Bio

Zoe Whitman is an award-winning bookkeeper, qualified accountant, and business coach who has transformed her personal challenges into a mission to uplift others. As co-founder of The 6 Figure Bookkeeper and co-host of The Bookkeepers’ Podcast, she has helped thousands of bookkeepers build profitable, flexible businesses on their own terms. The following case study traces her journey from a difficult childhood to becoming a renowned author, speaker, and mentor – highlighting why Zoe is a credible and authoritative figure worth engaging for speaking, training, or consultation.

Early Life and Inspiration

Zoe grew up in a single-parent household and spent time in foster care, which taught her to be fiercely independent from a young age[1]. By 19, she took the initiative to create her own security and to buy her first home[1]. She dropped out of university and she trained as a management accountant, spending 10 years in local government before moving into corporate roles[2].

However, Zoe quickly became aware of the limitations that traditional career paths placed on women, especially mothers. She noticed how rigid structures restricted flexibility, and she began to question the “work until retirement” narrative. These insights would later form the basis of her coaching work and her message on flexibility and autonomy.

Self Employment

In 2016, following the birth of her daughter, Zoe left her job and launched her own bookkeeping practice, from her kitchen table. She qualified with the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB), building a client base of local business owners. Zoe became very visible after writing her first book, Know Your Numbers. Her practice was award-winning: in 2018, she won the ICB Luca Award for Small Practice of the Year, and in 2019, she won Social Media Influencer of the Year[3]. She was also shortlisted in the British Accountancy Awards, in the Practice Ignition Top 50 Women in Accounting list in 2020[4] and as a finalist for Woman of the Year (Small Firm) at the Women in Accountancy & Finance Awards[3].

In 2020, due to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Zoe made the difficult decision to close her business. She briefly returned to employment before transitioning full-time into coaching and building The 6 Figure Bookkeeper.

Founding The 6 Figure Bookkeeper

The 6 Figure Bookkeeper was founded in 2020 by Zoe Whitman and Jo Wood, two award-winning practitioners who shared a vision for helping bookkeepers think bigger. The brand started with a podcast and a small Facebook group, and rapidly grew into an international movement.

The community, now with nearly 30,000 members[5], supports bookkeepers who want to increase their income, reclaim their time, and deliver more impact for clients. It offers practical training, community support, and live mentorship. The flagship membership, The Bookkeepers’ Collective, provides CPD-accredited training, pricing strategy guidance, confidence coaching, and systems support[6].

Zoe is especially known for helping bookkeepers raise their prices, develop premium offers, and deliver advisory-level value. Her approach blends mindset work with systems thinking. Many bookkeepers inside the 6FB community have reported transformative results: tripling their income, leaving employment, launching group offers, and finally seeing themselves as business owners—not just technicians[6]. One client reported growing from £0 to £50,000 in annual revenue within a year of joining the program. Another shared that she had built a team and tripled her income after applying Zoe and Jo’s pricing strategies[6].

AI Software

Zoe leads the development of two digital tools supporting the bookkeeping profession:

Hey Monika – An AI-powered bookkeeping training simulation for developing real-world work experience.
Journal – A social media creation and scheduling platform that helps bookkeepers show up online in their own voice, with brand consistency and professional polish.

Authorship and Speaking

Zoe is the author of ''Know Your Numbers'' (2020), a jargon-free guide to bookkeeping for small business owners[7]. This book is now out of print pending large scale changes to the way sole traders submit income tax returns and will be republished in the future under a different name reflective of the new environment. She co-authored ''The Bookkeeper Rises'' (2022), a bestselling practical guide to building a profitable practice that works around family life[7].

She has been invited to speak at leading events including Accountex, the Festival of Accounting & Bookkeeping, and training sessions for Xero. In February 2025, Zoe took the TEDx stage with her talk, “Work Doesn’t Work (So Change How You Get Paid),” where she challenged the hourly billing model and advocated for new ways to measure value[8].

Philosophy and Mission

Zoe’s approach is built on the belief that business can—and should—work for the person running it. As a mother of two, she knows firsthand the importance of time freedom. Her mission is to lift 1,000,000 children out of poverty by empowering their parents to run successful businesses[6].

Her training blends practical skills, pricing strategy, mindset, confidence, tech integration, and community. Clients praise her down-to-earth teaching style, clear delivery, and supportive energy. Whether it’s helping someone overcome impostor syndrome, raise their rates, or systemise their onboarding, Zoe delivers both heart and strategy.

Recognition and Impact

Winner – ICB Luca Award: Small Practice of the Year (2018)[3]
Winner – ICB Luca Award: Social Media Influencer of the Year (2019)[3]
Finalist – Women in Accountancy & Finance Awards: Woman of the Year (2020)[3]
Top 50 Women in Accounting – Practice Ignition (2020)[4]
TEDx Speaker – TEDxAberystwyth 2025[8]
Host – 300+ episode podcast for bookkeepers[9]

Zoe’s blend of professional rigour, warmth, and big-picture thinking has made her one of the most influential and respected leaders in the bookkeeping industry today.

References

The Bookkeepers’ Podcast – Episode 330 “SHAME I Couldn’t Trust Anyone” (July 2025).
AccountingWEB – "Why women in accounting are still pushing for change" (Feb 2025).
ICB Luca Awards (2018 and 2019).
Practice Ignition – Top 50 Women in Accounting list (2020).
The 6 Figure Bookkeepers’ Club Facebook Group statistics (Aug 2025).
The 6 Figure Bookkeeper – Member testimonials and mission statements.
Whitman, Zoe and Wood, Jo. ''The Bookkeeper Rises'' (2022); Whitman, Zoe. ''Know Your Numbers'' (2023).
TEDxAberystwyth – Speaker profile and talk: "Work Doesn’t Work (So Change How You Get Paid)".
Virtual Cabinet – Blog: “Our Top 6 Favourite Podcasts for the Accountancy Profession” (May 2022).