Meet the Owner: Building a Career in Accounting and Finance

Hello, and welcome to my accounting and finance blog!

My name is Kaitlin Hood, and I am the owner and founder of For the Record Bookkeeping and Accounting. I can't wait to get to know you all!

Before diving into financial strategies, accounting tips, and industry insights, I want to share a little about my background and the path that brought me here. My goal is to give you context for the knowledge I’ll be sharing and to establish a solid foundation for the financial conversations ahead.

A Decade in Accounting and Bookkeeping

I’ve spent the last 10 years immersed in the world of accounting and bookkeeping, working with businesses of all sizes to keep their finances accurate, organized, and meaningful. Over the course of my career, I’ve built expertise in:

• Bank and credit card reconciliations (including parent/child credit structures)

• Journal entries and financial reporting

• Job costing and project-based accounting

• Payroll, accounts payable, and accounts receivable management

• Cash flow analysis and quarterly reporting

This hands-on experience has shaped my ability to not only manage the details but also see the bigger financial picture that drives business decisions.

Professional Experience as an Accountant

• Accounting Manager: I lead a high-performing accounts payable team while overseeing full-cycle processes, accruals, reconciliations, and financial reporting for multiple ongoing projects. My focus here is accuracy, efficiency, and clear reporting that decision-makers can rely on.

• Senior Bookkeeper at Intuit (QuickBooks): Working directly with small business owners across industries gave me the opportunity to problem-solve daily. I handled a wide variety of bookkeeping and accounting challenges while ensuring every client had a clear, accurate financial picture.

• Accountant and General Manager at Construction Company: My role here went far beyond bookkeeping and accounting. I managed payroll, financial reporting, scheduling, job costing, and vendor management while supporting large commercial projects. I led a team of 20-40 employees and oversaw the project scheduling, bidding, and day to day operations associated with running a small construction business. This experience gave me a deep understanding of construction-based accounting and project management.

Accounting Certifications and Skills

I am an Advanced Certified QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor, which reflects my commitment to staying current with accounting technology and best practices. Beyond the technical side, I’m known for being analytical, organized, and detail-oriented, with strong leadership and communication skills developed through years of managing teams and projects.

Looking Ahead

This blog will be a space where I share accounting insights, financial management strategies, and practical tips for small businesses—especially those in industries like construction where accurate reporting and job costing are critical.

Thank you for taking the time to get to know me. I’m excited to use this platform to combine my experience with actionable guidance, making accounting concepts approachable and useful for business owners and professionals alike.