Switching careers is never easy. But for Beth, founder of Nära Accountancy, leaving behind a decade in fashion buying at Marks & Spencer and starting from scratch as an accountant has turned out to be the best decision she’s ever made.
Her story is one of fresh starts, bold decisions, and building a firm the right way, with Engager at the centre of it all.
A Different Kind of Beginning
Beth didn’t grow up planning to run her own accountancy practice. Her early career was spent in retail, working at the fast-paced heart of a FTSE 100 company.
“I was a clothing buyer living in London, working in a role where if it wasn’t done yesterday, it wasn’t fast enough,” she explains. “Over time, recessions and cutbacks meant the job became increasingly focused on budgets and numbers, and I realised I actually enjoyed that part the most.”
That realisation planted the seed. Beth began studying AAT on the side, and eventually made the leap into accountancy full time. By February 2025, she was running her own practice.
Starting on the Best Foot
Having worked in firms that relied on clunky, sub-par practice management systems, Beth knew exactly what she didn’t want when she went solo.
“I wanted to start on the best possible foot. I’ve worked in firms with systems that just weren’t sustainable, they slowed everything down. I didn’t want that for myself or my clients.”
So instead of waiting until she grew, Beth built her firm on Engager from day one.
“I’d already set Engager up for a firm I worked at years ago and knew it was a game changer. The features and support were far superior to alternatives. This time, it was a no-brainer.”
A Remote-First Firm with a Personal Touch
Beth’s practice is run fully remotely. She offers bookkeeping, tax, accounting, advisory, and VFO services, but her real niche isn’t an industry, it’s people.
“Some clients just want to hand over papers and have the work done, and that’s fine. But for me, I want to work with people who are open to change, who want to make their lives easier, and who value collaboration.”
This ethos is shaping her practice as she grows. She’s already mentoring young entrepreneurs through local start-up programmes, combining her commercial background with accounting to support the next generation of business owners.
Building a Tech Stack That Works Hard
Starting fresh meant Beth could be deliberate about her technology choices. She wanted a tight tech stack, not a mess of disconnected tools.
Engager became the central hub, giving her:
Automated client communication and reminders
Smooth onboarding and Letters of Engagement
A client portal to keep everything in one place
Reporting that gives her confidence in her workflows
Around Engager, she’s adding tools that integrate and complement, not duplicate. When she saw Adfin’s payment integration with Engager announced, she knew it was the right move.
“Adfin was the simplest thing I’ve set up so far. Cost-effective, straightforward, and it just works. Direct debits from day one have taken so much stress off my plate.”
The Results
It took Beth just a few months to feel fully up and running, but only because she pushed herself to set up automations and templates straight away.
Now, she’s seeing the benefits:
Efficiency: Faster, more consistent client communication.
Transparency: She feels more in control and clients get a clearer view.
Client Experience: Every client gets the same smooth journey, no matter who they are.
“I definitely feel transparency is easier, and client experience is more consistent. Engager has made me more efficient from day one.”
Looking Ahead
Beth isn’t chasing growth for growth’s sake. She’s building carefully, with the right clients and the right systems.
Her advice for other bookkeepers and accountants considering Engager?
“It’s worth the time investment. Systemise your approach so it’s not overwhelming, the payoff is huge.”
And as for her own future?
“I feel really confident about scaling with Engager, especially with all the integrations on the horizon. My goal is to keep my tech stack tight, make it all work hard, and focus on the clients that are the right fit.”
Frequently asked questions
Who is Beth from Nära Accountancy?
Beth is the founder of Nära Accountancy, a fully remote practice offering bookkeeping, tax, accounting, advisory and VFO services. She spent a decade in fashion buying at Marks & Spencer, studied AAT alongside work and was running her own practice by February 2025.
Why did Nära Accountancy use Engager from day one?
Beth had worked in firms with practice management systems that slowed everything down and wanted to start on the best possible foot. She had already set Engager up at a previous firm and felt its features and support were better than the alternatives.
How does Nära Accountancy use Adfin with Engager?
Beth added Adfin‘s payment integration after seeing it announced. She describes it as the simplest thing she has set up, and says having direct debits from day one has taken a lot of stress off her.
What results has Beth seen from using Engager?
Beth says Engager has made her more efficient from day one, with faster and more consistent client communication, easier transparency and a more consistent client experience. She felt fully up and running within a few months after setting up automations and templates straight away.
Beth’s story is proof that starting small doesn’t mean starting slow. With Engager as her foundation, she’s built a practice that’s modern, efficient, and ready to grow, all while keeping her clients at the heart of it.
👉 Want to start your practice on the best possible foot? Start your free trial of Engager today
