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Newsminders®

Bookminders: From Concept to Trailblazer

At Bookminders, we’re not just about numbers; we’re about setting benchmarks and shaping futures. This Newsminders series, #VisionaryValues, explores our evolution over the last several decades to redefine outsourced accounting standards.

Forty years ago, our founder Tom Joseph launched Steele Financial Services, the precursor to Bookminders. Steele Financial Services was designed not only to solve a problem but to innovatively use technology to complement the life of its target employee – a college educated woman needing flexibility for her family. This laid the groundwork for what would become Bookminders, a pioneering concept that remains integral to our identity today.

Visionary Values

Iterating into Bookminders

In 1984, the Joseph’s family business lost their bookkeeper. Tom, who had early exposure to Apple computers in his job at Westinghouse, bought an Apple IIc computer along with accounting software and formed Steele Financial Services. The original idea of having his uncle run the system was a failure, but Tom’s sister Diane was able to grasp the new technology and agreed to take on the role if she could work primarily from home. Tom and Diane transformed a lengthy process into one that took only a few hours, completed mostly from her home office. In an era before the internet, this was a radical concept. Despite this initial success, the idea was not scalable given the lack of internet infrastructure and led to the closure of Steele Financial Services.

Bookminders Logo overlaying the City of Pittsburgh

Over the next seven years, Tom continued his career in factory automation, but the idea of Bookminders was never far from mind. A 60 Minutes segment featuring a manufacturing company that was highly successful using a piece-meal compensation model inspired him to think that a similar model could be used for his “bookminders.” He envisioned an environment that would leverage technology to offer meaningful, part-time accounting roles for women seeking an alternative to traditional full-time office jobs, all while providing affordable, high-quality bookkeeping for small businesses.

When Tom launched Bookminders in 1991, he enlisted the help of Diane’s twin sister, Lynne. Their first client, an architect in Shadyside, PA, was fortunately demanding and forced many refinements, which greatly improved the ease of navigating the financials. This commitment to continuous improvement became the foundation for Bookminders’ Quality Assurance program which attracted auditors eager to position their clients for success.

During a meeting with one such firm, a partner remarked that Bookminders’ approach sounded like the wave of the future. Tom replied, “We’re going to make it the wave of the present!” The employee-first focus, unique compensation model, timely and cost-effective financials, and commitment to quality poised the company for considerable growth over the next several decades, proving Tom’s vision correct.

Siblings Tom Joseph and Lynne Schaefer

An Innovative Concept Produces Continual, Sustainable Growth

In the decades that followed its founding, Bookminders expanded dramatically but sustainably. By consistently adopting and integrating cutting-edge technologies, Bookminders evolved from using floppy discs and a shared email account in the 90s to perfecting remote access with its customized, cloud-based platform. Recognized early on as one of Pittsburgh’s Fastest Growing Private Companies and a champion for home-based workers, the company set a new bar for work-life balance expectations in Pittsburgh’s accounting community.

Bookminders  strong, employee-centric culture and remote opportunities attracted an influx of staff.

A focus on building resources tailored to non-profits and small to mid-size businesses, along with the opening of the Philadelphia office in 2006, led to Bookminders’ emergence as the premier outsourced bookkeeping service in Pennsylvania. Over the next decade, its innovative concept and in-demand services resulted in the launch of two additional locations: Southern New Jersey and Eastern Maryland. The strong, employee-centric culture and remote opportunities attracted an influx of staff. Finally, with an abundance of resources and growing demand, Bookminders expanded its footprint beyond the Eastern United States with a Central Texas location in 2022.

Beyond Taglines – Artifacts of Culture

With a solid workplace culture built around meeting the needs of our primarily female workforce, and high demand driven by innovation, excellence, and affordability, Bookminders has largely grown through word-of-mouth. This referral-based growth strategy has led to the use of only three key statements over the years that summarize our culture and value position:

  • Timely. Accurate. Cost-Effective.
  • Recommended by CPAs.
  • Where Work-Life Balance is the Rule, not the Exception!

These mantras are more than marketing phrases; they are descriptions of Bookminders’ philosophy and direct feedback from clients and referral partners. Over the next few weeks, our #VisionaryValues series will explore each in detail. Finally, we’ll conclude with a forward-looking purpose statement and exciting news about what’s next for Bookminders!

