It's not Just the Numbers

In this episode we discuss how firms can better leverage technology to not only move tasks around the office, but also move knowledge around the firm. Regardless of where your team works - virtually, physically or likely a blend of both - you need to be able to capture all of the small conversations, the small tidbits that are critical to getting the client file completed. The working papers and last year’s return tell one part of the story, so what’s the other part? You tell us, well more importantly tell your team. And make sure they can access that story wherever and whenever they choose to work.

In this episode of the tax season pre-season mini-series we talk marketing! A lot of accountants don’t like to talk about marketing, Penny included. However, you can easily reframe marketing to communicating.

• How are you communicating with your clients?
• What’s the comms plan to get them organized before the year-end?
• What are the frequently asked questions you know you’re going to get?

The lesson here is don’t wait until mid January to start this. Get your team involved now and create a comms plan to communicate with your clients in small bite sized pieces to get them ready for your tax season.

We hope this helps identify a few things you can be doing now in the pre-season to make your tax season more streamlined and less stressful.

If you'd like to pick our brains on software or workflow (including to share feedback), please connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter. And remember to rate us, like us and share us, so we can spread the word.

Penny Breslin - LinkedIn | @PennyB57

Damien Greathead - LinkedIn | @Damien_GH

It's the time of year again - the tax season pre-season. You've now got a small window of opportunity to make changes in your business to create a better, smoother tax season. You can't change everything, so what are 2-3 things you will focus on?

This episode kicks off the pre-season, and over the next few episodes we'll be deep diving into key areas including marketing, pricing, workflow, technology and managing a remote workforce. So tune in to each episode and hopefully pick up one or two tips to help make this upcoming tax season your best yet.

If you'd like to pick our brains on software or workflow (including to share feedback), please connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter. And remember to rate us, like us and share us, so we can spread the word.

Penny Breslin - LinkedIn | @PennyB57

Damien Greathead - LinkedIn | @Damien_GH

In this episode we get super specific and talk tools. We've had a bunch of emails come in from listeners asking about how to work with multi factor authentication (MFA) for all the different apps in and accounting tech stack.

We talk about tools in Penny's workflow namely yodel.io which is is VoIP company that has a bunch of integrations including Slack and Relay Financial which is a new fin tech bank designed specifically for small business and the advisors that serve them.

Both these tools present different ways of working. That means you will have to talk to your clients about changing banks, about setting up access profiles for your team. To help you do that we chat about the additional layers of security that tools like these bring as well as the increased access that your team needs to deliver the services that your client has invested in.

Please note: These are just some of the tools used, there are many out there and we the hosts of this podcast are not in anyway compensated by the providers.

If you'd like to pick our brains on software or workflow (including to share feedback), please connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter. And remember to rate us, like us and share us, so we can spread the word.

Penny Breslin - LinkedIn | @PennyB57

Damien Greathead - LinkedIn | @Damien_GH

There are many ways to define a workflow, but, put simply, it’s the organization of work so you can see how it should move from one stage to the next. Today's episode we discuss key elements to consider when it comes to workflow. Most firms have recognized the importance of workflow software, but few have it fully implemented, let alone reaping the benefits of it. The benefits are there, and it'll be worth the pain of change in the short term.

Below is the content of the document Penny referenced regarding workflow:

• It will decentralize the work and the information 
• Increase visibility 
• Streamline collaboration—automate routing of information 
• Less chances of repeating conversations over and over again 
• A quicker search capacity for conversations 
• Less need to rely on memory  
• Ultimately better teamwork  

• You need to allocate or (old school) input transactions 
• Gather the statements 
• Confirm any unknowns 
• Check for any new accounts 
• Look for any app inputs 
• Create final report 

• Customizable 
• Bring EVERYTHING into one place--- internal and external work 
• Allow for sharing easily  
• Automate repetitive steps 
• Reduce delays 
• Have great reporting on what when where and how 
• Be adaptable to Changes (it does after all point out when change is needed) 

If you'd like to pick our brains on workflow software or ask us any questions (including to share feedback), please connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter. And remember to rate us, like us and share us, so we can spread the word.

Penny Breslin - LinkedIn | @PennyB57

Damien Greathead - LinkedIn | @Damien_GH

We discuss two interesting conversations this week. Both with practitioners that are struggling to find people. Coincidently the firm is also struggling with going paperless and scared to introduce new technology to clients. Unfortunately the pre-Covid excuse of my clients won’t do that just doesn’t fly. So the question is who or ‘what’ is driving this bus? Are you in control or are you letting your clients dictate? Or worse still are you letting the fear of talking to your clients hold you back?

To ask us any questions or share any feedback, please connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter. And remember to rate us, like us and share us, so we can spread the word.

Penny Breslin - LinkedIn | @PennyB57

Damien Greathead - LinkedIn | @Damien_GH

In this episode we discuss an interesting article about change and understanding that change will cause tension, and that's OK. In fact the author contends it's required and uses the analogy of rope requiring tension to perform its key task - pulling something/hanging something etc. We also discuss the importance of getting out of the way to allow change to happen, and recognizing that you will need a team of people with different skills to drive the change through your organization. Check out the Kolbe-A assessment (similiar-ish to Myers-Briggs/StrengthsFinders etc) to help you identify the strengths of your team and who you should allow to step into their roles and facilitate this change process.

What did you think of the article? Have you and your team taken the Kolbe assessments? Were they helpful?

To ask us any questions or share any feedback, please connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter. And remember to rate us, like us and share us, so we can spread the word.

Penny Breslin - LinkedIn | @PennyB57

Damien Greathead - LinkedIn | @Damien_GH

Too many times it's happened when we've ignored our gut, broken our own rules and taken on a client that we didn't feel quite right about. In this episode we discuss moving clients on or being forthright and saying no to a new client that you know doesn't quite fit. And no surprises, but the sooner you make the call the better.

To ask us any questions or share any feedback, please connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter.

Penny Breslin - LinkedIn | @PennyB57

Damien Greathead - LinkedIn | @Damien_GH

We've got something special for you in this episode You might remember Rachel Siegel from a previous episode sharing how she has been building her firm. In this episode Penny and Rachel head into a firm that wants to better focus on their clients throughout the year rather than just tax season. Penny and Rachel really dig into the firm and it sounds like have some challenging conversations with both the owner and the the team. A big thank you to Kevin, Brian and Chuck for having us along for the ride and sharing your experience with Rachel and Penny.

To ask us any questions or share any feedback, please connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter.

Penny Breslin - LinkedIn | @PennyB57

Damien Greathead - LinkedIn | @Damien_GH

According to the AICPA record numbers of students are graduating with accounting degrees, but accounting firms at graduate job fairs aren't seeing these candidates. In this episode we discuss what might be causing this dearth of graduate talent for public accounting firms. A common theme throughout this podcast has been that same as last year (or SALY) will not cut it when it comes to finding and keeping good people.

If you're a firm owner you have the opportunity to give up-and-coming accountants an exciting career helping business owners better understand and get more from their business. You will have to be very intentional about about the clients you want to work with as well as the services you want and don't want to provide. And recognize that part of your employees career path might mean going elsewhere to gain new experiences (you never know they might come back).

So the question is not what are you doing to keep your talent, but what are you doing to continually develop your talent and giving them challenging, engaging responsibilities.

To ask us any questions or share any feedback, please connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter.

Penny Breslin - LinkedIn | @PennyB57

Damien Greathead - LinkedIn | @Damien_GH