Genny your life coach

Why I love being an accountant

2009-02-20T07:29:04+01:00

I am very passionate about being involved in the accountancy profession. Sometimes, I wonder what my maths teacher would say if she found out I have ended up working with figures, as during my school days I hated anything to so with figures. The intention was for me to be a secretary as I was good in shorthand and typing, Come to think of it, my father was a very good accountant and later on became tax inspector!

When I left school, I went to college and discovered “accounts”. I really liked the subject, the teacher and her approach. I managed to do my maths exams, and passed my accounting exams also.

Working for HMRC
I started my accounting career working for HMRC firstly in the PAYE section and then the Self employment section. I really enjoyed checking out tax computations, checking tax returns, and mostly dealing with customers at the enquiry desk. I remember one irate lady coming up to me at the counter and saying to me “you are lucky to work for the tax office at least you don’t have to pay taxes”! Well?

Working in practice
I then left the tax office after 5 years to train with an accounting firm. It was a small firm, but it gave me the opportunity and exposed me to different aspects of bookkeeping, accounting, taxation and auditing. I really loved it especially when a client would come in with accounting records in a mess in a carrier bag. I always felt a sense of fulfilment and achievement when I will sort out the records and prepare a beautiful set of accounts all bounded up and signed!

Working in Charity Accounts
After working for the accountants I decided to work in charity accounts. I was fortunate to work as a community accountant. I really enjoyed this work as not only was I doing accounts which I am passionate about, I was also dealing with different charities that were making a difference to society. I was also involved in running training courses

Working as an accounting software trainer
I then went on to work for SAGE Plc as an executive trainer. This now enabled me to use my accounting background to train clients in different sage accounting, and payroll software. I was also at this point teaching bookkeeping and accounts at the local Adult education college in the evenings.

Starting my own business
I decided to start my own business to put all the skills I have learnt in practice. I also mentor students studying accountancy and I am able to expose them to the world of opportunities the accounting profession offers.

Teaching money management skills to children and adults
I also run workshops and classes teaching children from the age of 7 how to manage money. This helps them with learning maths, and the value of money. It was great joy the other day, when I overheard my seven year old son explaining to his older cousin “when you have any money given to you, you must Give some to charity, save some, invest some, spend some and keep some for a rainy day”

Genny Jones is a Fellow member of the Association of Accounting Technicians. She has over 15 years experience of delivering training courses in manual/computerised accounting and payroll. She specialises in Sage Accounts, Sage Payroll, Quick books Accounts and Payroll.

www.gennythetrainer.co.uk

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How I becamea TV star for a few minutes

2009-01-24T23:58:58+01:00

My experience of being on TV

As well as running my own accounting business, I am a confidence building coach.
About 2 months ago, I undertook a contract with Gingerbread/One parent families to teach lone parents how to raise their esteem and confidence, develop their CV, and for some help them to focus on a hobby they could turn into a business. Little did I know this will take an unpredicted turn!

The BBC came to do a short film for the organisation for a charity appeal called lifeline, to raise funds for the organisation. The producer filmed the participants, and then she interviewed me. She was quite moved as I explained to her that 5 years ago, I had to leave an abusive husband, at the same time I was made redundant, my house was about to be repossessed, I had too much debt to cope with, as well as facing the future being a single parent.

Although it was a painful time, through my faith, supportive network of friends and families, I found strength and courage to turn everything around.

My accountancy experience and qualifications came in handy as I was able to get a part time job to help my cashflow, and today, I am successful business woman with loving children.

I also trained to be a life coach as I believe my life’s experiences are an asset to others. I can use my pain to be a gain to others, especially if they are lone parents, or are suffering from a relationship breaking down or simply need a confidence boost.

As a result of me being on TV, I have now got various radio and TV interviews that I will be doing all over the country, and this will help to increase traffic to my website and ultimately help me to be a very successful business owner.

If you would like to see the show click on
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00gq42z/Lifeline_18_01_2009

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Divorced but not devastated

2008-11-22T13:57:50+01:00

What would you do?
If you were divorced?
Made redundant? Your house was due to be repossessed?
You had two toddlers to look after? All in the same month?

One of the most important times in my life was when I got married in 1997. I had waited so long! It was like a dream come true. It was therefore very disappointing when five years later and with two children it ended in divorce... For a year or two I suffered in silence the emotional and then physical abuse, I prayed and hoped that things will change; instead they got worse. I lost my self esteem and confidence.

I would not look in a full length mirror as I felt useless, ugly and worthless based on the nasty things that I had allowed one individual to pollute my mind with. One night as I went to sleep I had the most amazing dream! I was a bird in a cage, and all of a sudden a hand opened the door of the cage and said in a soothing voice “you are free! Fly away,” I found myself flying high up the blue skies, the voice kept saying…”keep on flying , go as high as you can , you are free” When I woke up I started to cry as I was very overwhelmed, I then decided to file for divorce. This was not an easy decision as the consequencies during the process were at times unbearable. One day I even felt like running away with the children to a place where no one will know us so that we could start life again.

It was not an easy time for me as in that same month, I was made redundant from my job, the house was going to be reposed, I had a huge amount of debts, my ex was harassing men and I had two toddlers to look after and I just could no make ends meet. It was a very stressful time for me, I had my belief that God would help me through, My mum especially was very helpful. If it was not for my strong faith in God, I don’t think I would have been here by now. I believed that all things worked together for the good for those who believed.

I also believe that God does not give you more than you can cope with. Many times I felt overwhelmend and alone. The children and I had suffered a massive psychological wallop. They are thrown upon a parent who has to be both father and mother to them. There are times when you long to “go-off-duty” for a while. Successful single parenting requires that you map out a plan of action, verbalising your philosophy and defining your goals,

There are times when you feel utterly alone. Decisions have to be made and you know you havn’t the wisdom to make them. There is much to be done, and you have no time and energy to do it. There isn’t enough money for the necessities, let alone for even small luxuries that would delight childish hears When I sit back now I wonder how I managed to get through without breaking down; there have been times when I felt like giving up; when I felt that there was no light at the end of the tunnel. You wake up one day and feel all right, yet the next you feel as if the world is going to cave in. You project this image to the outside world that all is well, but when you are in your own house behind close doors you feel very miserable. When I look back now,

I realise that things happen in life for a reason. I realise that I kept going because of my strong faith, support from my family, friends, and choosing to use my experience to help others by training to become life coach. I could go on now and recall every bad thing in detail that happened to me; but I choose not to, as I believe that there is no point in relieving the old story. It is time for me to tell a new story, which is full of inspiration and a hope for a better future.

Today I am a strong and confident woman. I work part-time 3 days a week, I run 3 businesses, I have set up a children’s charity, I am a mentor to a number of individuals, I have time to take my children to school, do homework with them, take them to all their out of school activities and have time for myself. I feel totally blessed that I have the strength and motivation to do all this. My main goal now in life now is to be a blessing and an inspiration to others. I believe that everyone is unique and special. We all have special gifts and .abilities, which if developed will help us to maximise our potential and be the best we can.

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