Two local companies have whipped up winning formulas for sorting out admin and bookkeeping work and their expertise has been recognised by their professional peers.
Jo Mankelow from Mankelow Accounts at Highland Park took top honours, announced as bookkeeper of the year at the New Zealand Bookkeeper Association awards.
Only two years ago, Jo was awarded the emerging bookkeeper’s award when she launched her own business, and her hard work to develop her business has led to dramatic growth.
Since 2014, Mrs Mankelow has grown her company from a one-person enterprise to a bustling business providing employment for six women.
“The last few years have been very busy and it is quite overwhelming to be recognised as a professional leader,” says Mrs Mankelow.
While striving to generate and then keep up with phenomenal growth Mrs Mankelow discovered she was pregnant and then her baby son arrived early.
Clients presented seemingly impossible deadlines and she just kept meeting their targets.
“The challenges were hard but I’m through that now and it was worth it.”
Mentoring is a big part of Mrs Mankelow’s lifestyle and out-of-hours she helps employees with their professional development and this year, she took on a Gateway student from Ormiston Senior College.
In 2016, Mrs Mankelow decided she needed to spend some time on her well-being and she tackled a fitness regime.
She encourages her work colleagues to exercise at her home gym and her fitness goals have supported others, including motivating staff to enter Totara Hospice’s Sunrise Walk, where they raised $3,700.
On Friday July 15, Jo entered a charity boxing fight at the Barrel Inn in Howick, which she also sponsored.
The business dynamo sure does pack a punch and Jo already plans for her next step of professional development. Watch this space.
