Chivrall Ltd - Bookkeeping Solutions

16/07/2026

Sometimes bookkeeping feels exactly like this… 😂🧾

At XeroCon this was the receipt capture challenge - you had to catch as many receipts as possible using only your hands.

It felt surprisingly similar to real life.

Receipts arrive in emails.
They appear in pockets.
They get left in vans.
They fade.
They disappear.
And somehow everyone is convinced they’ll remember where they put them…

The reality is that good bookkeeping isn’t about being brilliant at chasing paperwork. It’s about having systems that make it easy to capture receipts before they become a problem.

That’s why I’m so interested in tools like Apron with William AI and Xero’s new Smart Capture. If technology can remove the admin and make it easier to get the paperwork right first time, that’s a win for everyone.

My philosophy is simple: touch it once.

If the receipt is in your hand or your inbox, send it in there and then. Take a photo, forward the email, and you’re done. The technology does its bit, and the next part is down to me.

When receipts are captured as they happen, I can keep your records up to date (bookkeeping).

That unlocks the next level - the exciting part - management accounts and advisory, where accurate information becomes meaningful insights to help you run your business with confidence.

And because everything has been recorded as it happened, VAT returns, year-end accounts and tax submissions (compliance) become so much easier too.

It all starts with one receipt.

If receipt capture feels like a constant battle, let’s have a chat. It shouldn’t be the thing that stops you getting on with what you do best - running your business.

09/07/2026

Totally being professional and not enjoying myself at all!!!


Xerocon

Who says bookkeepers and accountants are boring?

Now to get back home and put into practice the new fab things I learned

19/06/2026

Ah no not another train selfie!

It’s been a while as I’ve been so busy with client work and general life chaos. Sorry for the absence. Sometimes things just have to stop in order to protect our health and inner peace.

Rest assured I’m still working away in the background… just a little quieter.

Today though… that’s different. I’m taking the time out of the business to work on the business. Could I do that at home… probably… but would it be as effective and inspiring as doing it with others in London. No. Because I’d be tempted to jump back into the client work.

So today is a day when there is time to think. Time to implement change that benefits everyone I work with. Time to ensure that I’m busy with important things… not just busy.

When is the last time you stepped back and took a long look at what you’ve built, celebrated your wins, and planned for what you need to see next?

Have a great Friday everyone.

16/03/2026

⚠️ Bookkeepers / accountants — serious Stripe access warning

I’ve just discovered something that honestly shocked me.

Years ago, I was added as a user to a client’s Stripe account so I could support their bookkeeping. I didn’t have my own Stripe account at the time - I simply needed access to help them.

Fast-forward to now:
- The business no longer trades
- They are no longer a client
- Two-factor authentication has since been introduced
- I cannot access the account
- I cannot remove my email from the account
And I cannot open my own Stripe account using that email

Stripe support’s solution?

👉 Transfer ownership of the Stripe account to me⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️
👉 Or create a new email address to use Stripe.

Let that sink in.

A finance professional is being told to take ownership of a dormant client payment account — a business they do not own and have no legal right to — simply to disengage from historic access.

I refused.

How is there no process to remove a verified user from a financial platform account — especially where they are not the administrator?

This isn’t just inconvenient.
It raises real concerns about:

Professional liability ⚠️

Data protection ⚠️

Access controls ⚠️

Safe disengagement from client systems ⚠️

Financial platforms are critical business infrastructure.
Clear user-removal processes should not be optional.

I would genuinely welcome views from Stripe, AAT, HMRC and the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) on how professionals are expected to handle situations like this.

Because right now, this feels like a serious problem.

My advice to fellow practitioners:
- Always set up your own Stripe account first.
- Understand exactly how you can be removed later.
Historic access can become a real risk.

Has anyone else experienced this?

25/02/2026

Big shout out to everyone who helped me get ready for today!

Totally forgot in the video to say thanks to my bestie Rachel for the nail varnish sparkles and emotional support too.

Genuinely - ask for help… whatever it is the load will lightened and you’ll feel better.

11/02/2026

This morning I learned (again) that the “easy” route isn’t always the wise one!

Between our village and school there’s a stretch of road that’s gone from puddle to full-on flood — above the kerb, deeper than the car’s belly. It’s technically closed, but plenty of people are still chancing it. We did once… and then we stopped. The risk (and the insurance fine print) just isn’t worth it.

