I’m an accountant who has been a director in an accounting practice for over 18 years. Yes, I now work from an office at home and the reason for this was so that I could walk the talk that I encourage my clients to do in building a business that fits your lifestyle. I can take my dogs for a walk now during my lunch break if I want or catch up on work on a Saturday if family commitments have taken me away from the office during the week. I’m living a life that is sustainable and isn’t going to burn me out in the next 10 years.
And I truly believe all my clients should be living a sustainable lifestyle.
I studied to gain my qualifications while I worked and raised my family. Learning is an ongoing part of my professional development to stay up to date with changes in legislation and in the industry as a whole.
I have a team that supports me and recently have employed an administrator as I had to admit that administration is not my forte and this was taking time away from being able to continue to provide the service that my clients deserve. I have a bookkeeper who works remotely, has over 30 years of experience and has been a part of my team for the past five years. There are other roles in my business that I subcontract out to people who can do the job far better than me so that I can concentrate on my core role. In my opinion, all of these people are part of my team.
My team members live in New Zealand as I believe in supporting the local/NZ economy. I pay them market rates and have even been known to tell my bookkeeper that she needs to increase her prices as she has not been charging me market rates. I believe in being open and fair.
Yes, I use AI as it is becoming a part of life for so many now. However, I don’t use open AI for any confidential client information. AI doesn’t meet with my clients for me, AI doesn’t write my emails, AI doesn’t answer my phone and AI doesn’t even write blogs like this. This is all me. What you see is what you get!!
I believe my clients deserve a personalised approach to their accounting. Everyone’s dreams and goals are different and the service they receive should reflect this.
I believe my clients should be helped to understand what their financial reports mean in plain English.
I believe that not every business owner should be reconciling Xero or doing their own bookkeeping – that’s what our team is all about. However, if you want to learn how to use Xero, then I believe you should ask and be given the opportunity to learn and be empowered to do so.
I believe that a great accountant should be a strategic part of your financial team who talks to you in plain English, makes you feel comfortable enough to ask any questions you have and can show you how they have provided value to your business and saved you money.
Yes, I work from an office at home, this doesn’t mean that I am the “cheapest” accountant out there.
In fact, I have been known to send this image in the past to clients that want me to “sharpen my pencil” on the price.
So what type of service do you want to receive? Personalised or cheap?
