Anovastarr Accounting Services

25/10/2025

💡 Honest lessons, a ‘VP of Common Sense’, and plenty of food for thought 👇

Really enjoyed the ‘Accelerating Local Businesses Day’ at Cambridge Judge Business School on Thursday.

🎤 Panel insights:
Five local entrepreneurs shared candid experiences - from mistakes and leadership hurdles to hiring challenges and deciding between freelancers vs. employees. The discussion highlighted the flexibility and specialist skills freelancers bring, versus the benefits of building a team of employees.

🤝 Co-founder perspectives:
The panel explored contrasting views on having a co-founder - including one entrepreneur who joked that between the two co-founders, they’d brought in a “VP of Common Sense” to keep ideas grounded. They also reflected on their biggest regrets and advice to their younger selves.

🔑 Again, a recurring point — surround yourself with experts:
People who know their field and complement your strengths. This was also emphasised at last week’s Strategies for Success event with Sara Davies MBE.

🚀 Cue, this is where I can come in…
I help business owners understand their numbers so they can make smarter, more informed decisions, including:
✅ Use management accounts to understand performance and act
✅ Identify profitable customers and products
✅ Understand cash vs. profit and improve cash flow
✅ Spot cost efficiencies and boost margins
✅ Plan ahead with budgets and forecasts

🤝 Networking:
The second hour was spent connecting with other local business owners and members of Indie Cambridge, sharing ideas and perspectives on collaboration and supporting each other’s growth.

Even the most successful founders are still learning and adapting - plenty of inspiration and takeaways!

22/10/2025

Three words from Sara Davies MBE last week that really stuck: Passion. Vision. Drive.

I had the chance to hear her and other fantastic speakers at HSBC’s Strategies for Success event at the University Arms Hotel in Cambridge. The event covered an economic update, the journey of an entrepreneur, how technology can accelerate growth, a fireside chat with Sara, and a roundtable discussion.

Some key takeaways that really resonated:
👉 Invest in a mentor - learn from those who’ve been there before.
👉 Give back to the community - relationships grow when you contribute.
👉 Continually step out of your comfort zone & make the most of networking - opportunities rarely appear if you stay put.
👉 Be mindful of your ego and concentrate on your core strengths - bring in or hire experts for areas outside your expertise.

The roundtable discussion was a simple but valuable way to connect, going around the table to hear who everyone was and what their business offered.

Always inspiring to hear different perspectives from those who’ve been through the highs and lows of entrepreneurship - and a reminder that success rarely follows a straight line.

Big thanks to HSBC and the organisers for putting together such an engaging and motivating session right here in Cambridge.

20/10/2025

As the late Brian Clough said: "Now, if that's not in a nutshell, I don't know what is." ⚽

A couple of weeks ago, it was fantastic to finally share with the Business Brew group not just what Anovastarr Accounting Services offers, but also a little about my work history, hobbies, and interests - giving everyone a clearer picture of who I am and what I can bring to the table.

Thanks to everyone who attended - and we missed those who couldn’t make it!

17/09/2025

I recently received a recommendation from Carl Higgs, the Chairman at the Cambridge Veterans Club, and I’m incredibly grateful for his kind words. It’s been rewarding to contribute on a voluntary basis, supporting their treasurer and helping make processes more streamlined and straightforward.


At Anovastarr Accounting Services, I help clients:

✅ Identify which customers and products drive real profitability.
✅ Understand cash versus profit to avoid cash flow pitfalls.
✅ Improve cash flow and credit control with practical strategies.
✅ Spot cost efficiencies to enhance margins.
✅ Plan effectively with budgets and forecasts, while monitoring variances and performance.

Find out how we can help your business make better decisions with its numbers at www.anovastarr.co.uk

12/09/2025

I found this and thought of you 👉

I was digging through some old boxes recently looking for a holiday brochure to use as a prop, and instead I found something else: a 'Finance for Non-Financial Managers' course workbook I helped facilitate back in my Thomas Cook days.

That discovery reminded me how much I enjoy demystifying finance - taking what can seem like a foreign language and turning it into something clear, practical, and useful.

Fast forward to today, and that’s exactly what I do through Anovastarr Accounting Services. I help business owners and managers:

✅ See beyond the numbers in their management accounts and actually use them to make decisions.
✅ Spot which customers and products are really driving profitability.
✅ Understand the difference between cash and profit (because it’s possible to be “profitable” on paper but still run into cash flow trouble).
✅ Improve credit control and cash flow by calculating how long it takes to get paid and providing practical steps to get cash in quicker.
✅ Identify cost efficiencies and savings to help improve margins.
✅ Plan ahead with budgets and forecasts
, while keeping a close eye on variances and performance along the way.

