SyPro Financial Consultancy Limited

This year marks 4 years since I embarked on this incredible journey of running my business. As any business owner knows too well, running a business is no easy task - it’s a rollercoaster 🎢 ride filled with highs, lows, and everything in between. Over these years, I’ve learnt some important lessons that I would like to share and I would like to hear from you too! Here are four lessons – 1 lesson for each year in business - that have shaped me along the way: 1 - Work-life balance is a priority, not a luxury: burnout doesn’t build businesses - balance does. I’ve learned to value time with loved ones as much as business goals. 2 - The power of networking cannot be overstated – it helps build meaningful business relationships that foster collaboration, learning, support, and growth. I would like to shout out to those people I have met along the journey and thank you for your support over the past 4 years! 3 - Adaptability is not optional: markets change, challenges arise, and being flexible keeps you moving forward. 4 - Success isn’t built overnight - it’s the result of showing up, staying focused, and putting in the work every single day. Did I miss anything? What would you add to this list? #BusinessMilestone #BusinessAnniversary #LessonsLearnt

Lovely morning attending the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce networking event at the festively decorated Chilston Park Hotel, such a lovely venue. A festive time was had by all! I embraced the holiday spirit and donned my trusty Christmas jumper, complete with a cheerful reindeer 🦌and it seems my reindeer's nose was quite the hit—people couldn't resist giving it a honk! (Though I must say, I don't think my reindeer was too impressed with all the attention! 😂) It was a well-attended event and well done to Phill Thorne for winning the quiz and Mark Bidewell for winning the Christmas jumper competition (#NotJealous at all).   Looking forward to more festive gatherings and I wish you all a merry and jolly season! #Networking #ChristmasSpirit #ChilstonPark #FestiveFun #ReindeerGames

Big news, everyone! 📢 Laura is officially joining the SyPro team to manage the bookkeeping services for our clients! 🎉 Not only is she Ryan's amazing wife, but she’s also got a serious knack for numbers and a sharp eye for detail. Let’s give her a warm welcome and feel free to connect with her. #BookkeepingServices #Kent #SmallBusiness #Xero

What a fantastic evening at Gravesham Business Network!    Laura and I had the pleasure of attending their festive 🎅 networking event hosted by Keith Grimley on Tuesday, so thank you for the invite.    It was great for us to connect with so many new faces (Jane Martin- The Business Connector, Stephen Jevons, Andrew Clarke, Balraaj Manak, Deke Demarco, Susan Wenman) and lovely to meet Lynda Howarth in person after so many years of being connected on LinkedIn.   It was a great introduction to networking for Laura and she had some fruitful conversations about our bookkeeping and payroll services.   A highlight for us was meeting and hearing from some of the truly inspiring winners of the Gravesham Business Awards 2024 👏 including: 🏆 Gravesham Network Development CIC - Best Not-for-Profit Business  🏆 Total Line Marking Ltd - Best Youth-Owned Business 🏆 White Horse Farm - Best Innovative Business   And let’s not forget the lovely 📸 Pete Bresser who took our photo, apparently, it's rude to take a selfie in front of a photographer 😂 📷🤳   #GraveshamBusinessNetwork #BusinessNetworking #BusinessConnections

Occasionally, I work long hours 👨💻 to meet deadlines or complete projects. Sometimes, it’s necessary… However, many companies regularly push their employees to work at 100% capacity, often requiring them to work late hours and weekends. While this can be acceptable occasionally, it should not be the norm. Here is why: 👉 Working at full capacity leads to burnout and time off work and can also affect work quality and productivity. 👉 With no spare capacity, teams are firefighting and have no room to take on new projects or even support business growth. More often than not employees are expected to run projects alongside their daily tasks, when they are already working at full capacity. And this can only mean one thing… … the project never gets off the ground ❌ as there is always a more pressing issue to deal with! Employees should never work at 100% capacity all the time. Ideally, they should work at 90% capacity ✔️ to allow for downtime or low activity, and for thinking and planning, which is crucial for the development of the business. #WorkLifeBalance #EmployeeWellbeing #ProductivityTips #HealthyWorkplace #BurnoutPrevention

Bookkeeping blunders can hurt your bottom line! Whether you are a medium/large-sized business or a sole trader there are some common bookkeeping errors that I see when it comes to managing finances. Here are a few best practices to keep your finances on track: ✅ Keep track of your receipts - an expense tracking app like Dext or Autoentry will help to keep your on-the-go expenses in order. ✅ Keep business and personal expenses separate — use a dedicated bank card and stay disciplined with your spending. This simple habit will save you hours of sorting through statements at the end of the month. ✅ Technology is your friend - I am a fan of a spreadsheet but manual entry is time-consuming and mistakes can happen easily. Software like Xero and Quickbooks link easily with your bank account and produce real-time financial reports. ✅ Don't do it all yourself - outsourcing to a professional, even on a part-time basis like me, can save you both time and money in the long run. Plus, your energy is better spent focusing on other areas of your business! #FinancialManagement #FinancialTips #BusinessFinance

How to welcome a new employee the right way? It is important to prepare thoroughly for your employee’s first day to start their journey on the right foot. The first 6 months are always a difficult learning curve so it is important to work hard to retain the new employee. Here are some of my top tips: 👉 Make sure that the onboarding documents are sent, signed and returned before their start date. 👉 Prepare their workspace – including equipment, office supplies and email access - prior to them starting. 👉 If it's not a new role, prepare a handover schedule for them to complete and make sure that they are happy it’s achievable before the leaving employee finishes their notice period. 👉 If it's a job creation, you will need to think about a training schedule. 👉 Assign them a mentor - someone who will answer their questions, and who they can turn to if they are experiencing issues. 👉 Make sure they are greeted enthusiastically and check in with them at the end of their first day and throughout their early employment. 👉 Remember mistakes will happen, it's a great way for them to learn and for you to put in extra controls and training where needed. #RecruitmentProcess #NewStarter #NewEmployee

I am really passionate about the interview process being a two-way conversation where the candidate feels at ease and they perform at their best. I also appreciate those candidates who ask lots of questions. After all, you need to be the right fit for them too. Ensure you're confident in your candidate choice—if they’re not the right fit, they may leave or require extra support and before you know it, you’ve lost nearly a year! #RecruitmentProcess #TalentManagement #InterviewProcess

Do you employ a bookkeeper or an accountant to help keep your finances in order? If the answer’s yes, which do you use – and why? Many people think they both do the same job but in fact, they’re very different. 👉 Bookkeepers do exactly as their name suggests, they keep the books in order and assist with the recording of day-to-day financial transactions. 👉 Accountants complete your annual accounts and statutory reporting but they do not always support you regularly. What benefit would a Financial Consultant bring to my business? With over 20 years of experience in accounting and a decade serving as a Financial Controller across diverse industries, I specialise in supporting clients with their financial strategies. I also assist in the development of policies, SYstems, PROcesses, and personnel, ensuring they are tailored to meet the specific needs and goals of the organisation. If you’re looking for someone to take control of your business finances, give me a call for a no-obligation chat. #FinancialController #Accountant #Bookkeeper

What challenges are you currently facing in your business and workforce? Are you and your team feeling overwhelmed by the workload? Is there some conflict in your team which is impacting the business and your employees? Are you struggling to understand how your business is performing and can grow in the future? As an experienced financial consultant and CIMA-qualified accountant, I am on hand to support you through all your challenges and help build a clear strategy for the future, get in touch for a no-obligation chat 📧 info@syprofinancial.co.uk #WorkloadManagement #TeamPerformance #BusinessPerformance #BusinessGrowth