*Black & White Image: Siblings Tom Joseph and Lynne Schaefer, first published in Allegheny Business News, “Bookminders Filling Small Business Bookkeeping Niche”, February 1994, Vol. 9. No. 2

Starting Fresh with Bookminders

In today’s fast-paced economic environment, accurate and timely financial records are essential for success. However, many organizations face challenges in maintaining these records due to the high cost of in-house bookkeeping. High turnover, extensive training periods, lack of financial expertise, and limited or inconsistent financial reporting are common issues that drain resources. Bookminders addresses these issues through reliable, accurate, and efficient accounting services. Our approach provides organizations with a fresh start, eliminating turnover, training, and supervision concerns.

Our Comprehensive Review Process

Bookminders begins with an evaluation of the accounting system for improvements in design, opportunities to increase efficiency, and identification of internal control weaknesses. We offer recommendations and collaborate with organizations to implement the most effective financial processes.

Leveraging Advanced Accounting Software

Bookminders tailors the accounting system to meet the needs of organizations in a cloud-based environment. Our resources offer flexibility, scalability, and accessibility from anywhere within the United States. We customize your financial system to reflect the entity structure and reporting requirements, ensuring thorough and accurate financial reporting. In addition, our account representatives provide training on how to access this information in a safe, secure environment.

Enhanced Checks and Balances

Our services have built-in segregation of duties that provide additional checks and balances. There are regular reconciliations, workflow approval processes, and extensive weekly and month-end checklists. Through a collaborative effort with each organization, we provide continuous monitoring and periodic quality assurance reviews to further ensure the accuracy and integrity of the financial data.

Automating and Streamlining Processes

We automate repetitive tasks like invoicing, bill payments, and bank reconciliations, which reduces manual errors and increases efficiency. Optimizing processes results in accurate and up-to-date financial records. This process includes reviewing original source documentation, enabling our accountants to verify that your transactions are coded properly.  

Effective Cash Flow Management

Effective cash flow management is essential for high organizational performance. We monitor cash flow weekly and provide reports for key balances, bills that will be paid, and upcoming bank activity. We can prepare cash forecasts and flows on a weekly or monthly basis.  At the close of each month, we provide a written analysis explaining variances.

Continuous Improvement and Professional Support

At Bookminders, continuous improvement is part of our DNA. We regularly review and enhance the accounting processes and systems, ensuring they remain effective and aligned with the organizations’ objectives. By soliciting feedback directly from each client, we identify areas for improvement and implement necessary changes to maintain the highest standards of accuracy and efficiency.

Engaging U.S.-based professional support is another advantage of working with Bookminders. Our employees consist of experienced, degreed accountants who provide expertise and guidance on complex accounting matters. This enhances the quality and reliability of financial management.

A Fresh Start for Long-Term Success

Starting fresh with Bookminders offers a structured, reliable, and efficient approach to managing your accounting needs. Our holistic approach addresses immediate concerns and sets the foundation for long-term success. Contact us to discuss the transformative benefits of expert bookkeeping support that positions organizations for sustained success and growth.

Transforming Accounting with Transparent Billing: Leveraging Volumetric Pricing

Client happy that Volumetric Pricing ensures she receives the highest quality services at the lowest possible cost.

Improving on Traditional Accounting Pricing Models

In the accounting industry, various pricing structures cater to diverse client needs and service types. Here, we explore the three most common models: Hourly Billing, Fixed Fee Pricing, and Value-Based Pricing, along with the pros and cons of each model. Finally, we introduce Bookminders’ proprietary Volumetric Pricing, a transparency-grounded model that ensures clients receive the highest quality services at the lowest possible cost.

Hourly Billing is a traditional pricing model where clients are charged based on the amount of time the accountant spends on their tasks. Benefits of this model include easy-to-understand invoices and the ability to set a clear budget cap. However, costs under this model can be unpredictable, hourly rates for top talent can be steep, and the structure can incentivize longer work hours instead of efficiency and productivity.

Fixed Fee Pricing, which involves charging clients a predetermined fee for a specific service or set of services regardless of the time it takes to complete, has several variations including retainers or subscription services and project-based pricing. This model should encourage efficiency since the fee is independent of the time it will take, however, scope creep and the potential for underpricing can result in higher overall costs for the client. Service providers may be forced to build in additional costs to cover unknowns or limit services.

