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Rhonda Odom has heard just about everything during her more than 20-year career as an accounting and finance professional.
Sharon E. Buck, on the other hand, is the epitome of the “ignorant customer” to those in the financial industry. She is known for getting confused about her debits and credits and making ridiculous tax refund requests.
The two longtime friends wrote a book called “A CPA’s Guide to Happy Client Meetings – A Lighthearted Look at the World of Finance.”
The idea for the book came to her when Buck, a published author, told Odom, chief financial officer and assistant superintendent of operations and finance for the Putnam County School District, about the book on her way home from Dallas after attending a women’s conference. was born in .
“The idea for this book came from a time on a plane where we were having so much fun and we were both struggling to come up with one sentence,” Odom said. “Sharon considers herself one of my ‘ignorant customers’; her terminology is not mine. And we believe that everyone dealing with the difficult world of taxes can have a good laugh. We thought they could benefit from it and realize that taxes aren’t so scary after all.”
The public is invited to a book signing on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Needful Things Bookstore, 908 St. Johns Avenue in Palatka. We will provide light snacks.
The book is available in bookstores on Friday for $9 in softcover print, on Amazon or Barnes & Noble for $9.95, and as an e-book on Kindle for $3.99. Also available by emailing sharon@sharonebuck.com.
Asked if reading between the lines of the book’s stories would reveal her to be an “ignorant client,” Mr. Buck asserted his support for the Fifth Amendment.
“In many cases, I changed my name to protect innocent people, mostly because it would be my name,” Buck said with a smile. “I’ve asked Rhonda more wild and crazier things about taxes than Carter has almost no drugs.”
Odom got a lot of laughs from some of the questions he’s received over the years as a tax consultant.
“People want to claim all kinds of expenses,” she said. “Anything to reduce your unpaid taxes or increase your refund. I don’t laugh at my clients. I laugh with them and offer healthy alternatives to some of the suggestions that come to me. I’ll give you an idea.”
A news release about the book says the book presents the brighter side of the world of finance, and that accounting and finance professionals often navigate the complex world of numbers and regulations with the utmost seriousness. I find myself navigating. But hidden among the piles of spreadsheets and tax forms is a treasure trove of funny and heartwarming interactions with unknown clients.
Odom said he wrote “Counting Laughs” with Buck to remind himself and other CPAs that humor is a powerful tool in their industry.
“By sharing these hilarious and heartwarming stories, we hope to show that laughter can bridge the gap between customers and accountants, making the financial world a friendlier and more fun place.” Odom he said. “Counting Laughter is more than just a book for financial professionals; it celebrates the human side of finance.”
Mr. Odom believes their books are must-reads for everyone, from seasoned accountants looking for a laugh to those interested in the lighter side of accounting.
“This book is an opportunity for readers to experience a fun journey into the world of accounting through the lens of humor,” she said.
Mr. Odom will retire from the district on July 31 after 28 and a half years of service. She also worked for the Mississippi State Retirement System for over seven years. She plans to continue and expand her local tax practice.
Mr. Buck is an Amazon bestselling author and is still writing books. She is known for her humorous mysteries with a Florida twist, combined with her creative endeavors in editing, formatting, and ghostwriting business books.
She has written 20 fiction books and ghostwritten 10 nonfiction business books.
Odom smiles when she remembers her customers who wait until the last minute to pay their taxes each year.
“Many clients seem to prefer facing the drills of a dentist rather than an accountant,” she said.
For Odom, finding the joy in laughter makes any job easier.
“Know that everyone is going through what you are going through and no situation is isolated,” she said. “Keeping the environment positive and bringing laughter can make a difficult job easier.”
Buck says there are benefits to having friends with a financial background.
“I know I asked Rhonda some crazy questions about whether something is tax deductible or not,” she said. “I’m sure she emailed me back with her answer, rolling her eyes. It turns out the purchase of chewing gum isn’t a legitimate tax deduction. Someone figured it out, right?”
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