TRUE NORTH
Owner · True North Accounting & Business Solutions

OliviaAnderson

Meticulous bookkeeping and thoughtful business support for Denver's small businesses, and for the people who run them.

Start an inquiry → View services
N E S W
Bearing 000° · N
Services

Two practices, one standard

Accounting keeps your numbers right. Business Solutions takes the technology and administrative work off your plate. Engage me for either, or let me carry both.

Accounting

I

Monthly bookkeeping

Ongoing

Every transaction categorized and every bank and card account reconciled, closed out each month.

Catch-up & cleanup

Project

Months or years behind? Your books brought current, accurate and ready for tax season.

Financial statements

Monthly or annual

Income statement, balance sheet and cash flow, prepared for a lender, an investor or your own decisions.

Payroll support

Ongoing

Setup and processing so your team is paid correctly and on schedule.

Business Solutions

II

Websites

Project

A refined, mobile-ready site for your business, designed, written and launched for you.

Inbox organization

Project

Thousands of emails sorted, filtered and archived, with a system that keeps it that way.

Your own AI assistant

One-on-one

Most people only scratch the surface of what AI can do. I'll set up an AI assistant for you and teach you to hand it real work: drafting emails, planning your week, research, organizing files and much more.

Automation & administration

Ongoing

Scheduling, data entry, document prep, and the repetitive tasks that can be set to run on their own.

Tailored pricing

Every engagement is priced to its scope. After a complimentary consultation, you'll receive a written proposal with a clear price before any work begins.

Standards

Clear lines, honest work

I'm not a licensed CPA yet, and Colorado law is specific about what that means.1 Here is exactly where my work begins and ends.

Within my scope
  • Bookkeeping, reconciliations and catch-up work
  • Financial statements prepared without an opinion or assurance2
  • Payroll support
  • Websites, AI assistant setup, inbox organization, automation and admin
Referred to a licensed CPA
  • Audits, reviews and other assurance work2
  • Opinions on whether financial statements are fairly presented2
  • Tax return preparation and IRS representation4
  • Legal advice
Every engagement in writing Your information kept confidential Never presented as a CPA until licensed1
  1. C.R.S. § 12-100-112. The CPA title, and titles that could be confused with it, are reserved for licensed CPAs.
  2. C.R.S. § 12-100-116. Audits and opinions on financial statements require a CPA license. Non-CPAs may prepare statements that carry no opinion or assurance.
  3. C.R.S. § 12-100-117. The exceptions to Colorado's accountancy licensing rules.
  4. IRS, PTIN requirements. Federal rules for anyone paid to prepare tax returns.
Olivia Anderson at her graduation, smiling at her diploma
Olivia AndersonSumma cum laude
About

The details matter. So do you.

I named my business True North because that's the job: point you in the right direction, then make sure you stay there.

I've worked since I was fourteen. At fifteen I started my own business and ran it for seven years. Then I finished my undergraduate accounting degree in two years and graduated summa cum laude. Hard work isn't a line on a website for me. It's how I was raised.

That work led to a return offer from a Big Four accounting firm, where I begin full time in August 2027. Until then, I'm completing my graduate accounting degree at CU Denver, teaching as a TA and preparing for the CPA exam.

Outside of work, you'll find me at church every Sunday with my dad, where we volunteer together. Serving the people around me is a big part of why True North exists.

True North is where that training meets real businesses. You get someone who learns the current rules every day, holds her work to a professional standard and stays with a project until you're confident in the result.

  • Age 14First job
  • Ages 15–22Owned and ran my own business
  • UndergradAccounting degree in two years, summa cum laude
  • 2026Founded True North Accounting
  • NowGraduate accounting student and TA, CU Denver
  • NowPreparing for the CPA exam
  • Aug 2027Joining a Big Four firm full time
Process

How we begin

Clear expectations from the first conversation, so you always know what you're getting and what it costs.

i.

Consultation

A complimentary 15-minute call to understand where things stand and where you want them to be.

ii.

Proposal

A written scope, timeline and price before any work begins. No surprises on the invoice.

iii.

Delivery

Prompt replies, regular updates and a final walkthrough so you understand everything that was done.

Start an inquiry

What's on your plate?

Choose what you need help with and I'll draft your note. Copy it and send it my way.