Value-Based Pricing is a hot topic in the industry but not necessarily for the right reasons. This model allows service providers to set fees based on the perceived value to the client rather than the actual costs and required markup. While this can be lucrative for providers, increasing revenue potential and allowing pricing flexibility per client, there are significant drawbacks for clients. The perceived value can vary greatly between providers, making it difficult for clients to compare and assess the best value. This model requires clients to trust that providers price fairly across their client base without overly emphasizing profit.

Revolutionizing Billing with Volumetric Pricing

At Bookminders, we strongly believe that transparency and fairness in billing are paramount in all accounting services. Given the significant cons to clients of subscribing solely to hourly or fixed fee pricing, we’ve redefined the standard with our innovative approach that leverages the pros of traditional models while mitigating the drawbacks – Volumetric Pricing. Our clients attest that this method is not just transparent but also the fairest way to pay for the services they receive.

Bookminders accountants strongly believe that transparency and fairness in billing are paramount in all accounting services.

Volumetric Pricing is based on the actual services provided and leverages a carefully designed mix of hourly, fixed-fees, and transactional pricing. This approach allows us to deliver superior, cost-effective services and avoid the inefficiencies and hidden costs of relying solely on traditional models.
We delve deeply to build a comprehensive understanding of the client’s financial landscape. We meticulously analyze reports and statements spanning multiple months to quantify the average number of transactions and their complexity. This data forms the foundation of our monthly fee estimate, ensuring that it is based on concrete metrics rather than guesstimates.

While understanding how an organization’s operating activities affect its transaction count is crucial, some essential activities cannot be directly quantified in this way. These include month-end reconciliation of bank accounts, management oversight, software licensing, and IT support. To best support these types of activities, we apply fixed fees, ensuring that these vital services are accounted for without ambiguity.

Furthermore, certain specialized services may not apply to all organizations and cannot be categorized by transaction count or through fixed fees. For these, hourly fees are the most appropriate. Examples of activities billed hourly include researching, grant management, payroll service submissions, and expense allocations. This type of billing is our least preferred, so we continually streamline our services to provide maximum value to clients without sacrificing service.

Bookminders' Volumetric Pricing ensures clients regularly receive far more value than what they are paying for.

The significant benefits of Volumetric Pricing—transparency, fairness, cost-efficiency, service excellence, predictability, and flexibility—make it worth the initial time it takes for Bookminders to complete the client business analysis and for our clients to be educated on this billing method. Through a blended approach tailored to each organization’s activities, Volumetric Pricing ensures clients regularly receive far more value than what they are paying for.

Bookminders’ Jennifer Whitmore Recognized at Women in Technology 25th Annual Leadership Awards Gala

COLUMBIA, MARYLAND, May 13, 2024: The 25th Annual Women in Technology Leadership Awards Gala, held on May 9th, was an evening of celebration and recognition for exceptional leaders in the technology sector. Among those honored was Jennifer Whitmore, Director of Technology and Communications at Bookminders, a finalist in the Corporate Small-Market Sector category.

As a finalist, Jennifer epitomizes the values of Leadership, Achievement, and Mentorship and Community Engagement. Her foresight and employee-centered leadership style have been instrumental in driving transformative technology solutions and fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation at Bookminders. From enhancing operational efficiency to fostering technological advancement, Jennifer’s impact resonates across various departments, positioning her as a driving force behind Bookminders’ remarkable progress in today’s competitive landscape.

Bookminders Director of Technology & Communications Jennifer Whitmore honored as finalist for Women in Technology Leadership Awards
Left to Right: Bookminders CEO Jessica Minkus, Director of Technology & Communications Jennifer Whitmore, Office Manager Jenna Kelly

“Jennifer’s dedication to innovation and strategic thinking has been instrumental in shaping Bookminders’ journey,” says CEO Jessica Minkus. “Her leadership has empowered our team to embrace change and push the boundaries of what’s possible.”

Passionate about community involvement and mentorship, Jennifer has made a significant impact both within Bookminders and beyond. “Jennifer’s commitment to mentoring and empowering women is truly inspiring,” adds Office Manager and mentee, Jenna Kelly. “She leads by example, showing us the importance of giving back and uplifting others.”

Having dedicated more than 15 years to mentoring, Jen holds a special passion for organizations uplifting women in STEM. In addition to her coaching women in technology and communications at Bookminders, Jen serves as a STEM mentor for Woman to Woman Mentoring. She extends her leadership to the community through volunteerism with organizations such as San Mar Family and Community Services TGBT as a Mechanics Team member, PMI Baltimore as Director of Social Media, and the Frederick City Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee as a community representative.

