How to find a good accountant for a small business.

OK, get ready for a rant.

This week, a new small business owner in our 16 week ‘Business Transformation Program’, moaned about how shit their accountant was.

This topic is a trigger for me, not far behind the word ‘hope’ (as James Cameron - Director of The Titanic, The Terminator etc - said “Hope is not a [ fucking ] strategy”).

I patiently listened to these all-too-familiar let downs by their accountant:

I feel I am qualified to comment on this blight in the business landscape, that is - tardy professionals (it's the same in law, I.T. etc).

For one, after working for PricewaterhouseCoopers, the world's largest accounting firm for three years right out of uni, it was drummed into us how important great service and just being professional was.

Then add in, now 25, years of owning and growing 15+ of my own small businesses in three countries, I have engaged with a lot of different accountants.

I'd guess 90% of them are poor, and while they may be technically good at the tax advice and their debits and credits, it’s the part of their work that has the greatest impact on whether a small business owner thinks they are good or not - being professional.

Being professional mainly comes down to doing what you say you will.

Most small business owners wouldn't have a clue if the work their accountant does is technically great or not (most of the work I have seen is, that's not the issue).

What gets me almost as worked-up as someone hoping for an outcome (instead talking about what they will do to make the outcome a reality), is when I see a good technical accountant fail the basics in being a professional.

These days, those suppliers I like and think need to up their professionalism, I recommend they do our free two week ‘Transform Your Performance’ online course for small business owners and their team.

If they change their behaviour and fix the tardiness, I’ll work with them.

It’s packed with the mindsets, habits and tools to be a better professional - do everything you say you will.

It starts with the secret to guaranteed success, and we give you a simple free tool to make sure you do everything you said you would.

Here are some things I suggest to the small business owners I work with, to land a great accountant.

Sounds like common sense, but wildly, I don’t see it as common proactive.

As we like to say, “recruitment is the most important thing a manager does”, as you need to only hire A-Players.

The same goes for your suppliers, especially key ones who are going to get intimate with you (know your numbers, and the financial health of your business).

Ask the accountant if you can pick some clients from their list, or website, and contact them.

Don’t just call the ones they suggest, just get their permission to talk to some existing clients, call them and have a chat.

Ask them:

Let them know your comments won’t get back to the accountant, and you greatly appreciate their comments so you can make an informed decision.

Remind them of the pain of selecting such a key supplier, how much work is involved to move to the next one - I am sure they will have had their fair share of shit accountants by now.

Like in recruitment of your team, we recommend you pay them to do a test project.

This will allow you to assess the quality of their work, but as importantly, their level of professionalism - getting things to you on time, when they said they would (and fully completed).

A test project could simply be to pay them to review your accounts and business in general, and write a report on what they would recommend needs to change.

Again, as we recommend in recruiting your team, don’t rush this decision.

The more interactions and time you can spend with them, the more informed your gut will be to guide you to the right decision.

Have a lunch or coffee with them, and any of their key team members who will work on your business, and observe their micro-behaviours.

Are they rude to staff?

If they’re an asshole, walk away, fast.

In these less formal meetings, people often drop their guard, so you can start to see their true character.

Ask them about their business, the life outside business and the vision they have for their business.

See if they talk about their team in a way that resonates with you, or is it all about them?

Business should be fun and a big part of that is who you choose to be on your team - in and outside your business.

If you want a recommendation of a great accountant in Australia, or other resources to help your business grow, book a 20 minute Growth Chat with me and I will point you in the right direction. I always provide some books, podcasts, courses or contacts in my network to help you with your #1 growth challenge.

Remember to check out the footer on our website for other great resources we have to help small business owners grow their business with ease, so they can live the lifestyle they signed up for.

Cheers,

Troy | Founder | Grow A Small Business