Today we’d like to introduce you to Bekah Fouks.
Hi Bekah, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
It’s kind of surreal to think through where I started, and how I got here, I’m still regularly pinching myself that I get to run my own business and work with such amazing clients. But to answer your question – I have to go back to about 15 years ago when I was living overseas in Southeast Asia with a missions organization. I chose to go to that area because I wanted to work in human trafficking prevention and where I lived was one of the most trafficked areas in the world (at the time). I was fresh out of Bible College and planned to complete my two year commitment in Asia, then move back to the US and get a degree in Counseling to continue to work with trauma survivors. One of the things I was asked to do to help support the international team I lived with, was volunteer in the petty cash office. I don’t think I had ever touched an excel sheet before that first day I helped out, but I was pretty instantly in love with the small tasks they handed to me. That seemingly insignificant time spent doing those tasks put me on a totally different trajectory in life.
Fast forward, a few more years and instead of getting that Counseling degree, I opted for an Accounting degree. Over the years serving in missions, at nonprofits and churches, and working various jobs I learned that one thing is universally true; that no matter how much passion or vision you have, without financial organization and leadership – your business, ministry, or nonprofit will struggle. I now get the privilege of coming alongside business owners and non profit leaders to help them make wise financial decisions, to structure their operations so that they aren’t always stressed, and to help them see how their money is tied directly to their vision and goals. I named my business The Grounded CFO, because I want people to feel grounded in their decisions – using reliable financial data along with their gut feelings, to make decisions that drive them forward.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest struggle is always imposter syndrome. I think anyone who cares deeply about their work, who has spent a lot of time investing in their knowledge and understanding of what they do, starts to feel like their knowledge is normal. My friend is a dietitian for example, and she can just whip out all these nutrition facts that absolutely boggle my mind, because that is just not my area. But to her, she just thinks “everyone knows this, right?” and I think I can get in my own head sometimes thinking “do people really need this? Doesn’t everyone know this stuff?” Thankfully I have a very supportive husband who regularly reminds me that’s not the case and most people hate having to do the work I do! But also, it’s proven every time I bring on a new client, and walk through my process with them and see and hear the relief they feel when we build systems, when we start delivering data, when they no longer feel alone in trying to understand their business and feel supported when they have to make hard decisions.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Grounded CFO?
If you ask 3 different fractional CFOs what a fractional CFO does, you’ll get three different answers! My flavor of CFO is heavy on financial operations, with bookkeeping support. I love working with people who have worked really hard to create a business they love, but know they need help leveling up their financial operations so that they can make decisions to keep moving forward. One example from a real client is helping develop a scaleable compensation philosophy for future hires that keeps her percentage of revenue spent on payroll costs within her desired range. For another client it was learning how to optimize her private practice software for billing so that everything could be integrated and visible, no more lost revenue from accounts receivable not being monitored! For another it was tracking employee utilization across projects to pinpoint where things were breaking down and preventing her from working on her sales goals. Not all of these things immediately sound like they are financial, but they all show up in the bookkeeping down the line. I think it’s this focus coupled with really great consistent bookkeeping that sets me apart form other bookkeeping/advisory firms.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
It’s a two-fold lesson: Trust in God, and trust in yourself. So much of my business fell into place when I stopped trying to control it. If the beginning of my story didn’t give it away, I am a follower of Jesus, and as I’ve stepped out into this wild world of owning my own business I’ve also been challenged so much in what I believe about provision. Do I provide for myself or do I trust God to provide for me? Its been very cool at every step of this process to see that while God has given me the skills and ability to do this on my own, it’s so much better when I do it with Him. And then on the flip side of that, if I believe God has given me the skills and ability to do this why would I ever doubt myself or give into that imposter syndrome?? It’s been freeing and challenging all at once.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thegroundedcfo.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookkeepingbybekah/
