Life’s Better with a Little Groove: How Nancy McClelland Brings Her Fun Personality to Accounting

It’s a sunny afternoon in a Chicago park.

The sound of 1960s classics fills the air as children, giggling and wide-eyed, learn to master the art of go-go dancing. A woman in tall white boots and a retro miniskirt leads the way, exuding charisma and charm. But she’s not just any dancer. When she steps off stage, she’s back to the numbers and navigating tax codes.

That’s Nancy McClelland—The Dancing Accountant.

​​For her, dancing isn’t just a hobby; it’s an extension of who she is.

Financial Cents recently spoke with her about how she brings a sense of joy, creativity, and humanity to every endeavor, from her hyper-local focus on small businesses in Logan Square to her nationwide virtual firm and teaching platform.

The Dancing Accountant Story

Nancy McClelland’s journey into accounting wasn’t exactly what you’d call conventional. Growing up, she didn’t dream of ledgers or spreadsheets. In fact, her childhood games were more about creativity—and bureaucracy. “I would play banker,” Nancy recalls.

While her early days were full of playful hints at a future in finance, Nancy’s path to becoming a CPA didn’t come until later in life. She initially pursued a music education degree and later worked at a violin-making studio where her knack for bookkeeping first caught the eye of a mentor. “Theresa Briggs, the CPA for the studio, saw something in me that I hadn’t seen in myself. She gave me my first tax guide and encouraged me to take accounting classes. She changed my life,” Nancy shares.

That encouragement eventually led Nancy to build her firm in Logan Square, Chicago.

But something was missing.

For years, her company was simply called Nancy McClelland LLC—a name that, as she puts it, was “about as exciting as watching paint dry.” Everything changed one fateful day at Unity Park, a cornerstone of the local community. Nancy, performing with her 1960s-style dance troupe, The Janes,  ran into a client who exclaimed, “Look, kids, it’s the dancing accountant!” It was a lightbulb moment. By the next week, she’d filed the paperwork to rename her firm officially.”

Nancy and her dance troupe

“The Dancing Accountant isn’t just a name,” Nancy explains. “It’s a reflection of who I am. It filters out people who might find it silly and draws in clients who appreciate a little personality. I think it’s inspired other accountants to bring their own individuality to their work, too.”

Breaking the Mold

If you asked Nancy what sets her apart from others in the accounting space, she’d likely laugh and say, “I just didn’t know we were supposed to be boring!”

Nancy’s path was unique because she didn’t come up through traditional corporate accounting

At conferences, Nancy is often seen teaching accountants how to embrace their personalities in their professional lives.

Her energy is contagious.

“At the Financial Cents’ WorkflowCon Conference, I taught 700+ attendees how to do the Time Warp. It was wild—and so much fun!” she recalls excitedly.

For Nancy, her approach isn’t just about standing out. It’s about showing others that being human and relatable is one of the most powerful tools a professional can have.

Nancy also hopes to inspire a new generation of accountants by smashing stereotypes. “Gen Z needs to know that this profession isn’t just about numbers,” she explains. “It’s about people. The numbers tell a story, and it’s our job to help people make sense of them in a way that improves their lives and their businesses.”

The Biggest Misconception About Accountants

One of the most persistent misconceptions about accountants is that they’re boring and socially detached.

Nancy sees this as an outdated and inaccurate stereotype. “The whole ‘boring and socially detached’ thing is pervasive,” she says. “And I’d like to think I challenge it by being the opposite of that, but honestly…I’m stymied that people think I’m different. All my colleagues are a bit crazy, too!”

But she isn’t alone in her mission to shatter the stereotype.

She points to a long list of peers who embody the human, vibrant side of accounting.

For her, embracing the humanity of accountants isn’t just about breaking misconceptions; it’s about redefining what the profession can and should look like. “The more we get the message out there that this isn’t just okay, it’s not just allowed…but it’s preferable, the more we’ll see these misconceptions addressed,” she explains.

