The Connected Bookkeeper

20/05/2026

This isn't here to freak you out, just to educate. We don't know what we don't know.

It's an important understanding you need to be aware of, but unfortunately unless you're in the industry then you're unlikely to know this.

If you EMPLOY (not a contractor) someone to do your accounts, they can do any of the day to day tasks without consequences.

If you engage a registered BAS Agent (this could be a bookkeeper or an accountant, as long as they hold the relevant registration) then you're in the clear.

If you engage a VA, who happens to do the books for you as part of a wider service - they're likely unregistered and are in breach of the Tax Practitioners Board legislation.

There are penalties for those who breach, but insofar as the flow on effects for you as a business owner, they could be far wider.

BAS Agents are required to complete CPE hours to maintain their registration, plus hold membership with industry association(s), and hold professional indemnity insurances among other things.

This means that they're up to date with (ever changing 🫠) legislation, have the backing and support of industry associations and have met the minimum 1000 hours of experience before they're even able to register. Plus, you would sign an engagement letter for their services as an agent.

Compare that to a VA who adds in bookkeeping as a service, and it's easy to start to see how you could be engaging someone who can make mistakes (unintentionally), which can have a flow on effect to the accuracy in meeting your tax obligations.

It's important to understand the difference, so you can make the best decisions. Do you know if your VA is registered?

Always in your corner,

L x

19/05/2026

The paralysis we can feel when someone starts talking at us from a place of assumed knowledge is REAL.

Here's some questions to ask your accountant (or bookkeeper, or BAS Agent).

- what do you need from me, to make things easier for all of us? (Get the details, and when they need it.)
- can you explain why I'm trading as a sole trader/company/family trust and what they means in layman's terms for me in regards to my tax?
- do any of the new proposed tax changes from the budget impact me?
- am I set up in the best way for paying myself?
- can you explain how to use my software more effectively/efficiently?

The best question you can ask is: why?

If you're in a meeting with your accountant/bookkeeper/BAS Agent/anyone and you don't understand something, that single word can change the game.

It should make them pause, and explain a little more. If it's not enough, ask it again. As many times as you need to, until it clicks for your brain.

Also, never be afraid to ask "What does that mean?"

And, if they don't take the time to walk you through it (because let's be honest: your genuine understanding is to their benefit, too!) then you need to shop around for an accountant that is better aligned with you.

Ask the questions.

And if you feel like you can't, I can help you. I draft emails to accountants for clients all the time, and help bridge the gap.

Tax professionals live and breathe this stuff. They do 30+ hours of CPE every year. It's easy for them to forget not everyone else does - asking questions is a reminder of that. Everyone wins.

In your corner,

L x

19/05/2026

Help!

What do YOU call it when you're "doing your bookkeeping?"

- doing the books
- reconciling
- bookkeeping
- balancing the books
- don't call it anything because I don't do it
- doing the accounts
- nothing, it's really bloody boring

Help me bridge this gap between business owners and accountants/BAS Agents.

01/05/2026

😅 anyone else?

30/04/2026

29/04/2026

Back in the day of a "traditional" business (like, a store front), bookkeeping was much more straightforward.

One bank account.
You made sales (money came in)
You paid for stuff (stock, wages, rent etc)

Reasonably simple to track, yeah?

Today? Starting a business is more accessible than ever, which is bloody brilliant for ADHDers, because we're amazing at big picture plans and juggling multiple things.

But what we're facing looks like:

✅ Multiple income streams (different sales platforms)
✅ Multiple payment gateways (that send your money to you in different ways)
✅ Subscriptions (that we join, ignore and forget to cancel)
✅ Too many options for bookkeeping software (what to choose?!)
✅ Different ways to pay for things (direct debit, cash, manual transfers, credit cards for points, personal accounts when cashflow sucks).

No wonder when we sit down to do our bookkeeping, we're overwhelmed and straight into ADHD task paralysis.

Couple that with it being a boring, repetitive tasks that requires working memory and results in zero immediate dopamine reward.

So yeah.

I will absolutely stand by my statement that bookkeeping for ADHD brains is harder today than ever before.

The good news is that it doesn't have to feel that way forever. I'm Linja, the bookkeeper for ADHD brains - breaking it down and making it easier for you to stay across it.

Stick around, or share this with someone you know who might need me in their corner.

27/04/2026

My ADHD is fantastic at problem solving. Teaching. Systems. Processes.

Mental arithmetic? Not so much.

Yep. I'm a bookkeeper who can't do mental maths 🤷🏻‍♀️
Doesn't stop me from being amazing at it 😜
That's what tools are for.

22/04/2026

I said what I said.

Ready to make this easier?