Kate Powell’s journey into bookkeeping began with a desire for independence and flexibility, something that would allow her to balance her career with raising her family. Ahead of Kate taking the stage at the 2024 Bookkeepers Summit, we found out more about how she built a business based on dedication and care for clients.
Kate’s career didn’t begin in bookkeeping. After earning a degree in economics – and a brief, entertaining stint as a holiday rep in Majorca – she worked in the NHS before spending several years in IT as a database administrator at Threadneedle Asset Management. But after having her second child, she found herself at a crossroads. “It got to the point with my second child that there was no point paying for childcare to go into London four days a week... What do I do?” she recalls.
Her mother, who worked as a bookkeeper, became a source of inspiration. “I used to go along with her in the holidays... sitting in the office while she talked to the boss about the bookkeeping,” Kate says. It wasn’t long before she decided to follow in her mother’s footsteps.
In 2008, Kate began her bookkeeping career by studying for ICB qualifications. What started as a way to work around her children’s schedule became something more. “I didn’t want to just be at home being a mum. I wanted something that was mine,” she explains. Her first clients came through word of mouth, and her business grew steadily. Looking back, she modestly says, “Clients just seemed to come along.”v However, it was clear that her attention to detail and dedication to her clients set her apart.
Building Strong Client Relationships
For Kate, the most rewarding part of bookkeeping has been the relationships she’s built with her clients. One early client, a photographer, would often bring his dog to meetings when he felt overwhelmed by his finances. “I knew when he didn’t want to talk about the numbers because the dog would be in the car,” she laughs. But she patiently helped him stay on top of things, making sure invoices were paid and everything was in order.
Another standout moment was when she helped a local travel agency recover £50,000 they hadn’t been paid. “They couldn’t believe it... they thought the big company would have everything right, but I knew they weren’t getting the money they deserved,” she remembers.
As her children grew, Kate was able to dedicate more time to her business, which has now become a full-time operation. She moved from charging hourly rates to offering monthly fees, something she’s particularly proud of. “It took years, but finally, this year, I can say that everyone is on monthly fees”.
Kate also expanded her practice by bringing in help. “Instead of it just being me, I now have a team,”she explains. She hired a longtime friend as a bookkeeper and subcontracted payroll and accounting work to trusted professionals (mainly other ICBers).This has allowed her to focus more on managing the business and less on day-to-day tasks.
With her children now grown and her business thriving, Kate has big plans for the future. She’s set herself the ambitious goal of taking a four-week holiday in July 2026, during which her business will continue to run without her. "I want to design my business so that it doesn’t rely on me for everything,” she explains.
Looking forward, Kate envisions her business growing even more. More than anything, she’s excited about continuing to help small businesses while building something meaningful for herself.
Find out more about how Kate built her business at the ICB Bookkeepers Summit on Monday 11 November. Book your tickets