About The Accounting Department
Connie Vanderzanden
Connie is the owner of The Accounting Department which provides bookkeeping and QuickBooks customization to small business owners in the Portland Metro Area.
In 2000, while working directly for a CPA firm, Connie began to have a realization that the small business owner needed more assistance than a large and impersonal firm could give them. Connie began to have a vision of a business where she could help small business owners not only alleviate their day to day financial stresses, but also provide experienced business advice and networking contacts that would assist the small business owner grow and succeed in competitive markets. In 2001 Connie started her “Computerized Bookkeeping” and by 2007 Accounting Department, Inc. became officially incorporated.
Connie looks towards current and future trends to keep her clients up to date. Moving towards a paperless office, finding time saving and technologically advanced software and customizing her website to keep education current are just a few of the ways The Accounting Department keeps at the forefront of business advances. Connie attends conferences such as The Sleeter Group and networks with BNI and WEO to keep herself in the know and networking with local professionals so she can share her knowledge and expertise. Connie has also developed a new concept called “The Bookkeepers Network”. This is a network of local bookkeeping experts who have come together so businesses can find the right solution. Through a series of questionnaires, the Bookkeepers network has been able to pair the right people together. Finding the right bookkeeper is critical for business owners to have the peace of mind that their money and assets are secure and being tracked in the correct manner.
“Paying it Forward” and “Givers Gain” are not just phrases Connie uses because of her affiliations, but because they are ingrained beliefs. Connie spends much of her time volunteering- she is the new Treasurer for WEO- Women Entrepreneurs of Oregon, and actively participates in all of their events. Connie is also a Treasurer for The Girl Scouts of Oregon and SW Washington for the years 2008-2009. By working with young women in the Girl Scouts, and giving them leadership training confidence and strength- Connie is helping to impart the values and ideals that build great small business owners. By helping to build strong leaders and giving them opportunities they will not get elsewhere, our community will continually reap the benefits for years to come. One person can make a difference- and Connie firmly believes that giving the gift of self is the key to fulfillment.
Connie’s strong belief of being in service to others and empowerment through education has a flip side- it has also catapulted many of her clients into success they could not have achieved alone. Connie’s unique vision and client interaction is something valuable that clients cannot find elsewhere. The majority of The Accounting Department’s clients have been with Connie for years and new clients that were recommended through word of mouth. Many of the friends and clients Connie reaches out to are men and women who own their own business, and she firmly believes that the successes of these businesses are the backbone of our economy. This is a very cyclical vision of reward- when clients succeed financially, The Accounting Department also succeeds.
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The Accounting Department Team Members
In 2008 Connie opened a physical office and hired her first team of professionals to assist in the day to day activities. This was a decision made in keeping with her theme of “being of service to others”- maximize the work output and keep the work affordable. Connie understands that her clients trust The Accounting Department with their most valuable asset- their money. The Accounting Department team members have very firm directives: don’t waste client time and money, protect client privacy and handle the businesses as if each were their own. Connie looks for individuals with varied backgrounds so she can confidently delegate the different tasks that come from such a diverse group of clients. Currently the team is comprised of 3 members who work part-time. Each staff member has their skill sets validated and tested. We also do our due diligence on any potential employees by running background checks and calling all references.
Our Networking Philosophy
The words “We network so you don’t have to” are not empty at The Accounting Department. We truly believe that we can match our clients with professionals who can and will help them effectively achieve solutions in their small business. By staying active with local chapters of BNI and WEO we have developed a critical network of professionals from coaching to IT. Through developing our own business relationships with our recommended strategic partners and professionals, we can truly give them our seal of approval. Please see our Business Resources page for further information.
Click here for more info on BNI or here for more info on WEO.
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— Mardee Brennan, Lubliner FloristHiring Connie as my bookkeeping has put my mind at ease. I can get a little nervous around money issues and with Connie on the job I know that that my checking account balance is correct and the letters from the IRS are being handled, because she’s not only meticulous with details, she always follows through. I know that when I have a question about Quickbooks she will get me the answer.
I have found Connie to be warm, sincere, friendly, knowledgeable, dependable, and trustworthy. She enjoys laughter and is refreshing to have around. I recommend Connie to anyone who is frustrated with Quickbooks, needs support with their bookkeeping or has had challenges with another bookkeeper. I am grateful to have her on my team!
— Rebecca Hurwood, owner and Licensed Acupuncturist with All Ways Well, LLCConnie Vanderzanden and the Accounting Department have truly given me peace of mind and helped me save money on my taxes. As a "solo-preneur" Licensed Acupuncturist I wear many different hats throughout my work day and am blessed to have a thriving business that is always growing, changing and keeping me busy. Until I hired Connie, I was doing all my bookkeeping myself and hoping for the best at tax time when I would push everything towards my CPA and say "fix it." Now I have a beautifully streamlined Quickbooks program that is easy to use, I have Connie and her team to double check my books and keep me on track, and my CPA gives me a 20% discount for having everything prepped professionally - not to mention the deductions and write offs I hadn't even thought of before that Connie has on the books for me. Bookkeeping is one of the hats I've gladly given up in exchange for saving money and having more time while feeling confident that I'm getting the best service possible. I highly recommend Connie Vanderzanden and the Accounting Department for high quality, high integrity, money saving accounting services.
— Meris R. Gebhardt, Om Sweet Om, BodyogaConnie always gives 120% effortlessly. Her business is so second nature to her that you feel she is more of a multi-faceted consultant guiding you to comfort and success in your business. Connie's professionalism is top of the line, yet she is so personable you can't help but share everything with her. The result of this is high disclosure, opening up vast options and ways to better run your operation. I would recommend the smallest and largest and a vast array of clients to The Accounting Department.
— JR Hinds - RHU REBC, Hinds & Associates Employee BenefitsI have known Connie for almost 15 years. She is one of the most honest, trustworthy, and detailed people I know. Connie is one of those rare people who are ‘connectors’. She has a great knack for putting people together. And she lives by the motto, “Givers Gain”. Connie will give you more than she ever intends to receive. It is no exaggeration to say that the world would be a better place if there were more Connie Vanderzandens in it.
— Karli Olson, Olson VuLinh and I first met Connie last fall. We had started a new business and were in need of someone for our accounting needs. We could not be happier with her services, she is an absolute whiz, not to mention delightful to be around. We highly recommend her and would be more than happy to be a reference on her behalf.
— Janine Stephens, CPAI have known Connie for over 12 years now; first as a co-worker and currently as a strategic partner. She has many years of experience working at CPA firms and, therefore, knows what we want. I have outsourced some nightmare projects to Connie and they’ve come back to me squeaky clean and ready for tax prep. I feel 100% confident referring my clients to Connie for their bookkeeping, QuickBooks clean up and project based work.
— Kurt Saberi, CounterformWorking with Connie is like taking a deep breath, and then slowly exhaling. As you exhale you begin to feel a weight lift off of your shoulders, feeling secure and confident that you have a trusted business partner that knows how to keep your business running efficiently. Connie is truly like the calm after a storm. She's organized, efficient, and professional. She's more than someone who's just good with numbers. She's a creative thinker that has the potential to be a strategic partner in your business.
— Abby Fammartino, Abby's TableThe moment Connie stepped in and helped me organize my business books everything became a whole lot clearer, and thus my mind was more at ease.
