Finding accountancy help when you are disabled, or managing any kind of health condition, should not mean struggling to fit around how a practice prefers to work. There is an assumption that dealing with an accountant means sitting across a desk, making phone calls, and wading through paperwork on someone else’s timeline. For a lot of people that is fine. But for people living with a disability, that traditional picture can make the whole thing feel like more trouble than it is worth, and that is a real problem.
I am Jennifer, and I run JB Accounts as a sole practitioner based in mid Cornwall. I work with self-employed people, small businesses, and individuals across a range of accounting and tax services. I am also deaf and wear a cochlear implant, so I have a fairly personal understanding of what it means to need things done a little differently.
That is not me saying I have all the answers. It is me saying I get it.
Accessibility in accountancy is rarely talked about
Most of the conversation around disability and accounting tends to focus on tax, things like the disability element of Working Tax Credit, VAT reliefs on certain equipment, or the Access to Work scheme. Those are all important and I write about them separately. But what I hear far less about is whether the process of actually working with an accountant is accessible in the first place.
For someone with a hearing impairment, a condition that affects energy levels, a disability that makes concentration difficult, or anxiety around formal processes, the standard way many accounting practices operate can put up barriers without ever meaning to.
How I work, and why flexibility matters
Because I run a one-to-one practice, every client deals directly with me. There is no being passed between departments, no repeating yourself to a different person each time, and no feeling like you are just a number on a list. For a lot of people that consistency matters. For people with a disability it can matter even more.
I am happy to communicate in whatever way works best for you. That might be email, WhatsApp, phone, or a combination depending on what you need at any given time. I do not have a preferred method that I expect everyone to fit around. If written communication is easier for you, that is completely fine. If you need a bit more time to respond to things or prefer shorter, clearer messages rather than long formal letters, just tell me and I will work that way.
Being deaf myself means I sometimes mishear things, and I will always say so rather than muddle through. I think that kind of honesty makes for a much better working relationship than pretending everything was understood when it was not.
The admin burden is real
One of the things I hear from clients with certain disabilities, particularly those affecting energy or concentration, is that the paperwork side of running a business is genuinely exhausting. Not because they are disorganised or do not care, but because the cognitive load of keeping track of receipts, deadlines, and records on top of everything else can be overwhelming.
Part of what I do is take as much of that weight off your plate as possible. The more you can hand over to me, the less you have to hold in your head. That is true for all my clients, but for someone managing a disability alongside their work, it can make a significant difference to day-to-day life.
You do not have to have everything sorted before you get in touch
A lot of people put off contacting an accountant because they feel like they need to have their records in order first, or they worry about being judged for the state of their finances. Please do not let that stop you. I have worked with people at all stages of organisation and I am not here to make anyone feel bad about where they are starting from.
If the idea of a long formal document or a detailed initial process feels daunting, say so. I would rather know so I can adjust how I do things than have someone struggle in silence or, worse, not get the support they need at all.
Getting in touch
If you would like to have a conversation about how I work and whether I might be a good fit for you, you are very welcome to get in touch. You can email me at contact@jbaccounts.co.uk, call on 01726 932182, or send a WhatsApp message on the same number if that is easier. There is no obligation and no pressure.
This is the first in a short series of posts looking at accounting and accessibility from different angles. If there is a specific aspect you would like me to cover, feel free to get in touch and let me know.