A Conversation with OnPay Ambassador David Perry

Tell us your name and a little bit about your firm.

My name is David Perry, and I am the founder of Latitude Bookkeeping Services. Since January 2018, we have served many businesses, but we mainly serve churches. That’s really what we’re transitioning to because when I first started the business, that’s where my heart was. It takes pressure off pastors by getting them the data on the financial stuff that they need and frees them from that whole aspect of their ministry.

What made you want to work in the accounting industry?

I look back on my past and see how the dots are connected. It all started when I was a worship pastor at a church, not making much money. In 2012, a friend’s church reached out, saying their bookkeeper was leaving and offered to show me the ropes.

I ended up leaving my church position, and as I took on more bookkeeping work, I realized I could help more people in this field. Eventually, I asked myself, “Could this be a career?” And it turns out, it absolutely could.

Fill in the blank: I never start my workday without _.

Coffee. An unhealthy reliance on coffee. Yes, that’s probably like everybody in the accounting industry. The other thing I’ve been focusing on is dedicating the first hour of my day to working on my business. If I don’t do that, I get distracted by client tasks, emails, and everything else that comes up. So, I’m making it a priority to tackle this first, ensuring I make progress on my business, as a whole, rather than just getting caught up in working within it.

How do you view your role as an accountant in your clients’ businesses and where do you provide the most value?

I think the biggest value is that we are facilitators. We introduce processes that many businesses have never had before, while also eliminating barriers to free up time for other important tasks. On top of that, we focus on budgeting, ensuring the data is accurate and presenting it in a clear, understandable way.

When you are not helping clients, what hobbies or activities do you enjoy?

One of the things I like to do is playing guitar. I was a worship pastor previously. So, it’s funny, the thing that was kind of my day job is now my hobby. The other thing I like to do is play disc golf. That’s kind of my relaxation thing. It’s also something that my family and I can do together.

If you weren’t in the accounting industry, what job would you most like to have?

If I weren’t in the accounting industry, I’m not sure there’s a specific field I’d gravitate toward, but my passion lies in working with church leaders and pastors. I’d want to stay in that space, focusing on coaching, advising, and helping others in meaningful ways.

Why do you recommend OnPay to your clients?

I recommend OnPay to my clients because I can easily reach out with any questions or access their helpful guides to share. Beyond that, it’s incredibly simple to use. I really appreciate how straightforward the platform is to navigate. When I first jumped into OnPay, the support that I received was absolutely incredible. I never felt like I was navigating the payroll world alone.

It’s also affordable. We have church clients, so their particular need is the clergy housing allowance. I haven’t seen any other church payroll software that has that line item that’s already embedded into the options.

What is one piece of advice you would give to a small business owner who is just starting out?

My advice to a small business owner would be to think about scaling your impact from the beginning. Focus on the value you’re offering rather than just the business itself.

What are you excited about for the future of the accounting industry? What trends do you see impacting you and your clients?

I’m excited about the future of the accounting industry, especially with the advancements in automation. The ability to have data automatically move to the right places will save time and reduce manual tasks. There’s also a chance to use real-time data for better decisions and present it in a more engaging way, making financial reports less “boring”.

We’ve struggled with communicating data effectively, so I’m focused on using tools like AI to present it in ways that inspire and make a real impact.

What feedback do you receive from your clients about OnPay?

Honestly, I haven’t heard a lot of feedback from my clients. Once OnPay is set up, there’s no heavy lifting.

Because working with OnPay is so simple, it just makes it easier for us to feel good about payroll because we have the support that we need.

Do you have any advice for bookkeepers and accountants who are just looking to get into payroll?

My advice would be to avoid doing payroll on your own. It comes with a lot of compliance risks that can be tough to manage. Instead, partner with a reliable payroll software solution. I highly recommend OnPay for its ease of use and reliability.

If you could describe OnPay in 3 words, what would they be?

Simple, helpful, and efficient.