A Chat with Caplin Bookkeeping

We're rounding up our Bookkeeping Bosses series for 2022, with one last chat with Christine of Caplin Bookkeeping, who made the move from the corporate banking sphere to the world of bookkeeping a few years ago.

What did your journey into bookkeeping look like, and did you always want to be a bookkeeper?  

I spent nearly 20 years working in Corporate banking, and whilst I loved my job, I didn’t always love the long hours.  The option came up to take voluntary redundancy in 2016 and, after having some health issues a few years earlier, I decided to take it.  I had nine months of time out which was much needed, and during that time I chose to retrain with the aim of running my own bookkeeping business.  My role in Corporate banking involved analysing financials and so it wasn’t a huge step from a knowledge point of view but it did take some time to get my head around double entry bookkeeping.  

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far in your business?

The biggest challenge was definitely when I first started out, I am not someone who is very outgoing and confident, so to network with other business owners and have meetings with potential clients was quite scary initially, especially as I felt I had so much to learn still.  Real life bookkeeping also wasn’t as straight forward as the study book examples but with the support from ICB (my professional body) and other bookkeepers this was soon overcome.  

What do you love most about your job?

I love the variety - I have a mix of clients in different industries and no two days are ever the same.  I offer a range of services so deal with small sole traders to larger businesses, and whilst most of my work is remote, I do have some clients where I go into their offices to work and I enjoy that as they really make me feel like I am a part of their team.  

Which tools (apps, software etc) could you not live without?

From an accounting software point of view it would be FreeAgent, QuickBooks and Xero.  I also would be lost without Taxfiler, Brightpay and MyDocSafe – they all make my working day that bit easier…  

If you had to choose one - Xero, Sage or Quickbooks?

Out of those it would have to be QuickBooks although I do like to use a variety of software in my practice

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given by another bookkeeper or someone in the industry?

It would have to be to get to know other local bookkeepers – they can be great support especially when you are starting out.

When you’re not bookkeeping, what do you love doing?

I love live music – my husband and I go to quite a lot of gigs, my favourite being Duran Duran.  

If you could travel back in time, what would you tell yourself when you were first starting out?

To be more confident in myself and my abilities.  This is something I really struggled with at the start of my bookkeeping career and at times I nearly gave up as I felt I was never going to be able to make it work.    

Would you rather fight one hundred duck-sized horses, or one horse-sized duck?

I think it would have to be one horse-sized duck as the thought of one hundred duck-sized horses sounds a bit much!!

Who are your biggest role models - in both your work and personal life?

It would have to be my husband – he has been running his own business since 2005 and so was a great role model and his support and knowledge was invaluable especially when I was starting out.  

How can people reach out to work with you?

Website – www.caplinbookkeeping.co.uk

Instagram – caplinbookkeeping

Twitter - @CaplinBK

Email – Christine.aplin@caplinbookkeeping.co.uk

We love celebrating the important work that bookkeepers do. Want to share your story on the blog in 2023? Get in touch at info@timekeeper.co.uk