About Ken Shields

Nearly five decades of practical financial, bookkeeping, systems, and operational experience — brought together to help business owners get clear on their numbers and move forward with confidence.

Ken Shields has spent his career helping businesses understand their finances, improve their systems, and solve operational problems in a practical, hands-on way. His background spans bookkeeping, cost accounting, financial systems, operations, consulting, and executive leadership.

That breadth of experience is part of what makes Martel Books different. Ken does not approach bookkeeping as simple data entry. He understands how the books connect to the day-to-day reality of running a business — cash flow, reporting, decision-making, and the systems that keep everything moving.

Today, through Martel Books, Ken brings that experience to business owners who want dependable bookkeeping, clearer financial visibility, and a trusted partner they can actually talk to.

What Ken Brings to His Clients

A practical combination of bookkeeping accuracy, operational insight, and real-world business experience.

Long-Term Financial Experience

From assistant bookkeeper in 1976 to business owner today, Ken has worked across nearly every level of financial and bookkeeping responsibility.

Systems and Process Insight

His background in accounting systems, customization, remediation, and analysis helps clients benefit from cleaner processes — not just cleaner books.

Executive-Level Perspective

Having served in consulting and executive roles, including CFO and CIO-level responsibilities, Ken understands the bigger picture behind the numbers.

A Career Built Step by Step

Ken’s experience did not begin in a boardroom. It began with foundational bookkeeping work and grew over decades through accounting, management, systems, consulting, and executive leadership. That progression matters, because it means he understands both the details and the decisions.

Over the years, he has worked with businesses in banking, refining, medical-related operations, distribution, aerospace, financial systems, enterprise remediation, satellite services, international tax consulting, and independent bookkeeping practice. Across each stage, the common theme has been helping organizations improve financial visibility, reliability, and control.

Today, Martel Books brings that same practical mindset to small businesses that need steady bookkeeping support and a clearer understanding of where they stand.

Career Highlights

1976 – Began as a part-time assistant bookkeeper
1978 – Worked as a cost accountant at a bank
1979–1982 – Worked with Shields Mint refining and minting silver and gold
1982 – Served in general management for silver recovery at Standard Medical Solutions
1987 – Supported bookkeeping and computer systems at E.J. Stephens, a cable distributor
1989 – Worked at Lockheed as a systems analyst for financial and cost accounting departments
1993 – Became self-employed in bookkeeping, accounting, and customization of SBT and AccountMate
1998–2002 – Worked on Y2K remediation at MetLife, including reprogramming date functions
2002–2004 – Served as CFO at Digital Satellite Services, with CIO-level responsibilities as well
2004–2024 – Worked as a self-employed international tax consultant
2025–Present – Operating as a self-employed bookkeeper through Martel Books

Ken’s Approach

Clear

You should be able to understand where your business stands without having to fight through messy records or confusing reports.

Practical

Good bookkeeping should help you make decisions, solve problems, and move forward — not create more complexity.

Personal

Martel Books is built on real conversations, dependable support, and taking the time to understand the business behind the books.

Have questions about your books?

Let’s have a real conversation about what’s going on and whether we can help.

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