4. Using numbers for good
Columbian native Yamile Monsalve CPA’s response to the pandemic has been to put her fluency with numbers to work helping local businesses at Bayside City Council in Melbourne, where she works.
Monsalve has seen first-hand how the business revenue base has been affected by COVID-19 at every level.
In response, the council has been helping the community through a range of measures, including waiving fees, providing financial support to local traders and community organisations, and ensuring that people who are isolated and lonely are being checked upon.
A key feature of accounting – and one that is often overlooked – is that balancing the books means having money available to help essential services function. Monsalve hopes her ability to understand the numbers, and how to work with them, helps make the council’s good community work possible.
