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Bookkeeping is often described as numbers work, but in reality, it’s people work.
It’s listening closely, asking the right questions, and helping business owners understand what their finances are actually telling them. It’s being the calm voice in the room when cash flow gets tight, payroll deadlines loom, or year-end feels overwhelming.
For National Bookkeeping Week 2026, we shone a spotlight on a few members of the Wagepoint Advocate community — professionals who bring clarity, calm, and confidence to the businesses they support every day. While their backgrounds and specialties vary, a few powerful themes connected every conversation: deep care for their clients, pride in their craft, and a shared belief that bookkeeping is about people just as much as it is about numbers.
Building Confidence, Not Just Balance Sheets
There’s a moment Tanya Hilts, Founder of Cloud Business Services Inc lives for. It’s the moment when confusion clears, the numbers finally start to make sense, and a business owner’s face changes. “Watching that lightbulb go on,” she says, “there’s something pretty special about taking what feels messy or overwhelming and turning it into clarity and confidence.”
With over 17 years of experience, Tanya focuses on building systems that calm chaos and support business owners, both financially and emotionally.
That same sense of clarity drives Faithe Rouse, Founder of Faithe Rouse Professional Accounting Services. With 25 years in the profession and a team supporting clients across Canada, Faithe focuses on helping business owners feel confident and less stressed about their finances. By building reliable systems and staying on top of compliance, she gives owners reassurance so they can focus on growing their business instead of worrying about surprises.
More Than Just Bookkeeping
If there’s one thing every bookkeeper wishes more people understood, it’s that bookkeeping is strategic work. As Patrick McNamara, Founder and CEO of Lime Bookkeeping, puts it, good bookkeepers are strategic partners who help interpret financial information, spot issues early, and support better decision-making that directly impacts the success of a business. That strategic role often shows up in deeply personal ways.
Laura Acs, Managing Partner and Founder of Collective Finance in Calgary, has spent more than two decades becoming what she proudly calls a cheerleader for her clients. She integrates deeply into their businesses, translating numbers into insight and helping owners understand margins, cash flow, and next steps. As a repeat entrepreneur herself — having launched everything from a bakery to a nonprofit art studio — Laura brings empathy born from experience. As she puts it, “cash flow issues? Been there. Growing pains? Done that.”
Michelle Glockling, Founder and Business Growth Strategist at DORBII Inc. in Ottawa, is known for being “way more than a bookkeeper.” She supports entrepreneurs through a blend of compliance expertise, education, and encouragement, and she extends that support beyond her client work by co-hosting a local networking group. For Michelle, community is part of the job.
Across the board, these Advocates reject the idea that bookkeeping is simply data entry. They are interpreters, advisors, protectors, and partners — spotting issues early, keeping businesses compliant, and helping owners make smarter decisions.
The Responsibility of Paying People
Payroll may not get much attention, but when it’s not working, everyone feels it.
That’s why deadlines, accuracy, and trust carry so much weight for the professionals who manage it. From handling deductions and remittances to issuing ROEs and preparing year-end reporting, payroll is one of those areas where mistakes ripple outward, affecting employees, culture, and confidence. As Patrick puts it, the goal is to bring clarity to numbers that often feel overwhelming, helping business owners make confident decisions and gain peace of mind knowing their finances are handled properly.
For these Advocates, getting payroll right is about more than compliance. It’s about protecting trust and showing respect for the people who keep a business running. As Laura points out, payroll plays a direct role in company culture. Paying employees accurately and on time, without surprises, is one of the clearest ways a business can demonstrate care.
Taking payroll off a business owner’s plate isn’t just a service. It’s peace of mind.
The People You Don’t Always See
One of the joys of National Bookkeeping Week is getting to know the humans behind the numbers.
Tanya unwinds by soaking up the sun and dancing in the pool. Faithe fuels her days with great coffee and long hikes with her dogs. Laura’s love of leopard print and entrepreneurial side projects brings flair to finance. Michelle brings unmistakable energy to everything she does — from championing her clients to building community through her local networking group. Patrick blends work and adventure, often running his business remotely while traveling.
These details matter. They’re reminders that great bookkeeping is built on relationships, empathy, and trust, and that the best professionals show up as their full selves for their clients.
Why This Community Matters to Wagepoint
National Bookkeeping Week is a reminder that behind every balanced book and on-time pay run is a person making careful decisions, catching small details before they become big problems, and showing up with consistency day after day.
It’s about advocates like Tanya, Michelle, Laura, Patrick, and Faithe who don’t just run payroll but become part of their clients’ stories. They bring both expertise and empathy, translating complexity into clarity and chaos into calm.
To bookkeepers across Canada: thank you for the clarity, care, and confidence you bring to the work every day. We see you and we’re grateful for you.
You can learn more about Wagepoint’s bookkeeping community, Canada’s Payroll Collective here.
