In Cindy Lovan’s office, three things are happening: Milo, an adorable shih tzu bichon mix, is snoring. The cursor hovers on a troubling line-item splayed at 150 percent across the screen. And the fluffy, strangely addicting harmonies of Korean pop music bop in the background.
Which begs the question: Is it really K-pop if you can’t see the slick, synchronized choreography and fashion-forward teen icons? Lovan, a K-pop enthusiast and accountant, will most certainly say yes.
Bilingual in English and Laotian, Cindy earned her accounting degree from Buena Vista University in the charming small town, Storm Lake, Iowa, where she grew up. Nearly four years ago, 2017, she married her high school sweetheart and started her dream job at Go Figure when Rachel Siegel opened the Florida office.
“It’s easy to let accounting take a back-seat in your business. But what I wish more business owners knew is that it’s important to do it right from day one, and not just put it in a shoebox and figure it out later,” she says. “Every day I deal with issues that were poorly documented or simply done wrong that undermine the company’s success. Numbers don’t have to be boring. But if they are, we can do it for you.”
A woman so passionate about numbers — and music — can’t be wrong.
What’s the best part of your job? Working with a great team who is always ready to help when needed. We have built a great teamwork and working environment.
Your favorite financial or accounting challenge? I like the challenge of organizing messy books and getting them back on the right track. It’s so satisfying to get books to balance in preparation for tax returns or the financial statements crucial to securing a business loans.
What’s the one thing clients can do right now to improve their finances or taxes? Profit First! It was the best book I read last year, and it has the power to transform anyone’s finances. I wish I had thought of it sooner!
Do you have a favorite piece of advice for small businesses? Keep your books up to date.
COVID has changed so much in our lives. How has it affected your job?I worked from home for six months. We are a paperless company and it really helped having all our work available digitally.
What should business owners and entrepreneurs know for 2021?Definitely the newest PPP and EIDL loan options (see page 9). They are such a great tool to help manage stress and uncertainty or leverage growth like some of our other clients have done. Plus, there are valuable new tax laws that are in place to help such as meals being 100 percent deductible in 2021 versus the 50 percent from prior years.