Aaron Reid
Certified professional bookkeeper (CpB)
Hi, I’m Aaron Reid, a Certified Professional Bookkeeper and the owner of Banking On It Bookkeeping.
I began my bookkeeping career after completing Office Assistant training at North Island College in Courtenay. A work placement with Sandra Bonner of Business Aide turned into invaluable mentorship and gave me the opportunity to work with many different types of businesses. That experience provided the foundation for the bookkeeper I am today: thorough, practical, curious and never afraid to ask questions when something doesn’t look quite right.
In 2003, after the birth of my first child and with the full support of my husband, I started Banking On It Bookkeeping. It allowed me to combine work I genuinely enjoyed with my desire to be home while raising our children. What began as a small home-based business has grown into more than two decades of helping British Columbia businesses and organizations manage one of the most important parts of their operations.
Over the years, I have worked with start-ups, non-profit organizations and established companies of many different sizes and industries. I provide full-cycle bookkeeping, payroll, government filings and organized year-end records that can be handed over to a client’s accountant or tax preparer with confidence.
I believe good bookkeeping is about much more than entering transactions and making the numbers balance—although I will admit that a clean bank reconciliation still makes me happy. It is about giving business owners accurate information, helping them meet their obligations and making sure they understand what is happening financially within their business.
Trust is central to the relationship I have with my customers. They rely on me to handle confidential information carefully, meet important deadlines, notice potential problems and be honest when something needs attention. I take that responsibility seriously. I also believe in plain-language communication: my customers should be able to ask questions without feeling as though they are expected to speak “accounting.”
I was born and raised on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast and remain deeply connected to the Powell River community. I served for more than 12 years as an elected school trustee, including time as chair and vice-chair of the Powell River Board of Education, and have held leadership roles with the South Coast Branch of the BC School Trustees Association. I have also spent many years volunteering with local sports and community organizations.
Those experiences have strengthened my appreciation for accountability, responsible financial stewardship, collaboration and the importance of seeing the people behind the numbers. They are values I bring to every customer relationship.
Outside of bookkeeping, I am a happily married mother of two, a hockey supporter and someone who cares deeply about my family and community. Banking On It began because I wanted meaningful work that could coexist with family life. That remains important to me today, both for myself and for the business owners I support.
If you are looking for an experienced, approachable bookkeeper who will care about your business and your books, please visit the Getting Started page and complete the new-customer questionnaire. I would be happy to learn more about you and your business.
Jessica Barnes
senior bookkeeper
Hi, I’m Jessica Barnes—although some longtime Banking On It customers may remember me as Jessica Hitt.
I completed the Applied Business Technology program at Vancouver Island University before joining Banking On It Bookkeeping in March 2014. Over the next seven years, I grew from someone beginning her career into an experienced bookkeeper, working closely with Aaron and supporting businesses from a variety of industries.
In 2021, I left Banking On It to accept a position with the qathet Regional District. During my time there, I worked in multiple roles within the Finance department, gaining valuable experience and a broader understanding of financial processes, internal controls, reporting and accountability in a public-sector environment. The opportunity allowed me to expand my skills and knowledge while seeing financial operations from a very different perspective.
As the mother of two—a teenager and a toddler—I understand how quickly the needs and rhythms of family life can change. With a young child at home again, I began looking for a better balance between my professional responsibilities and the time I want to spend with my family. Returning to Banking On It provides that balance while allowing me to continue doing work I enjoy with someone I already know and trust. It feels as though my career has come full circle, and I am very happy to be back.
Bookkeeping suits both my skills and my personality. I enjoy organized records, accurate numbers and the satisfaction of tracking down the reason something doesn’t balance. I understand that the work we do affects real people and real businesses, so accuracy, confidentiality, reliability and meeting deadlines are always important to me.
One of the things I value most about bookkeeping is the opportunity to build lasting relationships with customers. Every business operates a little differently, and good bookkeeping involves more than simply entering numbers. It means learning how a business works, paying attention to the details and making sure its financial records are complete, organized and useful.
Returning to Banking On It also means returning to an established working relationship with Aaron. We already understand one another’s strengths, share similar expectations for the quality of our work and know the level of care Banking On It customers deserve. I am also bringing back the additional knowledge and perspective I gained during my years with the Regional District.
I am excited to reconnect with familiar customers, get to know those who joined Banking On It while I was away and continue growing as part of the team. Whether I am processing day-to-day transactions, reconciling accounts or helping prepare a file for year-end, my goal is to make sure every customer’s books receive careful, dependable and professional attention.