Woman to Woman Mentoring Program Manager Eileen Foley-Breck, Bookminders Director of Technology & Communications Jennifer Whitmore
Left to Right: Woman to Woman Mentoring Program Manager Eileen Foley-Breck, Bookminders Director of Technology & Communications Jennifer Whitmore

Co-nominator, Dr. April Boulton, Hood College Graduate School Dean says, “Jen Whitmore is a leader of the highest caliber. Her management skills build bridges across diverse groups to get the job done. I cannot think of a more worthy candidate for this leadership recognition.”

Eileen Foley-Breck, Program Coordinator for Woman to Woman Mentoring, emphasizes the critical role of mentorship in fostering gender diversity in STEM fields: “We need to do better in supporting and encouraging our young women who want to pursue a STEM degree of study. Jennifer is someone who puts in the hard work of mentorship and who is helping the next generation of women in technology. Woman to Woman Mentoring is so proud of Jennifer and congratulates her on her finalist placement!”

At the gala, notable Bookminders representatives joined Jennifer, including Founder Tom Joseph, CEO Jessica Minkus, Office Manager Jenna Kelly, as well as Woman to Woman Mentoring’s Eileen Foley-Breck. Their collective presence not only highlighted the support Jennifer has garnered but also underscored Bookminders’ dedication to fostering diversity and inclusivity in the technology industry.

Jennifer and the Bookminders’ team relay their sincere congratulations to all the winners and a special thank you to WIT’s inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Toni Townes-Whitley, CEO of SAIC, for her inspirational career and words of wisdom.

Jessica Minkus, Jennifer Whitmore, Jenna Kelly, and Tom Joseph represent Bookminders at WIT Leadership Awards
Left to Right: Jessica Minkus, Mark Whitmore, Jennifer Whitmore, Jenna Kelly, Tom Joseph

Revolutionizing Work Culture: Insights from Bookminders’ CEO Jessica Minkus

Bookminders CEO Jessica Minkus featured on the Better People Podcast

In a recent episode of the “Better People Podcast,” Host Margaret Uhrich sat down with Bookminders’ CEO, Jessica Minkus, to delve into the company’s unique work culture and insights on building a successful remote-first environment.

Bookminders’ Pioneering Approach to Remote Work

The discussion kicked off with a glimpse into Bookminders’ history, highlighting its unique approach developed by Founder Tom Joseph. Bookminders provides a comprehensive outsourced accounting solution to nonprofits and small to medium-sized businesses, prioritizing employee flexibility in a home-based, remote-first setup. Joseph’s approach revolutionized the accounting employment model, attracting highly qualified candidates seeking part-time professional roles. Leveraging the company’s unique resources and cloud-based platform, Bookminders offers true professional opportunities for accountants requiring flexible schedules. With a physical presence in multiple locations throughout the United States, and a vision for accelerated organic growth, Bookminders stands as a leader in remote-first accounting opportunities.

Three Key Elements of Bookminders’ Culture

Margaret cited Jessica’s passion for creating a positive culture and asked Minkus to describe a few of the key elements involved in the process: an employee-centric approach, comprehensive and evolving standards and procedures, and employee support resources like the recently launched Team Adviser mentorship program.

Three key elements of Bookminders' culture are an employee-centric approach, comprehensive procedures that set clear expectations, and mentorship.

Jessica defines the heart of Bookminders’ culture, an employee-centric approach where business decisions are primarily based on the impact on employees. The company places a high priority on obtaining feedback and implementing employee-offered solutions, resulting in a workforce that feels heard, valued, and dedicated. Jessica notes that, “90% of our employees say that they’re going to stay with us for over three years or longer….100% of them are saying that…our expectations are realistic. We’re providing them the tools to do their job and…communication is effective.” For staff, working at Bookminders is “…a lifestyle….[people like ] having the flexibility, they like the supported autonomy…our employees love doing their job. They could not imagine going back to a nine-to-five desk job.”

Uhrich and Minkus then discuss Bookminders’ focus on consistency and well-defined procedures. While not as glamorous, they are critical, especially for remote workers. Jessica relays that Bookminders has documented procedures for 95% of employees’ work tasks, providing clarity on expectations and ensuring reliability and consistency in service delivery.

