Posts Tagged ‘strategy’
Hard decisions
You know the feeling. You come to the office and get stuck into your “To Do” list. You focus on addressing those day-to-day business issues – but lurking in the corner like a bad smell are those things that you know that you need to do but you just can’t bring yourself to do it.…
Read MoreSoft Skills – the Future for Successful Accountants
If you have been working for several years in the accounting industry or maybe just a few, you would have noticed that successful team members know more than technical accounting skills. They know how to manage a meeting, put clients at ease, deal with difficult clients and scenarios, persuade and negotiate, and make themselves known…
Read MoreWhat does your business need….an Online Business Manager or a Virtual Assistant?
The demand for remote support and management services has soared over the last few years, particularly after COVID*. When I started working remotely 14 years ago, working from home was pretty new. And I am still working for my first client from back then, who was located in the same city. It just made sense…
Read MoreUnlock your Strategy Development Services
One of the best ways accounting firms can expand their business advisory service offering is to provide strategy development services to clients. Not only does this set the client’s strategic business direction: it offers a variety of additional value-added engagement opportunities. Perhaps the ideal first step is to undertake a strategic planning workshop on your…
Read MoreTime for some New Year’s resolutions?
Happy New Year! I hope that your year has been a great success and that you’re not getting lapped. Hopefully your 2022 work is cleared away and ready for the 2023 work to start. If you’ve been on holiday with the kids I hope you haven’t been caught up in the airport chaos. Whether or…
Read MoreLeading the new generation of accountants
This month we are looking at something a bit different. I have asked my daughter Jessica (Jess) Holton, a 34-year-old skilled graduate journalist working in digital media and fiercely independent, as only a father would know, to comment on the new generation of employees, particularly in the accounting industry, and how to manage them. Here…
Read MoreHow to get started with marketing in your accounting firm.
Fairly regularly I come across firms who for one reason or another have engaged a marketing consultancy. For many, this is entirely the wrong move. Few marketing consultancies understand the nuances of professional service firms. Many focus on things which might have some merit like brand and website but miss the core matters to be…
Read MoreAre You Targeting Your Ideal Client?
I have long spoken to many accounting firm partners and team members about defining and agreeing on their ideal client profile. In my mind, an ideal client is someone who finds the perfect solution to their problems or needs in the services that your firm provides. The ideal client will be loyal to your firm,…
Read MoreStaff Impact on Succession Planning
Many accounting practitioners would agree that it is becoming increasingly difficult to attract and retain good staff that can assist not only in compliance procession but also in business advisory service delivery. There is increased reporting on the skills shortage in various industries and there are no immediate signs that this is going to change.…
Read MoreHow’s that capacity plan going?
As many readers may be aware, I have long advocated that every firm needs a production manager. Part of that job is to ensure that the business has sufficient capacity to get the work done and develop new work. In these resource constrained times, this is no easy challenge. While, before COVID, there were still…
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