By the time Shani Anderson walked away from her six-figure corporate job in late 2024, she had fought too many uphill battles to count.

After 23 years in accounting, audit, and consulting, Shani had accumulated the kind of experience that companies should reward. But instead, she found herself fighting with every ounce of professionalism she had, for fair compensation from her final employer.

A government agency spent two years investigating her claim of six figures in underpayments over a number of years. But in the end, there was no resolution. No accountability. Just a permission slip to take the case to court and a painful decision to let it go.

It wasn’t just about the money.
It was about the principle.
The disrespect.
The toxicity.
The decades of putting her worth in the hands of a system that never truly valued her.

It was the last straw.
And it was time for a new chapter.

Shani’s story is one many women will recognize – especially those in midlife who have spent decades climbing the ladder only to find the ceiling cracked but still solid.

Born and raised in Chicago and now a 30-year resident of the Atlanta area, Shani was no stranger to adversity. Her childhood, shaped by an abusive household, was followed by a corporate career riddled with bullying, toxic leaders, and endless obstacles.

But perhaps the biggest influence on her decision to leave the system came from the very person who inspired her to enter it in the first place: her father.

A dedicated career man who spent 40+ years in corporate IT, Shani’s father worked himself to the bone and was never fairly treated. He passed away of a heart attack at 66 – before he ever got to retire, before he got to live the dream he had quietly carried of one day moving abroad.

Not long before his passing, he warned Shani:
“Don’t do what I did. Don’t wait too long.”

She listened.
Her mom reminded her too:
“You’ve already proven yourself. You don’t need to prove it again. Now build something for YOU.”

So, in October 2024, Shani did something brave.
She walked away.

No more Sundays filled with dread.
No more sacrificing her worth.

That first Sunday after resigning was the most peaceful one she’d had in over 20 years.

With decades of experience, a CPA license, and a natural love for numbers, setting up her own remote business made perfect sense.

Today, she owns Not Just CPAs, a virtual bookkeeping firm built on her terms.

She works with small business owners who, like her, may have left the corporate grind behind. She helps them:

• Clean up their books
• Get clarity with QuickBooks Online
• And regain peace of mind around their numbers

Because Shani isn’t just a bookkeeper.
She’s a communicator.
An investigator.
A trusted advisor.

And she gets it.
She’s been through it.
She knows what it’s like to feel undervalued, unseen, underpaid.

Ironically, Shani never set out to be an accountant.
She once dreamed of writing for newspapers.
But a junior-year visit to a career counselor changed that: her personality tests pointed toward law, medicine, IT, and accounting.

And accounting just clicked.

What makes her unique is not just her skill with numbers, but her heart. Her story. Her ability to meet people where they are.

She understands the fears of starting something new, of walking away from “security,” of creating a business from scratch.

She’s lived it.
And she’s proof it can work.

Shani is happily married, a proud dog mom (and fierce advocate for senior dog rescue), and someone who lives with passion – whether it’s watching Supernatural, reading a mystery novel, or dreaming of her future life in Europe.

She may not have opened the restaurant her dad once dreamed of, but she’s doing something just as powerful:

She’s reclaiming her time. Her peace. Her life.

Today, Shani helps others do the same.
Her message is simple:

“You don’t have to stay where you’re not valued. You don’t have to sacrifice peace for a paycheck. You can build something of your own. Something meaningful, grounded, and free.”

To learn more about Shani or inquire about her services, visit notjustcpas.com, connect with her on Linkedin, or email her directly at [email protected].