Margaret then prompts Jessica to describe an example of the third key item: Bookminders’ Team Advisors program. Recognizing the need for additional employee support to fuel internal and external growth, Minkus and her team introduced the mentorship program in the fall of 2023 to facilitate professional growth and development. Minkus explains how Advisers, selected based on institutional knowledge, expertise, and accounting specialty, are matched with advisees considering personality fits and communication style. Mentoring teams meet monthly, and advisees have the flexibility to reach out to their Adviser at any time throughout the workweek.

Jessica elaborates on why Advisers were quick to accept their roles, highlighting the opportunity for staff to grow into management positions without the administrative workload or full-time requirement. She describes how the program’s monthly meetings between Advisers and senior leadership foster open communication and collaboration, enhancing the efficiency of Bookminders’ already robust business model.

Bookminders' Team Advisors benefit from open communication and collaboration.

Minkus emphasizes how information quickly cascades down throughout the company, stating, “…everyone is accelerating their learning…they’re learning from others instead of learning solely from their own experiences.”

Minkus and Uhrich discuss how, given Bookminders’ commitment to promoting from within, programs like this are crucial for growth and succession planning. Jessica describes the overwhelming enthusiasm with which the program was met, as every staff member offered the opportunity to become an Adviser accepted it. “All of a sudden, everyone was just thrilled about the opportunity to…be a mentor to somebody else.” Minkus shares the incredible feedback from a long-tenured employee who stated the program is THE best thing that [Bookminders has] done…for the organization and supporting the employees.”

A Future of Continued Growth

Looking ahead, Minkus is enthusiastic about expanding Bookminders’ impact across the United States. With its supportive, noncompetitive environment and focus on flexibility and excellence, the company is well-positioned for rapid expansion while maintaining its exceptional work culture. Minkus emphasizes that growth at Bookminders is not about outdoing anyone else, but rather about individuals putting forth their best efforts, while supporting their teammates and choosing a career path that suits them best.

At Bookminders, all doors are open for employees to advance.

“Everyone has their own lane, and we’ve truly individualized the experience at Bookminders…they can choose how much they want to work. They can choose if they want to add a client to their portfolio or if they need to remove one. They have options, they have choices.” “They have the ability to get involved in other departments, to try different things…all the doors are open for everyone, and it’s up to them if they want to walk through them.”

Minkus’ leadership philosophy underscores the importance of agility and adaptability in a dynamic business environment. As Bookminders continues to grow, its employee-centric focus, comprehensive procedures, and innovative support programs ensure that its remarkable culture will scale with it.

The Better People Podcast is sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Employers Association, more commonly referred to as MEA. MEA provides Human Resources services to hundreds of businesses across numerous industries every day, bridging gaps that restrain innovation and growth.
MEA: Better People, Better Outcomes.

Join us for #TeamAdvisorTuesday

Bookminders celebrates Team Advisor Tuesday

Embark on an engaging journey in our upcoming social media series, #TeamAdvisorTuesday. In this series, we’ll shine a spotlight on some of the remarkable individuals shaping the dynamic culture at Bookminders – our Team Advisors!

Each Tuesday beginning January 16th, we’ll invite you to delve into the inspiring stories and experiences of these dedicated professionals who significantly contribute to our collaborative work environment. As we present these seasoned Accountants and committed Team Advisors, our series will unveil diverse narratives, achievements, and goals that define each individual’s career at Bookminders.

Follow us on this eleven-week journey to discover how these team members have successfully crafted the perfect blend of work, growth, and balance in their lives. As you get to know our amazing Advisors, be inspired by the compelling narratives of these individuals whose contributions are emblematic of the collaborative spirit and employee-centric culture that makes Bookminders a workplace like no other. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn, connect, and grow with us!

#MeetTheTeam #WorkLifeBalance #CareerGrowth #FlexibleWork #SupportedAutonomy

Smart by Design: Bookminders Honored as a 2023 Smart 50 Awardee

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, November 30, 2023:

Bookminders was honored as a distinguished 2023 Smart 50 Awards awardee, standing alongside other notable winners at a special luncheon celebration on November 29, 2023.

Bookminders honored as a innovative, sustainable, impactful company in 2023 Smart50 Awards.

Smart Business’ Smart 50 Awards spotlight exceptional organizations in the Greater Pittsburgh area, acknowledging these entities for their commitment to innovation, sustainability in business continuity, and achieving a significant impact across the region. Among the esteemed honorees, Bookminders has earned recognition for its remarkable achievements in these pivotal areas.