In a nutshell, I make finance easy to understand, so you can concentrate on driving your business forward, not getting lost in the spreadsheets.

👉 Explore more about our services: www.anovastarr.co.uk

06/09/2025

✨ Networking: the best confidence class I never signed up for ✨

On Tuesday I attended my 30th networking event in just 8 weeks 🤯

At first, I thought networking was just about meeting potential clients.

But I’ve realised it’s so much more — it’s pushed me out of my comfort zone and introduced me to a wide range of people from all sorts of backgrounds and industries that I never would have met otherwise.

Here’s what’s changed for me:

✅ Confidence – walking into a room full of strangers now feels exciting instead of daunting
✅ Public speaking – especially delivering the 30-second pitch. Someone even asked me to do a talk at their next social event!
✅ Presentation skills – I can now explain what I do clearly, concisely, and with impact

Most people at these events are business owners or reps, but I honestly believe job seekers could benefit too. Networking is an amazing way to:

👉 keep confidence levels high
👉 practise talking about your skills
👉 stay connected while searching for opportunities

And it’s not just formal networking events — there are also socials, seminars, and workshops on Eventbrite (some free!) that are brilliant for building mindset and communication skills.

For me, the benefits go far beyond business opportunities. Networking has been an investment in me — and it could be for you too.

If you’re hesitating, my advice is simple: show up, step out of your comfort zone, and watch your confidence grow 💪

09/08/2025

💷 Stopped working this tax year? You could get your overpaid income tax back — fast!

If you’ve left your job and won’t be working again before April, you might be owed a refund of income tax you’ve already paid.

The trick is the P50 form. With your P45 ready, simply submit it to quickly reclaim your overpaid income tax.

Example:
If you were made redundant mid-year and received several months’ Pay in Lieu of Notice (PILON) in one lump sum, your income tax may have been calculated as if you’d worked the full year. This often leads to overpayment — which a P50 claim can recover now, rather than after 5 April.

Don’t wait months to get what’s yours. This refund is for employees who have stopped working — so don’t let your money sit unclaimed longer than necessary.

05/08/2025

✅ DBS check? Done.
📄 Risk assessments? Tick.
🧠 All 19 competencies? Fully evidenced and justified.
🕒 Hours of form-filling? Don’t ask.

More than four weeks after submission, and after jumping through more hoops than a circus act, I’m finally approved as a CIMA Member in Practice! 🥳

Anovastarr Accounting Services is officially cleared for takeoff — ready to offer independent accounting and advice, with all the necessary compliance stuff safely out of the way.

Whether it’s producing and interpreting management accounts, handling VAT returns, building budgets and forecasts, or digging into variance and performance analysis — if you're running a business and want clear, no-nonsense insight to help make smarter decisions, let’s talk.

MiP status: unlocked. Let’s go. 💼🔥

01/08/2025

✅ DBS check? Done. 📄 Risk assessments? Tick. 🧠 All 19 competencies? Fully evidenced and justified. 🕒 Hours of form-filling? Don’t ask. More than four weeks after submission, and after jumping through more hoops than a circus act, I’m finally approved as a CIMA Member in Practice! 🥳...

09/07/2025

🎉 Exciting News — Anovastarr Accounting Services Is Now Live!

After years of sourcing Wimbledon tickets, Forest play-off passes, and concert seats… I’ve got something a little different to share!

I’m proud to launch Anovastarr Accounting Services, based right here in Cambridge. 🚀

We specialise in:
👉 Monthly Management Accounts
👉 Budgeting & Forecasting

These services are designed for growing businesses that don’t need a full-time hire, but could really benefit from monthly, fortnightly, or weekly financial support.

We also provide bookkeeping and handle VAT reporting and submissions, so your finances stay organised, compliant, and stress-free.

If you, or someone you know, runs a business and could use part-time, tailored financial support — I’d love to help.

💻 Visit the website for more details - www.anovastarr.co.uk
📩 Or drop me a message any time
👍 Like & Follow this page for updates, useful tips — and maybe the odd football chat!

AnovaStarr delivers approachable, expert finance solutions across industries. Empowering businesses with clarity, insight, and genuine partnership throughout Cambridgeshire.