I'd like help with
To: truenorthabs@gmail.comRe: New inquiry
Questions

Before you reach out

If your question isn't here, ask it on our first call.

Are you a CPA?

Not yet. I'm preparing for the CPA exam now. True North provides bookkeeping, financial statement preparation and business support. It is not a CPA firm, and I don't sign audits or offer attest services. The Standards section shows exactly where my work begins and ends.

Do you work with clients outside Denver?

Yes. Most bookkeeping, website and inbox work can be done remotely. AI assistant coaching works from anywhere over Zoom or Microsoft Teams, with screen sharing so we can set everything up together.

How quickly will I hear back?

Quickly, including evenings and weekends. I schedule client work around my classes so nothing sits waiting.

How is my financial information kept private?

Your information is used only for the work you hire me for. I ask for view-only access wherever possible, and every engagement is put in writing before work begins.

What happens when you start at the Big Four?

True North keeps running. As it grows, I'm training new accounting graduates to work alongside me, so they can earn an income during the year before their careers begin. Your work stays in skilled hands, and every engagement also helps launch the next generation of accountants.

For students

Studying accounting? Start here.

Everything I've learned so far as an accounting student, in one place. Recruiting, job placement, courses, the CPA exam, time management, entrepreneurship and financial ratios.

See student resources →
Community

Giving back

Technology moves fast, and too many people get left behind by it, especially older neighbors and small local organizations. Part of every month is set aside for them.

  • Seniors getting comfortable online
  • Local nonprofits getting organized
  • First-time founders starting right
Volunteers wanted

Teach a class with me

Are you skilled in any of the services above? I'm looking for people who want to give back by leading free technology classes for seniors with me at retirement homes.

Social media, video calls and email keep people connected to the ones they love. Helping older adults learn to use them can make a real difference in their lives.

These are unpaid volunteer roles. To get involved, reach out using the contact details below.

Contact

Let's find your true north.

Emailtruenorthabs@gmail.com
Phone(303) 726-5660
StudioDenver, Colorado · remote welcome
← Back to True North
Student resources

For accounting students

Everything I've learned so far as an accounting student, in one place: recruiting season, landing the job, the courses that matter, the CPA exam, time management, starting a business and the terms you'll use every day.

01

Recruiting season

Accounting recruiting starts earlier than most majors expect. Firms often fill internships a year or more ahead, so the work you do as a sophomore and junior sets up your offer.

  1. Freshman & sophomore yearJoin your accounting society or Beta Alpha Psi chapter, go to Meet the Firms events and apply to sophomore leadership or discovery programs.
  2. Junior year, early fallThe main recruiting push for internships. Expect networking events, coffee chats and interviews early in the semester.
  3. InternshipSummer or winter busy-season internships are your extended interview. Most full-time offers come from them.
  4. Senior yearReturn offers arrive, often with a start date a year or more away.
What actually helps
  • Research each firm's service lines before you talk to them.
  • Ask recruiters and associates for short coffee chats, then send a thank-you note within a day.
  • Keep a simple spreadsheet of everyone you meet and what you talked about.
  • Prepare three or four stories for behavioral interviews using the STAR format: situation, task, action, result.

Timelines vary by firm and school. Your career center will know your school's exact calendar.

02

Job placement

Most public accounting careers start in one of three areas. Knowing which fits you makes recruiting conversations much easier.

Audit

Testing whether a company's financial statements are fairly presented. Lots of client time, teamwork and travel.

Tax

Compliance and planning for businesses and individuals. Deep technical work and a strong busy season.

Advisory

Consulting on risk, technology, deals and operations. Varied projects and a mix of skill sets.

Once the offer comes
  • Ask about the start date, the office and the service line before you accept.
  • Ask whether the firm pays for CPA review courses or exam fees, and whether it gives bonuses for passing.
  • Use the time before your start date well. Many new hires study for the CPA exam then, while their schedule is still flexible.
03

Courses to take

The core accounting courses line up closely with the CPA exam, so taking them seriously is the best exam prep you'll get for free.