Several members of the Bookminders leadership team and staff attended the luncheon, sharing their thoughts on earning this recognition. Chief Executive Officer Jessica Minkus identifies the high level of management teamwork and their commitment to expanding Bookminders’ supportive, employee-centric culture as crucial success factors. “The team’s seamless collaboration plays a pivotal role in providing our employees with the necessary clarity and resources to succeed while enjoying optimal work-life integration. We have offered hybrid and remote options since the early ’90s, well before remote-first became a mainstream concept. We continue to prioritize that culture, maintaining a flat organization with direct access to management. Our values and the critical, proprietary resources we’ve developed position our staff for success in a personalized, flexible work environment.”

Bookminders CEO Jessica Minkus poses with the Smart 50 Award

Praising the management team’s remarkable cohesiveness, Director of Technology & Communications, Jennifer Whitmore, identifies it as a distinctive strength that allows Bookminders to make swift decisions and rapidly implement changes. She enthuses, “Our unified approach significantly expedites the change management process, ensuring that adaptations and innovations are seamlessly integrated into operations. This quick and efficient decision-making capability allows us to remain agile and responsive in a dynamic business environment.”

Smart 50 luncheon dessert and champagne

Mary Susan Anderson, Director of Operations, highlights that Bookminders’ agile, employee-centric model has led to a sustainable organization with exceptional retention rates. “Consistently seeking feedback from our employees on ways to enhance flexibility and work-life balance, we also prioritize training and development, reinforcing their high value to us and enabling us to expand our services to accommodate even the most complex clients,” she proudly states.

This ability to support the most challenging clients has been especially impactful for the Pittsburgh nonprofit community. Business Development Manager Melanie Rutan explains, “Our nonprofits face stringent reporting requirements that demand a higher level of accounting understanding than is generally affordable in-house,” she says.

“Bookminders becomes a crucial part of our clients’ teams and a direct contributor to their success. Our clients’ CPAs are grateful for the complete, reconciled books that make life easier for everyone. It’s truly a winning partnership all around!”

Several Bookminders management and staff attended the Smart 50 luncheon awards.
Pictured Left to Right: Senior Accountant, Maura Rodgers; Director of Operations, Mary Susan Anderson; Office Manager, Jenna Kelly; Director of Technology & Communications, Jennifer Whitmore; Chief Executive Officer, Jessica Minkus; Pittsburgh Business Development Manager, Melanie Rutan; Operations Support Coordinator, Katie Trevino; Director of Business Development, Pam Falkner-Hartigan.

Jessica Minkus, Bookminders CEO, Honored at the 2023 Pittsburgh Business Times C-Suite Awards

Jessica Minkus, Bookminders CEO, 2023 Pittsburgh Business Times C-Suite Award Winner

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, November 9, 2023:

Jessica Minkus, CEO of Bookminders, was honored at the Pittsburgh Business Times C-Suite Awards gala on November 9th. This event celebrated the remarkable leadership of 25 executives who have made a meaningful impact on the Greater Pittsburgh region. Awardees were recognized for their pivotal role in navigating the evolving business landscape, demonstrating skills, agility, and unwavering dedication in seizing opportunities and managing risks during both prosperous and challenging times. Co-presented by Aon and Fox Rothschild, this year marks the second edition of these prestigious awards.

Jessica Minkus, Bookminders CEO honored with Pittsburgh C-Suite Award at Annual Gala

Minkus contributes much of her impressive executive achievements at Bookminders to a fantastic cultural fit and the employee-centric, supportive environment. “In a small company like Bookminders, the path to the C-suite isn’t specifically laid out,” she reflects, “I feel extremely fortunate to have found a company early on in my career in which I could make a tremendous impact and thrive.” Apart from the company culture, Jessica’s management ascent is marked by her love for learning, willingness to work hard, commitment to continual improvement, and focus on innovative solutions. “If I see someone struggling with a process, I don’t just want to fix it for them; I want to find a way to turn a struggle into an opportunity that makes our company better as whole.”

Jessica’s leadership style, as described by her colleagues, blends approachability, strength, vision, and kindness. She is recognized for her hands-on approach, working closely with team members, understanding their daily challenges, and ensuring they have the resources they need to succeed. Jenna Kelly, Bookminders’ Office Manager, commends Jessica’s accessibility, stating “her availability, mentorship, and support empower everyone and make them feel valued.” Jennifer Whitmore, Director of Technology and Communications at Bookminders says, ““Jessica’s approach ensures that leadership decisions are made with a long-term mindset. We look beyond short-term fixes and focus on the long-lasting impacts for both staff and clients.”

