strengths.”
Debbie qualified with Ideal School and gained her ICB practice licence in 2011. Beck Cottage Bookkeeping has grown steadily ever since.
Building Beck Cottage Bookkeeping
Debbie now supports around 70 clients, mainly sole traders, across a wide mix of rural businesses, from builders and mechanics to B&B owners and agricultural engineers.
“I love working with sole traders,” she says. “I really enjoy pulling everything together at year end and knowing the full story behind the numbers. Because I do all the work myself, I know every client and every transaction.”
Based in a remote part of the Yorkshire Dales, trust was key in the early days.
“People needed to feel comfortable handing their books over to someone local. Now many of my clients have been with me for years. I have sat at their kitchen tables and I know their families. That relationship really matters to me.”
A business that fits around life
For Debbie, growth for growth’s sake has never been the goal.
“I am at a point where I am at capacity client wise - and very happy. I do not want staff or subcontractors. I like being hands on and knowing exactly what is going on. My business fits around my life, not the other way around.”
A straightforward MLR inspection
That confidence was tested recently when Debbie received a call from ICB’s MLR team to let her know she had been selected for a random inspection by AML Compliance Inspector Stephen Hardwick.
“My stomach definitely sank when I got the call,” she admits. “But at the same time, I knew my records were in good order.”
Steve gave Debbie plenty of notice and reassured her early on.
“He was very clear that this was a routine, random inspection and that really helped. The whole process was straightforward.” In order to prepare, Debbie watched a recent MLR Monday recording which outlined what to expect with an inspection.
“It was really just a structured conversation. We sat down with a coffee and went through my processes. I had my records with me and could refer to them. It was not about catching me out.”
Steve reviewed Debbie’s client due diligence records, asked clear, familiar questions and talked through her answers.
“He was following a set framework, but it felt supportive. At the end he told me I was compliant and followed up in writing. There were just a couple of very minor admin updates to do.”
Feeling confident and content
Looking back, Debbie is keen to reassure other ICB members.
“I would say, do not panic. Keep your records organised, do your annual reviews and trust what you know. If you are doing what you should be doing, it really is not scary.”
Today, Debbie describes herself as “very content”.
“I love my work and I am not ready to stop. Every day you learn something new and that keeps it interesting. For me, bookkeeping has given me a business I enjoy, flexibility, and a life I am happy with. That feels like success.”
To find out more about becoming a bookkeeper, download our guide