CourseWhy it mattersExam link
Intermediate Accounting I & IIThe foundation of financial reportingFAR
Advanced AccountingConsolidations, partnerships and governmental accountingFAR
AuditingHow audits are planned, performed and reportedAUD
Individual & Business TaxationThe tax rules you'll use in practiceREG, TCP
Business LawContracts, agency and business structuresREG
Accounting Information SystemsControls, data and technologyISC
Cost & Managerial AccountingBudgeting, costing and performance analysisBAR
Excel and data analyticsThe tools you'll use every single dayAll

In Colorado, sitting for the CPA exam requires a bachelor's degree with at least 120 semester hours, including 27 in accounting and 21 in business.2

04

The CPA exam

The exam has four sections, each four hours long: three core sections everyone takes, plus one discipline section you choose. You need a 75 on a 0 to 99 scale to pass each one.1

Core: everyone takes all three
AUDAuditing and Attestation48%
FARFinancial Accounting and Reporting42%
REGTaxation and Regulation63%
Discipline: choose one
BARBusiness Analysis and Reporting42%
ISCInformation Systems and Controls68%
TCPTax Compliance and Planning78%

Percentages are 2025 cumulative pass rates.1 Core sections can be taken year round. Discipline sections are offered in one testing month each quarter.

Rules to know
  • 30-month credit window. In Colorado and most states, you have 30 months from the score release of your first passed section to pass the rest.2
  • Experience. Colorado requires 1,800 hours of qualifying experience, verified by a licensed CPA.2
  • Ethics exam. You also pass the AICPA Professional Ethics exam with a score of at least 90%.2
  • New pathways in 2027. Starting January 1, 2027, Colorado adds new routes to licensure, including a bachelor's degree with an accounting concentration plus two years of experience. The rules were still being finalized in 2026, so confirm with the Colorado State Board of Accountancy.2
How to study
  • Take one section at a time and book the exam date first. A deadline keeps you honest.
  • Many candidates start with FAR, the broadest section, while their coursework is fresh.
  • Do practice questions every day. Reading alone won't get you to 75.
  • Plan your study schedule around busy season if you're already working.
05

Time management

Accounting students juggle classes, recruiting, jobs and exam prep all at once. These habits make it manageable.

Block your week

Give classes, work, study and rest their own blocks on your calendar, and treat them like meetings.

Sunday reset

Spend thirty minutes each week reviewing deadlines and planning the next seven days.

Batch small tasks

Answer email, pay bills and run errands in one block instead of all day long.

Protect your sleep

A rested brain learns faster than one running on an all-nighter.

Use AI for the busywork

Let an AI assistant draft emails, summarize readings and build study schedules so your energy goes to learning.

Say no on purpose

Every yes costs hours. Choose the commitments that move you toward your goals.

06

Student entrepreneur

Running a business while you study teaches you more about accounting than any textbook. Here's how I set up True North as a sole proprietorship in Colorado.

  1. Register a trade nameFile your business name with the Colorado Secretary of State so you can operate and bank under it.
  2. Get an EINApply online with the IRS. It's free and takes a few minutes.
  3. Get your local licenseCheck whether your city requires a business license. Denver does for most businesses.
  4. Open a business bank accountKeep business money separate from personal money from day one.
  5. Put every job in writingA simple engagement letter sets expectations and protects you and your client.

Not a CPA yet? Read the Standards section on the main page for the titles and services that are off limits until you're licensed.

07

Financial ratios

The ratios that come up in class, in interviews and on the CPA exam. Filter by type, or pick one and plug in your own numbers.

2.00
08

Guides & PDFs

My CPA exam study guides and practice questions, cleaned up and free to download. They follow the 2026 AICPA blueprints, and the tax material uses tax year 2026 law, including the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

KitStart here
AUDAuditing & Attestation · Core
FARFinancial Accounting & Reporting · Core
REGTaxation & Regulation · Core
BARBusiness Analysis & Reporting · Discipline
ISCInformation Systems & Controls · Discipline
TCPTax Compliance & Planning · Discipline

These are my personal study notes, shared to help. They aren't a substitute for a review course, and rules change, so always check the current AICPA blueprints and authoritative sources.

Free resources I use

Have a question you'd like a guide on? Email truenorthabs@gmail.com.

Sources
  1. 300Hours, CPA Exam guide. Sections, scoring, testing windows and 2025 pass rates.
  2. 300Hours, Colorado CPA requirements. Education, experience, ethics exam, credit window and the 2027 pathways.