20+ years ago in Adelaide, I walked into an insulation company for my very first day as a paid bookkeeper. Minimum wage back then was just over $12 an hour. So the $18 on my contract felt generous. By the end of my first day, I’d been bumped to $20. Apparently, enlightenment comes with a pay rise.
Not because I asked. Not because I was brilliant. And definitely not because of charm and personality (bookkeepers aren’t exactly hired for charisma, and we don’t get paid extra for it either).
The owner simply said something in the lines “You deserve more than $18 an hour.” What had I done to earn it? Opened QuickBooks, asked a few questions and pointed out what the numbers were screaming. Basically, I showed him what was hiding in plain sight. Hardly groundbreaking.
Less than a year later, their external accountants hired me. That experience set me on the path to eventually becoming the owner-operator of a small accounting practice.
The reference letter from that insulation company read:
“I would recommend Suresh as an asset to any company looking for a number-literate accountant with common sense.”
In accounting, being called “number-literate with common sense” is about as glamorous as it gets.
But here’s the bigger lesson. If a bookkeeper on day one can uncover blind spots, what does that say about how many businesses are flying blind today?
What every business really needs inside is someone who:
- Doesn’t just record numbers but understands them.
- Spots inefficiencies, risks and opportunities before they smack you in the face.
- Can translate spreadsheets into something useful like real-world decisions.
Flying blind might feel fine… until you hit a wall!!!
20+ years later, I still meet business owners who are shocked by what their numbers reveal. Some things don’t change. But at least now, I run my own accounting practice and can make a bigger impact to client… and yes, I charge more than $20 an hour now…