With flexibility and employee well-being long touted as top priorities at Bookminders, Jessica has rolled out multiple initiatives in the past year that augmented staff resources and mentoring opportunities throughout the organization. “We want Bookminders to be a destination workplace,” Jessica enthuses, “a place where staff find their perfect blend of work-life harmony and know we equally value their personal and professional development.”

Jessica Mink
Pictured Left to Right:
Joann Fabrizio: J Fab Consulting LLC – Founder & CEO,
Jennifer Whitmore: Bookminders -Director of Technology & Communications,
Jessica Minkus: Bookminders – Chief Executive Officer,
Pamela Falkner Hartigan: Bookminders – Director of Busihness Development,
Gina Kallick: Entrepreneurs Forever – Small Business Advisor

Bookminders Honored as a Top Workplace Two Years Running – Further Recognized as the Best in Efficient, Effective Work

Bookminders is a Top Workplace and the #1 firm for efficient and effective processes.

September 10 2023: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

For the second year in a row, Bookminders has been designated a Top Workplace by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The organization ranked 2nd out of 61 businesses in the small company category. Bookminders was further honored with a special award recognizing effective and efficient processes, standing out among all 100 companies across all divisions.

Recognition for these awards is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage LLC. The anonymous survey uniquely measures 15 culture drivers that are critical to organizational success including alignment, execution, and engagement.

Once again, Bookminders’ performance resulted in the award of every culture badge available through this assessment. The company further ranked in the Top 5% for all Accounting/Bookkeeping companies, indicating employees have the highest regard for the company’s leaders, direction, work-life balance, and management support.

Bookminders Top Workplaces Culture Badges Top 5%

Bookminders staff ranked the organization in the Top 1% as follows for each of the following culture factors:

  • Clued-In Employees: employees are well-informed.
  • Company Direction: the company works efficiently and is moving in the right direction.
  • Confidence in Leadership: Employees have confidence in the company’s leadership.
  • Cross-Team Cooperation: the company maintains good interdepartmental cooperation and meeting efficiency.
  • Employee Appreciation: employees feel genuinely appreciated.
  • Innovation: the company encourages new and innovative ideas.
  • Leaders In-The-Know: the company’s leaders are well-informed.
  • Meaningful Work: employees feel like they are part of something meaningful.
  • Open Minded: the company promotes diverse points of view.
  • Strong Values: the company operates with strong values and encourages inclusivity.
  • Supportive Managers: Employees feel their manager cares about their concerns and offers professional development that helps staff learn, grow, and succeed.
  • Work-Life Balance: Employees are given the flexibility they need to balance their work and personal life.

“Earning a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for companies, especially because it comes authentically from their employees,” said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. “That’s something to be proud of. In today’s market, leaders must ensure they’re allowing employees to have a voice and be heard. That’s paramount. Top Workplaces do this, and it pays dividends.”

“Flexibility and work-life balance are foundational to our culture,” states Bookminders CEO, Jessica Minkus. “With an optimal blend of supported autonomy and managerial support, our staff feel appreciated and treated as the professionals they are. They value working in an environment where work-life balance is the rule, not the exception!”

Check out the Post-Gazette’s interactive Top Workplace guide.

Bookminders management team and staff attend the PPG's Top Workplaces Awards.
Pictured Left to Right: Pittsburgh Business Development Manager, Melanie Rutan; Director of Training & Development, Maria Holtz; Client Relations Manager, Anne Marie Wiegmann; Director of Operations Mary Susan Anderson; Bookminders Founder, Thomas Joseph; Chief Executive Officer, Jessica Minkus; Senior Accountant Jeanine Finn; Office Manager, Jenna Kelly; Director of Technology & Communications, Jennifer Whitmore; Senior Accountant & Project Manager, Jennifer Krebs.

Delivering on the Remote Work Promise

Bookminders has been offering a remote-first environment for our accountants since 1991, decades before COVID-19 forced a meteoric rise in remote work adoption throughout the world. In fact, while only 6% of employees worked from home prior to the pandemic, over 33% were working remotely by May 2020.1

Unfortunately for those who value working from home, many businesses have abandoned their remote work culture as quickly as they embraced it.

