Decoding Small Business Finances
Less fear. More fun. Better decisions.
I’m on a mission to get small business owners to LOVE their numbers!
Finance doesn’t have to be scary, and it definitely doesn’t need to be boring either.
I help small business owners to understand their numbers; turning confusing reports into confident decisions that allow them to get control of their finances, plan for profit and feel as excited about their numbers as I am.
Meet Your Financial Codebreaker
Hi 👋 I’m Tracey
(Bilingual in Accounting Gibberish and Plain English)
The letters behind my name (B.Com (Accounts)) will tell you that I studied finance at University. What my experience has taught me in the last 20 years as a Management Accountant is much more important!
Don’t get me wrong: I love a good textbook. I was that annoying kid in school always asking for extra homework. You can imagine my popularity levels.
But when I walked into the working world, I had absolutely no idea how to convert my knowledge of debits and credits into real life. At university our exams were with pens and paper. The business world had already embraced technology.
So I started at the beginning. I learned how to use a basic accounting package. My first job was doing day to day bookkeeping. And then it just grew from there. I went from basic bookkeeping, to producing monthly management accounts, to then running small finance teams and building budgets and cashflow forecasts.
The industries I have worked in have ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous. I’ve worked with a cutting-edge nanotechnology firm but also a farm full of ostriches. Every week another one managed to run into a fence, a tree or occasionally another ostrich. They really are the stupidest birds on earth.
Despite the different contexts, the language of business is always the same: numbers.
There’s a beautiful logic to them. If you understand the patterns, you can make sense of almost any business.
That’s why I’ve always loved numbers. Where some people see a wall of numbers, I see a story waiting to be decoded.
Think: “A Beautiful Mind.” Not the hallucinations part, obviously. The pattern spotting and decoding.
(I’m still raging that Russell Crowe didn’t win an Oscar for that by the way)
Meet Your Financial Codebreaker
Hi 👋 I’m Tracey
(Bilingual in Accounting Gibberish and Plain English)
The letters behind my name (B.Com (Accounts)) will tell you that I studied finance at University. What my experience has taught me in the last 20 years as a Management Accountant is much more important!
Don’t get me wrong: I love a good textbook. I was that annoying kid in school always asking for extra homework. You can imagine my popularity levels.
But when I walked into the working world, I had absolutely no idea how to convert my knowledge of debits and credits into real life. At university our exams were with pens and paper. The business world had already embraced technology.
So I started at the beginning. I learned how to use a basic accounting package. My first job was doing day to day bookkeeping. And then it just grew from there. I went from basic bookkeeping, to producing monthly management accounts, to then running small finance teams and building budgets and cashflow forecasts.
The industries I have worked in have ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous. I’ve worked with a cutting-edge nanotechnology firm but also a farm full of ostriches. Every week another one managed to run into a fence, a tree or occasionally another ostrich. They really are the stupidest birds on earth.
Despite the different contexts, the language of business is always the same: numbers.
There’s a beautiful logic to them. If you understand the patterns, you can make sense of almost any business.
That’s why I’ve always loved numbers. Where some people see a wall of numbers, I see a story waiting to be decoded.
Think: “A Beautiful Mind.” Not the hallucinations part, obviously. The pattern spotting and decoding.
(I’m still raging that Russell Crowe didn’t win an Oscar for that by the way)
Financial Management support for owners who want clarity, confidence and control
My approach is simple.
I use plain English. If I ever start talking accounting gibberish, then you have full permission to throw a tomato at me.
Will I produce reports? Management Accounts? Budgets? Cashflow forecasts?
Naturally – yes.
But the focus isn’t the reports themselves. It’s understanding what the numbers are telling you about your business and knowing what to do next.
If you are looking for a highly technical business analyst with more letters after their name than in it, and a KPI dashboard that makes the Heathrow control tower look tame, then I’m not your girl.
But if you have a nagging feeling you’re not getting the most out of your figures, or that your numbers are controlling you instead of the other way round:
- Cashflow issues.
- Out of control costs.
- Second-guessing every decision.
- Working flat out but still not able to get your bank balance to behave.
- Worrying about what’s around the corner.
Then, let me share what I think is the most important truth about small business finances:
Not only are they NOT terrifying, they are actually the very thing that can energise your business.
Because when you understand your numbers, things shift. Fast.
You go from:
- Feeling in the dark
- Worrying about payroll creeping up
- Guessing your pricing and hoping for the best
To:
- Feeling calm, clear and in control
- Knowing what’s coming and having a plan for it
- Confidently pricing for profit (not just survival)
And the best bit?
You stop firefighting and start actually enjoying your business again.
This isn’t about turning you into an accountant.
It’s about making your numbers simple, useful and maybe even (dare I say it) a little bit fun. So you can stop dreading them and start using them to build a business you love.
Here are some of the ways I can support your business
Finance Process Improvements
Simplify systems, improve visibility and create reliable financial information you can trust.
Monthly Management Accounts
Clear financial reporting with practical action points so you know exactly where your business stands.
Budgeting & Forecasting
Plan ahead with confidence and make decisions based on facts rather than guesswork.
Pricing, Margin, and Breakeven analysis
Understand where profit is really being made and identify opportunities for improvement.
Cost Analysis
Making sure your costs are clearly identified and properly reflected in your business model
Clients Testimonials'
Tracey has made an immeasureable difference to the business. She has great attention to detail and an understanding of what a business needs from a financial clarity point of view. She has been a key part of the business infrastructure and treats confidential business information with great respect. She is highly trustworthy and has deep integrity. I can't recommend her more highly.
Tracey ran my company finance and accounting for many years. She is highly knowledgeable, meticulous, analytical and has excellent attention to detail. She was always willing to go that "extra mile" to ensure our accounts were organised and accurate. I trusted Tracey totally and as a business owner I was relaxed knowing that my accounts were in safe hands
I worked with Tracey for a start up business that grew rapidly, which was acquired in a multi million transaction. When Tracey joined, the company was growing far quicker than its processes were able to cope. Tracey methodically, diligently applied herself to convert systems into a reliable, scalable process. She is reliable and a true team player; a pleasure to work with.
Financial Management support
My approach is simple.
I use plain English. If I ever start talking accounting gibberish, then you have full permission to throw a tomato at me.
Will I produce reports? Management Accounts? Budgets? Cashflow forecasts? Naturally. But the focus isn’t the reports themselves. It’s understanding what the numbers are telling you about your business and knowing what to do next.
If you are looking for a highly technical business analyst with more letters after their name than in it and a KPI dashboard that makes the Heathrow control tower look tame, then I’m not your girl.
But if you have a nagging feeling you’re not getting the most out of your figures, or that your numbers are controlling you instead of the other way round, let me share what I think is the most important truth about small business finances:
Not only are they NOT terrifying, they are actually the very thing that can energise your business.