How to get the best out of your Accountant?

“It takes two to tango” – so the saying goes, and the same applies to business relationships. To truly benefit from your accountant and achieve your goals, the relationship you have with your accountant must be built on mutual respect, trust, and efficiency – from both parties.

So, how do you get the most value out of your Accountant?

Know what you want

It’s hard to be certain of where you are going and what you want during the current economic environment, but if you stick to your mission, vision, and values, you can’t go wrong. Communicate these to your accountant, because once we understand your core values and what you want to achieve (even if you don’t know how or when) we can work with you even better.

Timeliness

These days, the banks are coming down harder on financing, business, shareholders, boards, and directors, demanding to know where the business is at. Your accountant wants to turn around work in a timely manner and you can help. Responding to queries in a timely manner and ensuring that all information is provided to us at the start of the work, means that we are able to provide you with the most efficient service. If we have to jump in and out of a job, it is will inevitably end up taking more time and costing more money.

Legislation

We work within the confines of legislation that we cannot control. Challenging your accountant on the law can damage the mutual respect of the relationship. No one wants to pay tax but unfortunately, we can only work within the law. Let’s work together to enhance your position and enrich the relationship.

Payment

We do our best to keep our services at a reasonable price but if we don’t receive payment then it can be difficult to provide a service. Sometimes life happens and it is simply forgotten! You can try to set up automatic payments, this is easy in Xero. Or if you find yourself in a position where you cannot pay, your accountant is a call away. We can set up a payment plan or give you some more time – we can work it out. That way we can continue to assist you with what you need.

Ask

Remember you have hired your Accountant for their special knowledge. Be curious and ask questions when you do not understand and get them to explain things in a language you do. it is great to be on the same page, and when you are presented with the opportunity to learn more about your business, why wouldn’t you?

We understand that the business is your business – not just numbers on a page. You know the nuances, culture, internal processes, and pressures better than us. And by actively participating in the process, communicating richly, and trusting each other, the relationship becomes one of mutual respect which is incredibly enriching for both parties.

Gilligan Sheppard is here to offer fresh insights, advisory, and expertise in areas that might not be your strength, or quite frankly, can’t be bothered with. Mutual trust and understanding, working with people we love, helping, and sharing our values is what keeps us going each day.