Adfin | How Karolina made getting paid feel effortless

In the spotlight this week is Karolina, founder of her own tech-savvy practice and an accountant who’s been making numbers make sense since helping her friends with maths back in school. In our chat, she shares how her passion for automation, learning new industries, and building real relationships with clients has shaped her approach, plus why she’d happily take two cleaning robots if anyone’s inventing them.

Can you tell me a bit about your background and how you got into accounting?
I always liked working with numbers; sometimes you need to be a detective to find out what's going on. I like that. One day, my partner suggested I try accounting. I did some research, registered myself with AAT and enrolled for the first course, and I loved it. Then I started working in a practice to get some experience. And the journey started.

Have you always liked working with numbers, even as a child?
Yes. At school, I used to help my friends with maths, not with marks, but more with understanding what the numbers mean. In adult life, when talking with friends, they’d ask me different things, and for me, it was just easy to explain.

Did you always want to have your own business, or was that just the best route into accounting?
After some time working in the practice, I realised I wanted to do things differently. For example, I wanted to automate different tasks, like capturing receipts or payment processes. I saw other practice owners doing better, not in terms of money but having great relationships with clients, so I decided to start my own business. My approach is to focus on the clients and help them financially understand their business.

What do you think really differentiates your practice from your previous company?
Understanding what the client needs—sometimes even the client doesn’t know what they need. We try to help them grow their businesses using different technologies and automations, so they don’t need to worry about paperwork; they can focus on what they love to do - their business.

Do you focus on specific clients or industries?
We work mainly online and with a wide range of clients. We don’t focus on any specific industry. That’s what I like—each client is unique. Each client brings something different, and that keeps things interesting. It also means we’re constantly learning, adapting, and improving our service. We work, among others, with restaurants, business consultants, construction workers, etc. I get excited when a new client comes from an industry we haven’t worked in before, because I know I can learn something new.

If you had a dream client, who would it be and why?
It’s not a specific person or celebrity. I don’t mind what kind of business they have, but they need to have passion for what they do and be open-minded to different ideas and techniques, not closed off, thinking they know best. Passion for growth is what I’d love to see.

You mentioned you’re into technology. Are there any tech trends or software that excite you?
Most people are excited about AI and how it will evolve in the accounting field. Some people are scared that AI will take their jobs, but I think it will make our lives easier. I’m also a bit of a tech explorer—I love testing software (even non-accounting ones) to see if they could benefit my clients. I always like to see what’s going on with software.

Before using Adfin, what was your process for getting paid? What pain points did Adfin solve?
Before, I used GoCardless for direct debits and Crezco for standing orders. We had some issues with GoCardless—poor customer service and unexpected charges. That’s why I started looking for another provider. With Crezco, we were using it for standing orders, which were difficult to manage, because when we have any change in our fees, clients had to change the amounts themselves, and they usually don’t have time to do it. We wanted something mainly for direct debits and one off payments as well. Something that will be easy to use for our clients and Adfin ticked all the boxes.

What do you like most about Adfin?
It’s similar to other softwares, but the customer service is excellent. What’s most amazing is that you actually listen and act on feedback. That’s rare. Plus, the platform is improving all the time—it’s clear you care about getting better, and that means a lot.

Is there a particular feature of Adfin that stands out?
The platform is very easy and straightforward. Setting up is simple, and integration with accounting software is great. But I especially like the payment reminders. I just set up an invoice and don’t need to worry about reminding clients.

Do you prefer WhatsApp, email, or SMS reminders?
WhatsApp, because most of the time I communicate with my clients on WhatsApp.

Has Adfin helped you with anything in particular?
Yes! Lower debts, faster payments, and fewer awkward “Did you see my invoice?” chats. It’s made getting paid so much easier.

What’s your go-to drink whilst working?
Definitely coffee - a regular latte with milk.

If you could automate anything in your life, what would it be?
Cleaning. It takes a lot of time. If someone could invent a robot that tidies everything without asking... I’d take two!

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Looking for an accountant who actually makes the numbers make sense? Book a call with Karolina to see how she can help support your business.

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How Karolina made getting paid feel effortless

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