Today we’d like to introduce you to Candice Williams.
Hi Candice, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My sophomore year of college the Enron scandal imploded and I was intrigued by the investigations and formations of the PCAOB and SOX act, etc. Once I declared my Accounting major and took my first audit class, I realized there was a huge demand for audit professionals. Back then the only options were audit and tax, and I knew I never wanted to file tax returns. As an entrepreneur myself, I loathe taxes. After spending almost a decade with an Austin based mid-sized audit firm which was an incredible experience and excellent basis for my career. I entered into Industry when I decided to settle down and start a family as I traveled a lot in public accounting. I worked for an international manufacturing company, then shortly for Golfsmith before they filed bankruptcy, and then a FinTech company before I realized corporate accounting was not the best fit for a mother as a new mom of 2 young daughters. From there, I was very lucky to land a remote senior role at a distinguished consulting firm in Austin. Then Covid happened and changed the whole landscape of the accounting/consulting industry. Private equity firms exploded and took over all my clients and even purchased the Consulting firm and I decided then it was time to branch out on my own. By The Books was officially incorporated in 2019 as a side hustle so I was able to go fully self employed in 2022. Today I am a full service accounting and payroll firm specializing in small to mid sized businesses helping them achieve their financial goals and build wealth. I have roughly 50 clients and 5 bookkeepers working underneath me.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The transitions have been smooth from position to position but going out on my own and running my own business has been challenging. Growing a firm and finding the right mix of clients has its struggles. Wearing multiple hats and being the principal accountant for a number years has been my biggest challenge. I began networking recently and “selling your worth” while learning how to scale can scary. There are moments of self doubt but I operate at a CFO level and strive to maintain a high level of service and timely communication. So far the risk and struggles have paid off and I love what I do.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about By The Books – Accounting & Payroll?
By The Books provides accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, and FP&A services for small to mid-sized businesses. Our mission is to deliver high-quality financial services that empower entrepreneurs and help them confidently navigate the complexities of finance and accounting.
We are committed to supporting women-owned businesses and local nonprofits as a way to give back to our community. What sets By The Books apart is our depth of expertise across multiple industries and our strategic approach to financial management. Rather than offering basic, transactional bookkeeping, every client receives fractional CFO-level support.
Because no two businesses are the same, we tailor our services to each client’s unique needs, goals, and budget. We implement efficient processes, remove the burden of financial stress, and provide proactive guidance to help our clients maximize tax savings and make informed business decisions.
My expertise has always been in internal controls and system implementations so I love projects even the messy ones and enjoy seeing a cleaned up chart of accounts, implementing processes to eliminate manual work, connecting and syncing all the systems for the utmost efficiencies.
I am most proud of my brand as it has grown organically through word of mouth and I have some really awesome clients and work with some really amazing people! I really enjoy watching my clients’ businesses thrive. My non-profits are definitely my favorite as I get to watch them change the world for the better daily.
What matters most to you? Why?
Maintaining a high level of professionalism, timely communication and building relationships. The brand is me and I take pride in the hard work I have put in to be able to live the American dream of owning my own business.my 20year old self never could have dreamed that I would be running a small accounting firm in Liberty Hill. Also, having the flexibility to volunteer at my kids school and in the community is priceless. I really value community and small businesses in small town Texas and being able to give back to our youth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bythebooksatx.com
- Instagram: bythebooksatx
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bythebooksatx
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cdubose/
