Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Ragoo.
Hi Andrea, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up watching one of my parents study ACCA and then when I started Accounting as a subject in high school I realized that it came really easy to me and I actually liked it.
After high school, I pursued ACCA qualifications and now here I am close to 20 years later. I worked my way through several companies, big and small. While working though somewhere in my mind I knew I wanted to eventually work for myself but I didn’t know where to start.
Then some years ago the company I was working for underwent salary cuts and I lost a significant portion of my salary. I was devastated by the fact that someone else had such a power over my financial situation and I had to make significant adjustments to my life to compensate for it. It was there that the spark was lit and I knew that I never wanted to feel like that again. I wanted to be more in control of my finances and earning capability.
I launched ATR Business Solutions in 2019 and started to build it while still employed. In 2022 I left my employment and jumped all into the business.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it was not a smooth road at all. As much as I knew I had a good idea, there was still so much to learn when it came to running your own business. I dealt with a lot of “imposter syndrome” and self-doubt. I was also scared to put myself out there. When you work for a company, you essentially have their protection. When you work for yourself, there is no one else but yourself and you are very exposed. There is no big brand to hide behind. You are building your own brand for people to get to know you and if you are not accustomed to that it can be unnerving.
As you know, we’re big fans of ATR Business Solutions. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
ATR Business Solutions supports small businesses and entrepreneurs. Managing finances, whether personal or business is tough and can be overwhelming. As their Virtual CFO (Chief Financial Officer) I help persons manage their money and finances so that it does not manage them! I provide coaching and support in accounting, financial management and business management.
I am most proud of being able to take my corporate-level experience and training from the “big” organizations and help smaller businesses. When someone starts a business, they are making their own financial future and I want to be a part of that. I am so proud to help them on that journey so that they can thrive.
There are a lot of accountants out there but I’m different because I do more than just file your tax returns and prepare your financial statements. But I look at the big picture. I look at your financial structure for the long term and help develop strategies for the future. I build relationships with clients that go beyond just a transaction to prepare one document.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I would say that I was nerdy growing up. My head was always deep in a book and I was very studious. I was the typical teenager crushing on her favourite boy band (Backstreet Boys forever!) and my favourite sport was volleyball.
But I think a part of me always liked finance without really knowing what finance was. I was fascinated by cash registers and bank tellers typing away at their machines and counting money. So without really knowing it, I was drawn to “finance”.
I eventually took that fascination and carried it with me to my career. I get nerdy when I talk about technical stuff and I love a good spreadsheet! (yeah, it’s an accountant thing!)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.yourvirtualcfonow.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/yourvirtualcfo868?igshid=ZDdkNTZiNTM=
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089968748556
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrearagoo/
