Why I’m Weirdly Happy in a Pile of Messy Books (And Why That’s Good News for You)
- Clarity Financial Solutions Team
- Nov 23, 2025
- 4 min read
If you’ve ever said, “Please don’t judge my books…” before sending over your QuickBooks file or a stack of bank statements, you’re in good company.
Almost every new client I work with apologizes for something:
“I haven’t reconciled in months.”
“My income and expense categories are a disaster.”
“I’m pretty sure my tax preparer hates me.”
Here’s the truth: I’m not here to judge your books.
I’m here because my brain is wired to fix this kind of thing—and I actually enjoy it.
That didn’t start with bookkeeping. It started long before, in a world of administrative management, knowledge management, project management, running my own business, and working inside a local tax office.
From Admin & Paperwork to Real-World Business and Taxes
Before I started Clarity Financial Solutions, I spent years in roles where my job was to keep a lot of moving parts organized:
Administrative management taught me how to keep details straight, follow processes, and make sure the right information got to the right place at the right time.
Knowledge management trained me to organize information so people could actually use it—no more important details buried in random folders or forgotten emails.
Project management required me to take big, messy, overwhelming goals and break them into clear steps with timelines, owners, and outcomes.
On top of that, I’ve been on both sides of the small-business table:
I owned and operated a family entertainment center, which meant juggling staff, schedules, vendors, marketing, and—of course—the books. I know what it feels like to be up late wondering if you can afford that next hire or piece of equipment.
I also worked in a local tax office, handling personal and corporate taxes, bookkeeping, payroll, and sales tax. I saw firsthand what happens when books are clean and organized… and what happens when they’re not.
At the time, it looked like paperwork, systems, and coordination.
Now, it looks like:
Untangling years of transactions
Cleaning up charts of accounts
Reconciling accounts that haven’t been touched in a while
Getting your books tax-ready so your CPA can do their best work
The through-line? I’ve always been the person who comes in, takes a deep breath, and says, “Okay. Let’s make sense of this.”
Why Knowledge Management Makes Me Obsessed with Clarity
Knowledge management is really just a fancy way of saying:
“Let’s put information where it belongs so it’s easy to find, understand, and use.”
That’s exactly how I think about your finances.
When I look at your books, I’m not just seeing numbers. I’m asking:
Does this tell a clear story about your business?
Could your tax preparer look at this and feel confident?
Could you look at this and understand what’s going well and what needs attention?
Because I’ve sat in a tax office, I also know what your tax preparer is looking for:
Clean, consistent categories
Reconciled accounts
Clear separation of personal and business expenses
Documentation that actually matches what’s in your software
That’s where my love for structure and organization kicks in. I want your books to be:
Clean and consistent
Easy to read
Ready for taxes
Actually helpful for making decisions
It’s also why my business is built around one simple idea:
“Clarity in your books. Confidence in your business.”
When your financial information is organized and accurate, you can stop guessing and start deciding.
Project Management: How I Tackle Big, Messy Clean-Ups Without Overwhelming You
If you’ve ever looked at your books and thought, “I don’t even know where to start,” that’s a project management problem—one I’m very comfortable solving.
When I take on a clean-up or catch-up (what I call Clarity Rescue), I don’t just dive in randomly. I treat it like a project:
Assessment – I start with a Clarity Checkup, a complimentary review where I look at your current books, flag risks, and identify what’s working and what’s not.
Plan – I outline what needs to be done, in what order, and how long it’s likely to take. You get a clear picture of the process and next steps.
Execution – I roll up my sleeves and do the work: reconciling accounts, cleaning up categories, fixing errors, and getting everything tax-ready.
Review & Handoff – You get a summary of what was done, where things stand now, and what to focus on going forward. If you move into Clarity Care (ongoing monthly or quarterly support), we keep things clean and current together.
Behind the scenes, my project management brain is tracking:
Deadlines (especially tax deadlines)
Priorities (what has to be fixed first)
Communication (what you and your tax preparer need to know)
On your side, it just feels like:
“Someone finally has a handle on this, and I don’t have to carry it alone.”
What This Means for You as a Small Business Owner
You don’t need to care about administrative management, knowledge management, project management, or tax workflows as concepts.
What matters is how they show up in your experience as a client:
Less chaos: Your books go from “I’m embarrassed” to “I know where things stand.”
Fewer tax surprises: Because I’ve worked in a tax office, I know what information your preparer needs and how to get your books ready for them.
Better decisions: Clear reports help you see what’s working, what’s not, and where your money is actually going.
Support without shame: I’ve seen a lot of messy books—from my own early days as a business owner to clients who’ve gone years without reconciling. You’re not the worst. You’re not behind help. And you’re definitely not alone.
My background simply means:
I’m comfortable in the mess.
I know how to build systems that keep you out of it.
I understand your world as a business owner and your tax preparer’s world.
And I genuinely enjoy helping you get from overwhelmed to confident.
A Gentle Invitation to Get Your Own “Clarity Moment”
If your books have been quietly stressing you out—whether it’s a few months behind or a few years—I’d love to help you get some clarity.
We can start with a Clarity Checkup, my complimentary diagnostic review. I’ll:
Take a look at your current books
Share what’s working and what needs attention
Recommend the right next step (whether that’s a one-time clean-up or ongoing support)
No judgment. No pressure. Just an honest look at where you are and a clear path forward.
Reach out and let's get some clarity back into your business:
Comments