The Accounting Business Expo is a must-attend event for keeping up with latest trends, especially in the fast-moving world of cloud accounting. It was also a great chance to catch up with some of our partners who were there to check out the latest developments. We asked eight of them for their top accounting and bookkeeping client tips.
1. GIVE CLIENTS THEIR TIME BACK
Clients value day-to-day finances becoming virtually hands-off! We take care of all their time consuming bookkeeping tasks, which lets them focus on actually growing their business.
Jason Andrew, Co-founder, SmartBooks Online
2. LEARN TO LISTEN
We build a great working partnership revolving around trust and listening to our clients problems, and advising them on solutions.
Leanne Berry, Director, Love Your Numbers
3. LOOK AHEAD
Be proactive! Use plain-language reports and graphics to show your clients how their business is performing and offer suggestions to improve financial performance.
Craig Stanmore, CEO, Enspira
4. BUILD A BETTER BUSINESS MODEL
Clients value advice when they can’t pinpoint what’s wrong with their business & VCFOs can help. It’s not a buzz marketing phrase anymore, people are actually forming these business models.
David Boyar, Co-founder, The Virtual CFO Association
5. PLAN IN TIME-ON, SO THEY CAN ENJOY TIME OFF
Having real-time data, monthly get-togethers & systems in place reduces the need for endless questions between the client & accountant & a lot of stress so they can run their business & sleep well at night!
Katie Bryan, Director, Propeller Advisory Pty Ltd
6. BE A PARTNER, NOT JUST AN ADVISOR
Business owners value our financial skills but also look to us for leadership & emotional intelligence. We partner with them across technology to ensure they can manage their business better whilst giving them the tools to improve their revenue and profits.
Lielette Calleja, Director, All That Counts
7. CLIENTS WANT AN EFFORTLESS EXPERIENCE
What clients all have in common is a need for efficiency in their own time management and clarity on their business activities. Ideally these are delivered with minimal effort on their part.
Diane Lucas, Direct Management
8. IT’S GOOD TO CARE
Clients value an advisor who genuinely cares about their business, and provides honest independent advice.
James Carey, Director, Prime Partners
Client experience is now the key differentiator in the accounting industry. Accountants and bookkeepers like these are going beyond technology to help their clients drive success and grow, which is what the Accounting Business Expo is all about.
We’d love to hear your top accounting and bookkeeping client tips as well. Why not tweet at us to tell us how you delight your clients. You could be part of our next blog post.