Jen – Principle @ Whelan Accounting
Jen – Principle @ Whelan Accounting
Community and background
Can you tell us a bit about your journey to Picton? How did you end up here and what attracted you to this community?
I moved to Picton 3 years ago when I was looking for a place to call home. I had been house hunting for months and every time I came to Picton it felt like home. The vibrancy and welcoming vibe of every single person I encountered made me want to stay. That’s the magic of Picton, warm, friendly and welcoming! The country vibe, close to a city.
Business and Entrepreneurship
Tell us about your business. How and when did you decide to start it, and what motivated you to take the plunge into entrepreneurship?
I completed my degree in Business Administration and Finance in 2015 followed by my CPA in 2021 whilst working full time and contemplating my next move. Over a period of roughly 6 months I had multiple conversations with people about mistakes their accountants had made and what it cost each person. I was also finding it hard to get to an accountant during their working hours and had spoken to many business people that weren’t getting the right level of support.
These stories motivated me. Lack of accountability for errors and lack of access to support isn’t right! Everyone deserves to receive qualified accounting advice and support and to know that they aren’t a number, they are a person! So I decided to take the plunge and opened my business (Whelan and Dealan Pty Ltd AKA Whelan Accounting) where I put my clients first! This includes being available after hours and over the weekend to give my clients the flexibility to gain support in their lives.
What does work-life balance look like for you? How do you manage the demands of running a business while ensuring time for family and personal life?
It’s great, I lock out time for myself and my family, whilst also blocking out time for clients. If I have a late meeting I have a late start. Being flexible for my clients allows me time to be flexible for myself!
In your industry, what recent disruptions or transitions have had the most significant impact on your business?
Has to be AI – so many people I meet think they don’t need an accountant because AI will or can do the job, and they are partially right – AI can classify transactions and make decisions but they can’t explain things to you and help you address change to achieve your goals. A good accountant goes above and beyond compliance to really work with you.
Personal Life
Outside of work, what are your hobbies and passions? How do you like to spend your time when you’re not focused on business or family?
In between renovations, IfI’’m not curled up with my two cats and a book, you’ll find me in the garden! I’m a bit of a DIY-er and enjoy releasing my creative outlet by creating a comfortable home. My latest project was to plant the roses…ask me how that turned out!
Are there any books or podcasts you’ve found particularly inspiring or informative recently? Any recommendations for the WorkLife community?
I’ve recently found the “My Unsung Hero” podcast – it’s an extremely inspiring (and at times emotional) series to listen to.
How do you maintain boundaries between work and personal life? Any top tips?
Utilise a calendar to block out appointments – make personal appointments and treat them the same as your work appointments. Also, have two separate phone numbers and set up out of office messages for your time off!
Home and Lifestyle
What is your taste like? Do you have a favourite item of furniture or object in your home? Anything that has special significance or tells a story about your family?
The best explanation for my taste and personal style is probably eclectic steampunk. When I find an item for my home it generally stays for a while. My favourite pieces of furniture by far would have to be my heirloom pieces. My great great great uncle crafted my buffet and dressing table for my great great great aunt around 1895 and I’ve been lucky enough to inherit them.
What do you like/appreciate about the design at WorkLife? Any favourite touches or things that make you feel at home when you are at work?
I love the way you’ve combined heritage and modernity! It’s such a fantastic merger of the two and allows the vibe to shine through. I also love how seamless and easy it is to book a room and how supportive the staff are! (And the Cedar Creek Cider is definitely a hit with my clients :))
If you were to showcase the best of the local lifestyle to visiting friends, where would you take them and why?
ohhh tough one – I haven’t been here long enough to answer this! My friends love coming to visit to check out the shops (Forest of Wisdom and Hippy Luxe are major favourites) and get lunch at the George so def end up wandering through downtown Picton!
Productivity and Time Management
What’s your go-to productivity hack? How do you stay organised and efficient, especially with multiple responsibilities?
Calendars! Seriously if it’s not in the Calendar it doesn’t exist! I’ve set up my email to add important events and meetings into my Calendar and it’s helped a ton. I also take 10 mins before the end of each work day (whenever that is) to put my top 3 goals in for the next day…It’s not perfect but it helps!!
Benefits of WorkLife Membership
Lastly, what’s been the most valuable aspect of being a member at WorkLife for you and your business?
The community and the space provided! Absolutely finding Worklife a dream…being able to have client meetings without the overhead of a full time office is fantastic. The team makes it so easy to do what I need to, it just makes it so worthwhile!
If your seeking valuable and knowledgeable accounting advice- then don’t hesitate to get in touch with Jen! She can be reached via her website or you can call Jen on 0410 321 587
