Finding The Right Fit

In the latest in our series highlighting our amazing partners, our Partnerships Manager Vicki Campbell spoke to NZQBA’s Membership Manager Kenn Cabigayan about the importance of finding a great community.

The New Zealand Qualified Bookkeepers Association (NZQBA) has been bringing bookkeepers across New Zealand together for professional development, education and support. With more than 500 members at any one time, the Association connects people from across the country online and in person through events like online webinars, regional meetups and a national conference and awards night.

2024 NZQBA Annual Conference.

Professional Community Grows Confidence

For Membership Manager, Kenn, watching members grow in confidence is one of the best things about running the Association. 

“I have one story that is close to my heart”, she says. “One of our members was in a nine-to-five job, and she wanted to start her own business. But she was struggling with where to begin because she needed to pay the bills, but also wanted the freedom to do what she’s truly passionate about.

“I had several one-on-one sessions with her, talking not just about bookkeeping but also just building her confidence. She also consistently attended our webinars and downloaded our templates, which I think gave her the confidence for things like pricing, and she networked with fellow bookkeepers. As a result, she’s started her own business and is doing really well. I think finding the right community really gave her the support, confidence and push that were key factors in her success”.

The story highlights for Kenn what a difference finding the right community can make. It can give you a feeling of connection, the knowledge you need and support to push that little bit further.

Kenn Cabigayan, NZQBA Membership Manager

Finding The Right Support Network

When you are looking for a community, Kenn says the first thing to do is to ask yourself questions.

Ask, what is the big picture, or what is your ultimate goal? Are you looking for a mentor? Is it a support system? Are you wanting to upskill or maybe gain some business referrals? What values and professional standards are important to you?” You might also want to consider whether you want your community to be online, in-person at a few events, at regular events, or a mixture of all the above.

The next step is research.

“From there you can search for industry-specific associations like a bookkeeping association or online forums, LinkedIn groups and in-person networking events”, Kenn says.

“You could look at an organisation’s website. It should have their goals, their terms and conditions etc. You can go to the about section or you can go to the event section, and that would give you an idea of what kind of engagement they have. Or talk to someone on the same journey, and you can ask them for referrals”.

Kenn’s Green Flags

And what are the key things you should look for when you are looking for a professional community?

• Engagement should be high, and there should be good retention numbers within the community. Kenn says a good community should have long-term members who come to feel more like friends than simply colleagues.
• The community should welcome people from all backgrounds and at all stages of their careers.
• There should be value-driven content with educational resources and expert insight provided by the community leaders or third parties. Bookkeeping, for example, is constantly evolving with regular changes to legislation and best practice and new tools coming onto the market. Being part of NZQBA, Kenn says, allows members to easily keep up-to-date with changes and ensure their technical knowledge is sound and they are credible for clients.
• Members should have the opportunity to gain wider real-world skills to build their credibility or get more job or client opportunities. Kenn notes that most sole traders and contractors are more than just the technical skill they perform. They are also business owners, which means they need plenty of other skills as well, like marketing or client onboarding. A good community can provide access to either experts or other members who can share their skills and experience.
• The community should be a two-way street. Community members should all be able to ask questions and share insights, as well as just receive information, and their opinions should be valued. NZQBA, for example, offers a mentor programme where experienced bookkeepers mentor newer ones to help them on their journey. But, Kenn says, the feedback is that it’s not only the people being mentored who are finding benefit, but the mentors are also learning a lot from it.

If you find a community that ticks all those boxes, Kenn recommends jumping in. “Most of all, I think you have to give it a try, and see where you feel the most supported and engaged”.

Check Out The Latest Blogs In This Series

• Community Over Competion, with Sam Browne from the Virtual Assistants Network New Zealand.