Melissa Browne is the first to admit: "I'm not the typical accountant".
She may be more comfortable in floral jackets and four-inch heels rather than stiff black suits, but the author, entrepreneur, columnist and businesswoman has a handle on things.
"Maybe I simply am able to engage people in a way where they truly believe that creating a successful and profitable business is accessible and exciting," the Glenbrook-based businesswoman said.
Her latest book Fabulous but Broke (second to More Money for Shoes) includes 13 tales which highlight money messages people carry with them and suggest an alternative ending.
It carries a message that in finance there is no magic formula, and challenges money "myths".
She once heard a neighbour say he hoped his daughter would "meet a nice bloke soon to buy a house".
"I remember being shocked by his comment and wondering whether his daughter was now carrying the message that she needed a 'nice bloke' to buy a home of her own around with her.
"I wrote the book to challenge your mindset in a cheeky, fun way and to show you where you could be heading and what an alternative ending might look like.
"You won't even be aware that you're reading about finances until you stumble upon the story that is all about you."
■ Download a free chapter of Fabulous but Broke called The Old Women Who Lived in a Shoe.
■ Click here to read Ms Browne's business tips.
