Selecting an Accountant
There were over 11,000 Australian accounting firms in 2008. Which one will you choose? How will you choose one? Small firms account for about 60% of market share. The majority of smaller firms don't offer business and financial advisory services to provide a wholistic solution for your finances. The remaining 40% of the market is made up of the Big Four and Mid Tier firms, which focuses on the big end of town. Winner Partnership Pty Ltd concentrates on the needs of small businesses (5 - 20 staff), their directors and shareholders.
Needless to say, finding the "right" accountant can be a daunting task, refined mostly by a process of trial and error. We would like to provide you with a useful selection matrix to select an accountant, staff member, or any other professional or partner. It is not good enough to satisfy just one or some of the levels but it is imperative that the relationship satisfy all three levels because if it doesn't it will not be a sustainable long term relationship.
SELECTION MATRIX
| Level 1 - FIT | Can they do the job? Do they offer exactly/ more/ less than what I need/ want? |
| Level 2 - DELIVERY | Can they do the job the way I want it done? |
| Level 3 - IDENTITY | Do we/ can we share the same values? Are we heading in the same direction? |
Level 1 - Fit - Can they do the job? Do they offer exactly/ more/ less than what I need/ want?
1.Know what you really need and want. 
Sometimes it is difficult to know exactly what you need and want from the start. When looking at your business and finances, think holistically about what you commonly need. Have a look at how closely their range of solutions fit your actual/ anticipated challenges/ problems. Another gauge to see if there is a good fit between what you need and what the service provider gives is to see if they have other clients in your industry of a similar size.
We offer accounting and tax, business advice and financial planning services to small businesses with between 5 - 20 staff in a range of industries including, healthcare, legal, technology and consulting. We find our mix of solutions and expertise is a great fit for the kinds of challenges our clients commonly deal with.
Level 2 - Delivery - Can they do the job the way I want it done?
2. Know how you will measure the quality (Key Performance Indicators - KPI's) of what you are receiving. Would you know good quality or are have you just learnt to accept what you are given?
Our research of small businesses has shown the seven (7) most common complaints when dealing with accountants and tax professionals are:
1. They don't return my calls/ emails on time.
2. They miss things, make mistakes or take too long.
3. I don't understand what they are saying.
4. They don't suggest how I can do things better.
5. I can't see the value for money in what they do.
6. I don't feel comfortable talking to them.
7. I never know how much it's going to cost me until after its done and then I have 14 days to pay.
We have reverse engineered our business and implemented policies and procedures to give our clients the best possible service and experience when dealing with Winner Partnership.
| 1. Response Time | We know that when you contact us it is for something important. However, it is not always possible to respond to your calls/ emails when we receive them. Hence, we have a strongly enforced policy to return calls and emails within the next business day. |
| 2. Quality Assurance | We take a systematic approach to everything we do. We have numerous checklists and supervisory processes that ensure work is done thoroughly, mistakes are picked up during internal reviews and we complete your work in the allocated time. |
| 3. Simple Terms | We make a point to explain all complex matters in as simple, easy to understand terms as possible. In fact this is a key selection criterion when recruiting for the Winner team. Unfortunately, accountants have developed a bad reputation for being slightly introverted and lacking in communication and interpersonal skills, which makes them unsociable and unapproachable. |
| 4. Proactive Approach | We have a number of solutions that proactively helps businesses manage their finances (Money Manager), business development (Money Maker), taxes (Tax Planning) and of course our Coaching Connection. |
| 5. Practical Solution | When we start any project we outline a Scope of Work so you know exactly what you will be getting. Unfortunately many firms don't tell you what they will be doing. We also deliver our services in different ways because we realise just telling you what to do doesn't always work. |
| 6. Personal Care | Many accounting firms are so focused on churning out the work, doing what they are given that they don't bother to stop to understand and ask questions. You will see from our Testimonials that our clients know we have their best interest at heart. |
| 7. Price in Advance/ Payment Instalments | When you choose our services we will give you a fixed price so you know in advance how much it is going to cost for a particular Scope of Work. Obviously, if the scope changes the price will be affected. We also make it easier on your cash flow by working out a periodic payment plan. |
If this is what you are looking for you should join the Winner Tribe.
Level 3 - Identity - Do/can we share the same core values? Are we heading in the same direction?
3. Know what is really most important to you and which direction you are heading in.
This is not as easy as it sounds - so many things are important to us, how do we decide what is most important? Sometimes it is not clear which direction to head in. A favourite saying comes to mind "A man that stands for nothing falls for everything" Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It is worthwhile to take some time to get clear on where you stand.
We believe people already intuitively do business with those they like, trust and feel comfortable with. However, this "gut feeling" is often unquantified or ignored. With an organisation such as a business it is not always obvious "who they are - core values" and "why they are here - vision". The closer you have to work together the quicker any misalignment shows up. If you are not aligned you will grow apart and/ or "break up". There are many considerations on which to base your choice and we believe alignment should be given the highest consideration because it is the greatest determinant factor of a successful sustainable relationship. Can you agree to share the same vision and core values in the partnership?
It is very important to your business that the accountant you choose is aligned to you and your small business, because your accountant is probably your only advisor that knows your financial situation, understands your business and is in the perfect position to help you reach your full potential, make more money and manage your money better and give you a better quality of life. Money is a reward for the service and contribution you make. If you are growing and want to improve your business and your life then it is absolutely CRUCIAL that your accountant is aligned and working towards the same thing. It is vital that the services and solutions (what they do) your accountant provides are designed to help you with this. All our solutions help you realise more of your potential.
Our clients are winners. They are on a journey of continuous improvement, evolving every day. They believe that the only game worth playing is win/ win. They are contributing in their own ways to make the World a better place. They are socially conscientious and environmentally responsible people. This is the only type of client we want to work with. If this is who you are come and join our Tribe.
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