The last few weeks I've been working with and talking to accountants of all shapes and sizes... most have loved what I have to say but some have found it a little too challenging. I did an interview with Accountancy Age for a live e-symposium.
My one-liner:
Accountants can be... should be... and, in fact, must be... fantastic for your business...
FIRST, they help you obey the law (all the compliance stuff), but more importantly they add real value to your business:
- they can help you pay less tax,
- they can help you to grow the business faster and more profitably.
Who wouldn't want someone like that on their side?
- they can help you to grow the business faster and more profitably.
Who wouldn't want someone like that on their side?
SECOND, if you think your current accountant is underperforming then sack them - get one that who you do trust and that does add real value to your business.
I do understand why this approach has ruffled a few feathers, but I must quote The Animals...
"I'm just a soul whose intentions are good:
Oh Lord! Please don't let me be misunderstood ..."
RELEVANT LINKS
What do Today's Entrepreneurs want from their Accountants? - 25 minute interview with Accountancy Age (Nov 2007).
Accountants - Know Me, Know My Business - Accountants have still got to learn that the customer is king. (In Practice, 2005).
I do understand why this approach has ruffled a few feathers, but I must quote The Animals...
"I'm just a soul whose intentions are good:
Oh Lord! Please don't let me be misunderstood ..."
RELEVANT LINKS
What do Today's Entrepreneurs want from their Accountants? - 25 minute interview with Accountancy Age (Nov 2007).
Accountants - Know Me, Know My Business - Accountants have still got to learn that the customer is king. (In Practice, 2005).
3 comments:
Hi Robert
Listened with pleasure (and many times smiling) to the interview. Recognised your former (type of) accountant you hate as well as your new (type of) accountant you love.
(Or by extreme coincidence you had the same terrible accountant we had before and switch to the same excellent, magnificent accountant/advisor we're with for the last few years.)
Like I told you almost two weeks ago during the excellent Bright Marketing seminar by your good self in Ashford Kent, our business this year is (again) growing at a 50% rate. We work hard/smart for that, but do know it is also down to the constant and relentlessly driving us forward by our accountant who not only knows our business very well, but also knows us pretty darn well - knows what makes us tick, knows how to challenge us etc.
Wouldn't be where we are today without him ;-)
And you can be sure I'll forward the link to the interview to him, might make his day ;-)
Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)
Robert
Thanks again for taking part - it was a really good session. You might be interested to see some of our award winners this year - http://www.accountancyage.com/2203415/ - accountants who are doing the very things you advocate.
Regards
Damian Wild
Editor in chief
Accountancy Age
Perhaps the best example of a small firm using technology to engage with existing and potential clients is here http://accountancymatters.accountancyage.com/2007/11/accountancy-age.html#more
Damian
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