COMMUNITY
It all adds up for Sunny Coasters By Sacha Hamilton-MacLaren
What started out as a crazy idea over Thai food has grown into a thriving business for Sunny Coast Accountants co-owners and directors Jody Alden and Sarah Keily. Every year since combining forces five years ago, the business has doubled its clientele from word-of-mouth referrals and isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. Initially working from home then moving into a small office, the business has now grown into a second bigger office in Cooroy with seven employees and looking to make it eight. When asked what prompted the leap into starting an accounting firm together, the directors explained that initially, they were looking for more flexible work hours. Jody shared that both women had young children and were frustrated at trying to work traditional hours and deal with an unhappy boss when a child was sick. “With our own business we do a lot of extra hours, but that gives us the flexibility to take our kids to sport or be at home when they’re sick,” Sarah explained. The business partners also found it frustrating how other accounting firms they’d worked for had managed and billed clients. “Just plugging in figures from 18 months ago and focusing on filling out a time sheet meant you couldn’t develop a relationship, so couldn’t give the best result to the client,” Sarah said. “We wanted to be more proactive in helping people with their tax and take
on more of a business adviser role,” she explained. Jody added that one of the things they wanted to approach differently was the use of time sheets. “I can’t stand the idea of having to charge a client for every six minutes.” Jody explained that if you’re passionate about your work your brain doesn’t turn off when you clock off. The women see the benefit in making a personal connection. “We see our role as a trusted advisor for our clients and when they want to talk about something, the first person they’re going to talk to is us their accountant,” Jody said. Going into business together also gave the women the opportunity to choose their own career paths. It also meant they could utilise skills that complimented each other. Jody specialises in tax compliance and small business and Sarah in superannuation. Sarah explained that in the accounting industry not many firms can offer exceptional expertise in both as they tend to do one or the other. “I knew Sarah’s brilliant technical knowledge - especially when it comes to superannuation – was being underutilised and not appreciated,” Jody enthused. Sarah added that earlier in her career working for other firms she found a lot of superannuation portfolios weren’t managed well. “This is someone’s life savings and
“.. if you’re passionate about your work your brain doesn’t turn off when you clock off.”
The staff at Sunny Coast Accountants in their new boardroom
if it’s not done properly it affects their dependants, their beneficiaries - it affects their everything,” Sarah said. “It’s frustrating when you’ve got that knowledge and you don’t understand when they’re not being done properly,” Sarah said. Sunny Coast Accountants saw a huge surge in a need for their services during Covid. “We were working from home, educating kids from home, and effectively our workload doubled – talking to all of our clients,” Jody explained. Sarah shared that’s when the women’s partners realised how hard they work. “With ATO changing the rules so regularly and then the news constantly reporting something new that our clients would need reassurance about… we were so busy, both of our partners basically had to become stay at home dads.” Jody added last year’s craziness cemented for them which clients really trusted their knowledge and appreciated what they do for them. “We felt really appreciated and rewarded for all the time and effort we have put into our clients over the years,” Jody said. “We also got a lot of wine and flowers,” Sarah laughed, then added, “People say, ‘Oh, I couldn’t be an accountant, what do you do all day - crunch numbers?!’ – We talk! To a lot of people!”
Photos by Sacha HMcL.
Sunny Coast Accountants co-owners Jody Alden and Sarah Keily
When asked if they’re happy they started a business together, Jody and Sarah look at each other, shake their heads, smile, then share they still can’t believe how successful their accounting firm has become in such a small amount of time. But the true success of Sunny Coast Accountants comes from the women’s support of each other. “We say it to each other all the time – I couldn’t have done this without you and I’m so glad that we’ve been there to support each other all the time,” Jody shared.
April 2021 Your Local Lifestyle | Page 9
