During International Women’s Month, OkotoksTODAY is celebrating women that are making a difference in our local business and community landscapes. Meet Susan Kleinsasser from SK Accounting Inc.
Susan Kleinsasser, AAT, started her career doing personal taxes in 2001. Her practice grew consistently and in 2019, she incorporated SK Accounting. Her firm offers full service accounting for professionals and individuals including bookkeeping, personal taxes, corporate taxes, GST and payroll.
“My career began by working with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA),” says Kleinsasser. “I saw so much injustice there that I decided to become an accountant so I could help people navigate a very complicated system. Things are even more complicated now for people trying to deal with CRA, since many of its employees are now still working from home and a strike may be looming.”
She says, “hard work, determination, fantastic staff and very supportive husband and children,” are factors in the ongoing success of her business.
Ironically, her biggest challenge is… “still dealing with CRA,” she laughs. “Also, I have realized the physical toll on the body it takes to sit at a desk all day. This is why I have engaged a personal trainer to help me and my staff engage in daily workouts.”
She continues, “What I love the most about what I do is meeting new people and building lasting relationships. I have had clients with me since 1999, and long-term staff.”
Kleinsasser’s workplace is one of empowerment and mentorship. She structures the office and its hours in a flexible way so her team, which is comprised of mothers of young children, never have to miss their child’s birthday or special events at school.
“Except for tax season, my team can come and go as they please, set their own hours and work from home,” Kleinsasser says. Family comes first.”
The office has a bell they get to ring on special occasions.
“For example,” Kleinsasser explains, “we have a client that is 94 and CRA kept asking for his medical records. Tracey Smith fought for two years to get his proper documentation sorted out. She fought and she won, so she got to ring the bell.”
Kleinsasser inspires other women entrepreneurs through leading by example.
“I do what I say and I teach others to follow through,” she says. “If you say you are going to volunteer, for example, make sure you show up.”
She and her team routinely show up and give back to High River Food Rescue, True Colours Rainbow Connection and many different animal rescue societies. During COVID, she and her family procured affordable produce for people in need. They won the Okotoks Kindness Award for helping people get healthy food during those trying times.
How does she do it all?
“I’m a businesswoman, a wife and a mother of four boys,” she smiles. “My way is to simply put one foot in front of the other. One foot, one step, repeat.”
SK Accounting has won a Readers’ Choice Best in the Foothills award for six consecutive years. In 2022 they won gold for best tax preparer and accountant.
“Looking forward, I’d like to keep growing sustainably,” she concludes. “Currently we are growing 30% per year and will need a bigger office soon.”
