About Me

“You can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”

Albert Einstein

Kim Masters

Hi, my name is Kim, and I like to look at finance and accounting in a slightly unique way.

My aim is to improve your relationship with money, to make finance less scary, and actually something to be enjoyed, because it is a key part in helping you to achieve your dreams.

For Business:

I have 25 years experience, working in South Africa and the UK.  I have worked for a number of different companies, including The BBC World Service, Sibir Energy, Laing O’Rourke, Salter & Baxter, Crunch Communications, PriestmanGoode and MJL. 

I always look for ways to help relieve stress and strain, especially at work; my motto is ‘WORK SMARTER NOT HARDER’. 

I believe that having suitable systems and procedures is key to making things run more efficiently, and helps relieve some of the pressure put on employees.

Finance is not the sexy side of a business, and not always fun….  In fact, I’ve seen some owners and CEOs who actually fear finance.  For some it can be that they simply don’t fully understand the terminology and financial statements.

I strongly believe that the finance department is a secret weapon that many companies are failing to use to their advantage.  Solid finance systems and procedures can actually help grow a business, and therefore add to its profitability; an undervalued and under-resourced finance department can have a negative impact on the business as a whole.

People generally start a business based on their passion or expertise, sometimes neglecting the day-to-day mundane jobs and tasks, such as managing their money, and this can be fatal.

On numerous occasions I have seen businesses struggle with workflow, deadlines, duplication of work, clunky procedures and finance systems that are outdated or not being used to their full potential.  This in turn can lead to the owner or CEO ending up spending more time working in the business rather than on it.

My aim is to help business owners to take control of their finances and streamline their systems and procedures, so that they can free up time and space in order to make those all important strategic decisions with confidence.

I also want to champion the finance teams and push for them to get the respect and recognition they deserve.

For The Individual:

As you will see from the ‘My Money Journey’ page on this site, my personal finance journey has been a bit of a rollercoaster; and I know from speaking to, and working with lots of people, that I am not alone.

As well as finance and accounting, I am passionate about health and wellbeing, in particular how people relate to money, both physically and emotionally.

While I have studied Reiki and massage, I am also self taught in many other types of healing, all of which have shown me that there is a better way to live, other than in the constant rat race that most of us find ourselves trapped in.

I want people to find and follow their dreams, to live the life they really want, and most importantly to do it in a healthy way. 

I believe in working with ease and grace, rather than being constantly flat out, and becoming overwhelmed by stress. I want to help people find some time and space just for themselves.

To really transform our lives, we need to learn to manage our emotions.  The more we are at peace, the more we are able to access our inner wisdom and creativity.

I started Make Peace With Money because I realised that it was not enough to just help people put a budget in place; I learnt that it is the emotions, and the subconscious that really controls us, which is why so many people struggle, and even sticking to a simple budget plan can become a challenge. 

I help people go beyond just the practical, I help them release their money blocks, and be the best they can be.

Qualifications:

  • Bookkeeping to trial balance (South Africa)
  • Bookkeeping to Balance Sheet (South Africa)
  • Accounts 1 through UNISA (South Africa)
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Management, PDM (South Africa)
  • Qualified by experience; Accounts Assistant, Assistant Management Accountant, Finance Manager, Assistant Financial Controller and Consultant (South Africa and UK)
  • Business Psychology BA (South Africa)
  • Basic Counselling Course with the Red Cross (South Africa)
  • Shiatsu
  • Swedish Massage
  • Reiki 1

“Kim is a fantastic personality; she gets on with everybody. She’s polite; she’s patient with us and she’s really really committed to our business, and it shows in the work she does.”

Nina Buckley, CEO MJL
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