Data released by LinkedIn reveals that the “the peak for remote jobs was in March 2022, with over 20% of all listings offering the option,” yet by “November 2022, barely 14% of paid job postings invited remote applicants.”2 In March 2023, the Wall Street Journal published an article citing the U.S. Labor Department’s report that “72.5% of business establishments said their employees teleworked rarely or not at all last year,” up from 60.1% the year before.3

While the reasons cited by firms for abandoning or scaling back on remote offerings range from claims around productivity to sunk costs for physical office space, the fact is that for many, remote work is simply not a key part of the corporate culture. Management will invest in the type of culture they believe best serves the firm and its clients, and rightly so.

Getting hybrid and remote work right isn’t always easy, and when leadership believes an in-person, physical presence is best for the business, they are more likely to abandon efforts to get remote work right. Instead, remote work requests are reluctantly permitted as an occasional exception to a colocation-based culture.

If firms act with transparency, their attitude towards remote work is clearly and intentionally communicated to prospective applicants. Sadly, in the race for talent, not all businesses embrace transparency, and new employees see the promised hybrid or remote position quickly modified to a primarily in-person role.

Despite the negative headlines and lack of transparency, remote work opportunities DO still exist and the demand for them has not abated.

A Pew Research Center Survey reports that 35% “of workers with jobs that can be done remotely say they are working from home all of the time,”4 and a recent Washington Post-Ipsos poll revealed only 6% of remote-capable workers would prefer to rarely or never work virtually.5

Even in the Accounting industry, a field that has typically delivered services in-person, workers are demanding remote work opportunities and wise firms are delivering them. 50% “of the top-performing CPA firms have staff working remotely”6 and while only 29% of financial services firms permitted staff to work remotely one or more day per week pre-pandemic, now 60% do so.7

So, how can accountants who value remote work avoid the bait-and-switch of a promised hybrid or virtual role to one that quickly morphs into an on-site position? Look at the company culture! Applicants should evaluate the attitude around remote work conveyed via a firm’s website, in their social media postings, and from employee reviews on job sites.

Prospects can ask interviewers and current/former employees when remote work was adopted at the company, what kind of work or meetings require on-site work, and what tools are being used to support employees who work virtually. A company that has prioritized remote work within its culture will have readily available answers to these questions and will be excited to share how they position their employees and clients for success despite the challenges of telecommuting.

Bookminders has done just that since 1991, with a work-from-home environment that attracts and retains the best talent while simultaneously providing excellent client service. We’ve continually optimized our suite of resources and processes that allow our accountants to deliver exceptional service, no matter where and when they choose to work. Over the years, Bookminders’ service offerings have expanded from fully hybrid to also encompass 100% remote employees and clients.

While face-to-face meetings are still preferred by some clients and our market-based accountants do meet with them onsite, many others have moved to Weekly e-Service. With e-Service, clients embracing a fully virtual experience benefit from efficiency gains while still enjoying weekly virtual meetings, which are led by either a hybrid or fully remote staff member.

No matter what level of remote work a staff member has individually chosen, all enjoy a transparent, flexible, employee-centric culture. At Bookminders, work-life balance (and remote work) are will continue to be the rule, not the exception.

Sources:

  1. Coate, P. (2021, January 25). Remote work before, during, and after the pandemic quarterly economics briefing–Q4 2020. Remote Work Before, During, and After the Pandemic. https://www.ncci.com/SecureDocuments/QEB/QEB_Q4_2020_RemoteWork.html
  2. Moore, M. (2023, January 7). Remote work may be past its prime. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/news/story/remote-work-may-be-past-its-prime-6117210/
  3. Guilford, G. (2023, March 25). Work-from-home era ends for millions of Americans. The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/work-from-home-era-ends-for-millions-of-americans-8bb75367
  4. McGregor, J. (2023, March 30). Full-time remote work is falling-but still five times pre-pandemic levels, survey finds. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jenamcgregor/2023/03/30/full-time-remote-work-is-falling-but-still-five-times-pre-pandemic-levels-survey-finds/?sh=35086b512946
  5. Telford, T., Clement, S., & Guskin, E. (2023, May 24). Here’s what workers really care about, according to a post-ipsos poll. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/05/23/post-poll-remote-work-hybrid-future/
  6. Meyer, C. (2022, April 1). How accounting firms deal with Hybrid Working. Journal of Accountancy. https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/issues/2022/apr/accounting-firms-hybrid-working.html
  7. PricewaterhouseCoopers. (2020). Financial Services firms look to a future that balances remote and in-office work. PwC. https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industries/financial-services/library/balancing-remote-and-in-office-work.html