Accountants who aren’t slow
Myth: Accountants are a ponderous bunch more akin to the tortoise than the hare. We have the ability to produce inaccurate analyses in a less than timely manner, and will charge through the roof for the privilege!
The above represents one of hundreds of different stereotypes applicable to ‘the accountant’, and whilst some stereotypes may describe people I know really well (I’m thinking of the ‘slow driver’ one), most of them (including the above) could not be more wrong when applied to most in the industry (note I said ‘most’, not ‘all’!).
Breaking the stereotype
For me, one of the highlights of any working day is having a chat with one of our clients. Whilst we continue to take on new clients each month, it is the conversations with the existing clients that I enjoy slightly more – businesses/individuals that we have been helping out over however many years. You develop that comradery over time and you know immediately, when you are told that they are on the line, whether they want a direct & swift ‘professional’ conversation/response or whether they want a good old chit-chat (as well as the professional advice).
No matter who is on the end of the phone, we strive to answer whatever their question is either immediately or very shortly after the call. As accountants, as in all walks of life, it is vital to know our limitations. The best policy is always to be open and honest – something we should all be anyway, but in becoming a chartered accountant, these principles are hammered into you by the Institute during your training. It is something we will carry always.
A little goes a long way
We are a general practice firm, dealing mostly with owner-managed small businesses, charities and individuals, so 99% of common queries can be answered immediately by most people here. And no question is too small. I recently visited a charity client of ours, with a new bookkeeper who had not worked in a finance department for nearly 20 years. She was very worried about being rusty. I took 3 calls from her on the following day, simply seeking reassurance that her posting of purchase invoices onto their accounting software had been done correctly. Simply by being available for a 2 minute call really helped out in that situation. Like my mother always taught me – “it’s only easy if you know how to do it”.
And what about the bigger questions?
Occasionally, you get asked what I like to call a ‘thinker’, that 1% of all questions where an immediate response doesn’t come to mind – exciting (!) as all accountants love a challenge. One of the best things about working in a small firm is the deeper relationships you can build with the people that you work with. I have specialists and vastly experienced colleagues all around me, so if I cannot answer a specific query, I can seek guidance and respond accordingly within a short space of time. It doesn’t take long to do – sometimes only seconds – but the service it creates for the clients is invaluable, not just for ongoing client relations, but for their businesses too.
You may still be sceptical. I would even challenge you to put it to the test. Here’s our number - 020 7935 3793. Call us with a question (common ones include tax, accountancy software, bookkeeping, payroll, incorporation, governance, filing deadlines, etc) – and see what type of quick solution we can get to. We promise not to make you feel like you have interrupted our day.