MEET THE TEAM: Joy mercado, Staff Accountant 

Joy Mercado joined Fritz Financial Solutions just over six months ago after completing an accelerator program with TOA Global, our offshore recruiting partner specializing in the accounting industry. Joy has quickly become an invaluable team member doing highly technical, advanced accounting for our largest clients. Her advanced Excel skills are marrying financial data in 30,000 cells to a single transaction in QuickBooks. We’re so proud and excited to have her as part of the team! Let’s get to know Joy a little better.  

Here are some of the highlights from our conversation with Joy:  

Why do you like accounting?  

When I was in school, my love of math pushed me toward two subjects: accounting and civil engineering. Eventually, I settled into, and fell in love with, accounting. From the beginning, I knew that accounting is always in demand; every business needs an accountant. But I quickly learned that accounting is not all about numbers, which made it more exciting. Instead, accounting also requires analytical skills to solve problems, and untangling a messy problem gives me immense satisfaction. 

Within accounting, I’ve focused on tax preparation and filing for over four years. I enjoy the consistency and predictability of the tax process. It like that it has a strict filing schedule and requires attention to detail.  

I also dream of — once again — owning a business myself. I started and ran a successful online clothing boutique during the pandemic, closing up only when the pandemic ended, and many competitors moved into the market. That’s when I chose to return to the office full-time. If I open another business in the future, it would be a coffee shop or a clothing boutique. It’s motivating to know that the accounting skills I’m using now will support that.  

My experience starting my business helps me connect with our clients at Fritz Financial Solutions. I know it takes a lot of work to do. Every business owner has much to consider — employees, marketing, product, expenses, etc. But businesses of all sizes have one main goal: earn income and be successful. That is the same in every language.  

What’s your favorite part of working with Fritz Financial Solutions?  

I love the people I work with at Fritz Financial Solutions. My amazing coworkers and boss are thoughtful and appreciative. We’ve supported and helped each other since day one. Since joining the team and having access to additional training, I have become more confident and knowledgeable. I’m excited to continue to grow professionally with this team.  

How do you make your client’s business your business?  

I take an enormous amount of care to make sure that my work for our clients is accurate. I double-check reports and ask the team to review my calculations because precision matters. A mistake, big or small, will impact my clients, and I want to avoid that at all costs. For example, a wrong amount or wrong account will change the reports clients receive and may affect the decisions that they have to make. One bad decision can have devastating effects on a business. My attention to accuracy is how I help my clients feel confident in their books, and I love knowing that my work plays an essential role in their companies.  

What is your favorite technology tool?  

Fritz Financial Solutions uses Bill.com, and it’s quickly become my favorite tool. It’s an excellent tool for managing bills and payments and is easy to use. I can see the status of payables with clients, send auto payments, and easily assist in managing cash and monthly expenses. And I also enjoy helping my clients solve puzzles that appear when the tool shows them conflicts or reporting errors.  

What is it like working for a US company?  

This is my first time working for a foreign company! Since I am located in the Philippines, I had to get used to working in a different time zone to be on the same schedule as our clients. Luckily, however, I’ve learned that I work better at night!  

Compared to some Filipino companies, I have more direct communication at Fritz Financial Solutions and plenty of training and support. Getting feedback and assistance from the team when solving a problem is essential. Because of the systems we have set up here, it is much easier to be a productive employee. I feel more empowered, and because of that, I can accomplish more.  

Lastly, what do you like to do in your free time?  

Since I work opposite schedules of my friends and family, I treasure spending time with them on weekends. We often get together, go to the mall, and sometimes dine out.  

On my own, I love watching Korean dramas on Netflix, reading blogs, listening to podcasts, and keeping up with celebrity gossip.  

Something I can share with my family, no matter our work hours, is my love of cooking. Sometimes I prepare dinner that I can eat before going to work, which my family can enjoy when they get home. I enjoy cooking the traditional Filipino dish, Adobo, with a twist — I prefer to add sugar to make it sweeter.  

If you need a team of accomplished and dedicated professionals to provide your business with insightful financial services, reach out today. Joy and the rest of the team will ensure you have the business insights you need to make informed decisions and are ready to take on any challenge.