Mansour
Heather Satterley Current 2
Editor's Note: This is another installment in our ongoing series highlighting this year's Insightful Accountant's "Top 100 ProAdvisors." Over the remainder of the year, we will introduce you to our winners, getting their insights on a wide range of topics, including what it is like to be a leader in their profession, how to stay on top and what the future holds.
There is so much change. Everywhere she looks, Heather Satterley can see what it has done to her industry and her clients. In this interconnected, rapidly changing landscape, she understands what it means to keep ahead of the constantly moving cycle.
This year even brought changes for her. Satterley Training & Consulting is the new company she started that's devoted to helping other bookkeepers and accountants reach their fullest potential through training, coaching and collaboration.
Talk about change, right? Heather believes that to maintain your competitive edge, you must be able to understand, embrace and master all of the new and exciting technologies around you.
There are no shortcuts. This she knows. In her constant travels around the country teaching Quick Books Online, she has a front row seat to the struggles many accounting professionals and ProAdvisors share – developing the processes to efficiently run and scale their practices.
From a one-person bookkeeping shop, to a firm of nearly 100 people, and her time logged at one of the Big Five accounting firms, Heather has lived the life from every perspective.
Over the past 20 years, her work in the field has netted her a fair share of experience and accomplishments. A ProAdvisor since 1999, Heather also is part of the Intuit Trainer/Writer Network and has co-authored the QuickBooks Online and Desktop Advanced Certification training and exams.
As for accomplishments, there are many, including being named a "Top 100 ProAdvisor" by Insightful Accountant in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. This year, she was awarded the "2017 QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor of the Year."
What does it mean to you to be recognized out of more than 200,000 ProAdvisors in the world?
It has been such an honor to be selected for the last four years. I'm always surprised, because there are so many talented, dedicated professionals that don't make the list. It must be really difficult for you to decide.
Your first thoughts on getting news of the honor?
I was thrilled to be included again.
How has your ProAdvisor practice changed or evolved over the last couple of years?
This year, I ventured out on my own again by founding Satterley Training & Consulting. My new firm is devoted to helping other bookkeepers and accountants realize their own potential through training, coaching and collaboration.
Why is continuing to enhance your skills and acumen critical to staying one step ahead of the curve?
I wholehearted believe that investing in myself through continuing education and professional development is vital to successfully support my clients. The accounting industry is rapidly changing, especially with the emergence of interconnected services and artificial intelligence. It's really important to understand, embrace and master this new technology in order to maintain a competitive edge.
Give us a snapshot of today's accounting landscape.
I see a shift in how firms are working with their clients. They are no longer allowing their clients to dictate how their work is done. Instead, practitioners are placing focus on their strengths, tightening up their own internal processes and clearly defining how they want to work with clients.
What was the best piece of advice you ever received?
Don't underestimate or undervalue yourself – be courageous. As our favorite pot-bellied bear said, "You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."
What is the story that best describes how you help your clients?
I had a particular client years ago that was a bit of a mess when I found her. She had a bookkeeper that had very little experience with QuickBooks or bookkeeping, for that matter. I worked with the bookkeeper to clean up the books and trained her to do most of the work herself. Many years later, we found each other again when she happened upon an article I wrote. She reached out to tell me she had used the skills I taught her long ago to build a fabulous career.
How do you create balance in your work and personal life?
I have to say that this is a struggle for me. I really enjoy what I do, so most of the time it doesn't feel like work. I am trying a new strategy by leaving my smartphone out of reach during "off" hours. I'll let you know how it goes.
What's on your to-do list the rest of 2017?
My to-do list is kind of long, but exciting. I am working on some new projects, including an apps webinar series and small group coaching programs. I'll also be teaching at a few more conferences later this year.
Special thanks to our program sponsors, including Canon imageFORMULA Document Scanners, ADP, Finagraph, "Scaling New Heights" and Intuit's QuickBooks ProAdvisor Program.