“I like accounting because it’s very steady and normal for me,” say Carol Bradley of The General Ledger. “I really enjoy the people, as well as the problem solving that comes with the business.”
The General Ledger has been named Fairfield Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Month for May, 2017.
“It feels great to have been chosen; and I appreciate the recognition from the Chamber,” she says.
Mrs. Bradley graduated from Navarro College with a degree in Accounting in 1989; and shortly after, she began working for Mr. Spencer Elliott in his business called Bi-Stone Data Corporation.
“Mr. Elliott was the first person to bring computerized accounting to this area,” says Mrs. Bradley.
She worked for Mr. Elliott for six years, at which point she passed her Enrolled Agent Exam, which gave her a special license to represent tax payers with the IRS (very similar to a CPA).
After receiving her special license, she purchased the business from Mr. Elliott in 1995, and changed the name to The General Ledger.
Mr. Elliott continued working with her up until a few months prior to his passing in October of 2016. He was in his early 90’s at that time.
“We remained close all those years,” says Mrs. Bradley. “He was very special.”
In 2012, when Mr. Kenneth Owens of Teague passed, Mrs. Bradley bought out his business and opened up her second location in Teague, which she named simply, Carol Bradley, EA.
Both locations offer the following services: Tax Returns of all kinds, Bookkeeping, Payroll, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, and Electronic Filing.
At the Fairfield office, located at 424 West Commerce Street, you will find staff members Cynthia Stanton – Office Manager, and Linda Burts – Bookkeeping Assistant. They can be reached by calling (903) 389-4027.
The Teague office, located at 311 Main Street, has one Bookkeeping Assistant, Marcia Moon. She can be reached at (254) 739-2557.
Both offices operate year round.
Mrs. Bradley married her husband, Charles Bradley, in 1996. Combined, they have five children and nine grandchildren.
“I chose accounting because it fit my lifestyle like a glove,” she says. “It gave me a way to raise my children and to build a future.”
She continues saying, “I would like to encourage the younger generation to consider accounting because it is a constant that will always be needed. The original credits/debits system actually came over with the Vikings in the 1400s and it hasn’t changed at all since then. It’s a great system; and the career is so versatile. You can work anywhere, travel, and work full or part time.”
Mrs. Bradley concludes by saying, “I’m very glad I chose this field because it has been such a blessing for me!”