The alternative? A detour that turns a 6-minute school run into anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes thanks to displaced traffic. It’s seriously annoying... a queue nose to tail, plans slipping, everyone impacted.

So today we tried something different: the scooter. My daughter rode to school; I rode it back. I was at my desk earlier than I would even on clear roads! Heart rate up, quads and glutes burning, brain clear. By choosing the “right” thing over the risky shortcut, we found a better outcome we didn’t expect.

It’s a good reminder for work, too. Shortcuts can look tempting... cutting corners on processes, winging it with numbers, pushing through when the signs say “closed”. But the calm, responsible path often pays you back in ways that matter: safety, clarity, time, and a bit of breathing space when you need it most.

Doing the right thing isn’t always faster. But it’s usually steadier and today, it got us exactly where we needed to be. 🌱

14/01/2026

I hear versions of these sentences more often than you’d think.
“I feel stupid. I don’t understand money.”
“I’m scared to open Xero.”
“I just sign things and hope for the best.”

A new year often brings times of reflection and promises to do/be better... you don't have to do it alone - working with someone else is a great way to stay accountable and actually get things done.

Could a Bookkeeper be just the person you need to make a big difference this year?

Most people who come to me aren’t bad with money. They’re overwhelmed, worried they’ve messed something up, and quietly carrying the mental load of not quite knowing where they stand. This blog explores what that really looks like... and what actually helps.

19/12/2025

Being shortlisted for the Client Impact award has made me pause and reflect on what that actually looks like in practice.

For me, it’s not one big dramatic moment. It’s lots of small, human shifts that add up to something meaningful.

It is a real honour to be one of four people shortlisted for this award.

It’s a genuinely lovely group to be part of. So many bookkeepers doing thoughtful, people-first work for their clients, often quietly and behind the scenes. To be recognised alongside them feels really special.

I’m looking forward to a bit of festive cheer at the awards, a chance to celebrate, and to pause for a moment and acknowledge the impact this work can have – not just on numbers, but on people’s confidence, clarity and wellbeing.

I don’t go into these things expecting to win. But I do think it’s important to stop and celebrate progress, community and the support we give one another in this profession.

Wishing everyone shortlisted the very best – and a huge thank you to The Bookkeepers’ Collective for creating such a supportive space to grow in

10/12/2025

Wait… what!!!!
I had to read it twice to make sure I wasn’t imagining it. I’m absolutely over the moon to be shortlisted for the Client Impact Award. It means so much because this category reflects the heart of what I do: helping people feel calm, supported and back in control of their finances.

Huge congratulations to everyone else on the shortlist. Such inspiring company to be in.

We are thrilled to reveal the shortlist for this year’s Client Impact Award, celebrating bookkeepers who’ve gone above and beyond to change their clients’ lives, not just their ledgers.

Shortlisted for the Client Impact Award, sponsored by Dext by IRIS:
Nicola Carey
Hannah Chivrall
Trudie Howman
Jonny Irwin

This category blew us away. Entries included stories of bookkeepers who have recovered tens of thousands of pounds in overpaid VAT for businesses, helped clients move from the brink of penalties and cashflow crises to being back on track, profitable and confident, and untangled complex software errors that were causing huge financial and reporting problems in the background.

Congratulations to everyone on the shortlist, and thank you to Dext for sponsoring this award and championing the impact that great bookkeeping can have.

28/11/2025

Bookkeeping is the foundation of trustworthy accounts 🌱

This was my little intro at today’s Last Friday Club meetup in Chichester... but honestly, it’s more than just an intro. It’s what I stand by.

Solid foundations matter. When you know exactly what’s moving in and out of your business, you can create accounts you can actually rely on.

And making that easy is my superpower.

I help busy people to... touch each receipt once, issue invoices quickly and get paid upfront or on the spot. Most clients come to me because they’re tired of the accounting admin weighing them down - they want clarity, calm and someone they trust to keep things on track.

With modern systems and smart apps, I reduce the faff to mere moments. You capture the receipt… I handle the rest. Behind the scenes, I categorise, collate and verify every transaction against the bank and cash book, then turn it into clear monthly figures that guide your decisions and steady your growth.

I have to say how grateful I am to be part of such a supportive, friendly business community here in Chichester. Days like today remind me how much we all learn from one another, and how good it feels to share what we do with people who genuinely care 🌿

Here’s to strong foundations, good conversations and heading into the weekend with a bit more clarity.