When Olivia moved her young family from California to the UK, she brought with her more than suitcases – she brought resilience, a deep sense of purpose, and a desire to create a better future for herself, and for her daughter.
After careers in teaching, social work, and even video rental (back when VHS was king), Olivia had already spent years helping others navigate difficult paths. But it was the decision to home educate her daughter that set her on a new one - a quieter, steadier path that allowed her to work around her family’s needs without sacrificing her ambition.
“I started asking myself: when does it actually work for me to study and work? When am I at my best?” That reflection became a guiding principle for her new business, Beyond Figures — a bookkeeping practice that puts women’s real lives and energy cycles at the heart of business planning.
Olivia was initially helping a friend with her yoga studio’s finances when she realised she needed proper credentials to continue. Choosing ICB was a pivotal moment. “The AAT path would have blocked me out - I wasn’t going to take time away from my daughter to go and work for someone else. ICB saw me as competent and trusted. If I could meet their standards, they’d open up the path I needed - and they did.” Olivia also credits Ideal Schools with getting her through the qualification. “They were a real rock. There were times I felt like giving up, but they kept me going. I wouldn’t have made it without them.”
The printed binders, the patient tutors, the understanding that life is complex - it all added up.
Olivia gained her ICB Practice Licence in June 2024. She now working to support a handful of carefully chosen clients and is growing her practice in a way that suits her values - slowly, meaningfully, and with care. Her aim isn’t just to balance books, but to build lasting relationships with women-led businesses. “My clients are thinking long term, about their legacy and purpose. They’re not just chasing numbers. And I’m not chasing volume. I want my practice to work for me, and for them.”
Throughout it all, Olivia’s daughter has been watching. “She listens in on meetings, asks questions about clients, and sees me building something real. She's growing up surrounded by examples of women doing what they love and making it work.”
For Olivia, bookkeeping isn’t just a career - it’s a statement of independence, a tool for change, and a powerful message to the next generation.