This is why she loves conferences like Bridging the Gap, WorkflowCon, and Reframe. “They focus on the human element,” she says. “They remind us that accounting isn’t just about numbers—it’s about people. It’s about being fully yourself and connecting with others, and that’s what makes this industry so dynamic and rewarding.”

Ask a CPA: Bridging the Gap Between Bookkeepers and Tax Preparers

Nancy McClelland’s passion for education and collaboration came to life with her online platform, Ask a CPA. Designed as a membership subscription for bookkeepers, it’s a space where professionals can level up their accounting skills and improve collaboration with CPAs and tax preparers.

“Remember, I started out as a bookkeeper and later became a CPA,” Nancy shares. “So, I’ve felt the tension between bookkeepers and tax pros first-hand. I joke in my Tax Ready Bookkeeper class that the relationship has been traditionally referred to as ‘complex,’ but I prefer to call it ‘super-crappy.’”

The heart of Ask a CPA is about transforming that challenging dynamic into one of collaboration. “Addressing the root issues in this relationship—and transitioning it to one of trust—makes literally everyone’s life better: bookkeepers, tax pros, and most importantly…our clients,” she explains.

Nancy’s vision is ambitious yet practical: teaching bookkeepers how to prepare tax-ready books and workpapers that streamline the tax preparer’s workload and showcase the bookkeeper’s expertise. “As bookkeepers master these skills, they’ll impress the heck out of tax pros—and maybe even give them a few tips on communication and technology,” she says. “The ones who respect this effort will channel more business back to the bookkeepers. And for those who don’t, well, we can help clients phase them out and find better matches.”

Over time, she hopes to see a shift in how bookkeepers are treated by tax professionals who rely on them for accurate books and a smooth tax season. “When we raise the bar on collaboration, everyone benefits,” she says.

As for what sets Ask a CPA apart, she proudly describes its one-of-a-kind structure. Members can submit questions to an online community, where she provides expert answers. Twice a month, she also hosts live sessions to tackle the most popular questions, with all answers timestamped, hyperlinked, and saved alongside the original question in a searchable database.

“You don’t have to attend every session or sit through entire recordings. You can just pick and choose,” she explains. “It’s an amazing group of people who inspire me every single day. They’re so eager to learn, and they’ve been hungry for something like this their entire careers. I just wish I’d done it sooner.”

Through Ask a CPA, Nancy isn’t just teaching technical skills; she’s fostering a culture of respect, collaboration, and growth.

Work-Life Wisdom

Running her own firm has given Nancy the freedom to structure her days her way. “I don’t take meetings before 10:30 AM—it’s a hard rule,” she says. Mornings are for tea, a slow start, and spending time with her cat before diving into work.

While her personality shines in her work, she is candid about the challenges of managing a demanding career. “I’ve had years where tax season completely drained me,” she admits. “But over time, I realized I have control. I’ve learned to set boundaries and focus on what brings me joy.”

One of those joys is her cherished tradition of “sunset wine.” Every evening during tax season, she and her husband pause their work, head to their rooftop, and share a glass of wine while watching the sunset. “The sunset doesn’t wait for you,” she says with a smile. “It’s a reminder to stop and take a moment for yourself. It’s become a little ritual that keeps me grounded.”

Nancy also spends part of tax season in Merida, Mexico, where she and her husband have a second home. “I work just as hard, but doing it from a sunny, beautiful place makes all the difference,” she says. “The warmth and culture are energizing. It’s a little reminder to find joy wherever you can.”

The Legacy Nancy Hopes to Leave

For Nancy, the real legacy lies in creating an ecosystem where small businesses, accountants, and bookkeepers thrive together. “When we prioritize collaboration and mutual respect, we’re not just making tax season smoother—we’re building stronger communities,” she says. “It’s about creating a ripple effect that starts with one relationship and spreads outward to change lives”.

Through her firm and Ask a CPA, she is creating lasting change in her industry and her community.

But her ultimate goal goes beyond numbers. “When you let your light shine, you unconsciously give others permission to do the same,” she says. “That’s the legacy I hope to leave: a world where people feel free to be themselves and make a positive impact in their own way.”