Inviting an accountant to your QuickBooks saves time and reduces costly mistakes by giving you access to:

• Financial data you can trust.
• Professional advice.
• Accurate analyses.
• Assistance with compliance.

This guide will walk you through the simple, secure steps outlining how to add an accountant to your QuickBooks Online account.

Let’s dive in!

What is an Accountant User?

An “Accountant User” is a specialized role in QuickBooks designed specifically for financial professionals who manage your business’ finances. This role provides access to advanced tools and features that help simplify critical accounting tasks and ensure your books are accurate, compliant, and ready for financial reporting. 

Key capabilities of an Accountant User:

Accountant Users in QuickBooks have the unique ability to:

• Reconcile accounts: Efficiently match transactions to bank statements, keeping your financial records accurate and up to date.
• Generate financial reports: Access detailed reports, such as profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow summaries, to provide actionable insights into your business performance.
• Prepare tax documents: Organize and compile tax information to ensure compliance with local and federal regulations and minimize errors and penalties.
• Adjust transactions: Make necessary corrections to entries, such as reclassifying expenses or adjusting journal entries, to maintain the integrity of your financial data.
• Leverage expert tools: Use accountant-specific features like batch transaction editing and reclassifying transactions to save time and improve accuracy.

However, their access is restricted to what’s necessary for accounting tasks — they can’t view sensitive areas like payroll unless granted permission. This role makes it easier to work with your accountant while ensuring your financial information stays protected and confidential.

Things you need before adding an accountant in QuickBooks

Now that you are ready to add an accountant to your QuickBooks online account, you must have a few things at hand before proceeding. Let’s look at them together:

The email address of the accountant

A valid and current email address is essential in learning how to add an accountant to your QuickBooks Online account. Email is the primary means of sending the invitation, and it is prompt and secure.

Double-check the address for accuracy to avoid delays or errors in granting access. This ensures you establish a smooth connection with your accountant, granting them access to the tools and data they need to help manage your finances efficiently.

Primary Admin access

Primary Admin access is the master key to managing everything in your QuickBooks Online account. As the Primary Admin, you have complete control over your financial data and account settings, making you the central authority for all user access and security.

Key responsibilities of the Primary Admin

• User management: Invite, remove, or modify user roles to ensure only authorized individuals can access your QuickBooks account.
• Account security: Safeguard your financial data by controlling permissions and monitoring account activity.
• Collaboration: Seamlessly collaborate with your accountant or team by granting specific access tailored to their needs.
• Full access: Manage every aspect of your QuickBooks account, from setting up features to customizing reports.

Only the Primary Admin is able to add accountants (and users) to your QuickBooks Online account, but the good news is that the role is easy to change. The catch is that only the Primary Admin can transfer their role, so you’ll need to identify that individual and have them change it if you need those permissions. Otherwise, you can just have them add your accountant.

How to add an accountant to QuickBooks Online in 4 steps

Adding an accountant to your QuickBooks Online account is a straightforward, step-by-step process:

Step 1: Log in to QuickBooks Online

As a QuickBooks user, you likely know how to do this step, or have done it already.

But just in case you need assistance — to log in to QuickBooks Online securely, follow these steps:

1. Open your browser and navigate to the QuickBooks Online login page.
2. Enter your registered email (or username) and password in the login fields.
3. Click “Sign in” to access your account.
4. If enabled, verify your identity using the authentication method of your choice — text code or authentication app.

Step 2: Navigate to the “Manage Users” section

1. Now that you’re logged in, look for the settings icon (gear) in the upper right corner of your dashboard and click on it.
2. In the dropdown menu that appears, find and choose the “Manage Users” option. This will take you to the user management page.

Image credit: QuickBooks

Step 3: Invite the accountant

1. In the “Manage Users” section, find and click on either the “Accountants” or “Accounting Firms” tab, depending on your version.
2. Type in the email address of the accountant you wish to invite.
3. Click on the “Invite” button to send an invitation to your accountant.

Image credit: QuickBooks

Step 4: Ensure confirmation and acceptance

Follow these steps to confirm that your accountant has received and accepted your invitation:

1. First, ask your accountant to check their email for the invitation from QuickBooks.
2. Then, return to the “Manage Users” page.
3. Click on that “Accountants” tab to see a list of all accountants invited to your account.
4. Look for your accountant’s name on the list. If their status shows “Active,” they have accepted your invitation. If it still shows “Invited,” they are yet to accept it.

How to give accountants access to QuickBooks Online with limited permissions

Typically, QuickBooks Online lets the Primary Admin give users different levels of access based on their role and the tasks they need to perform. There are three primary access levels: View Only, Limited Access, and Full Access. 

However, accountant permissions are not customizable. An accountant added through the accountant user role gets the specific permissions designated by QuickBooks to perform accounting and financial operations. The accountant can view, add, edit, and delete transactions but does not have administrative permissions to manage users or subscriptions.

Key takeaways

Adding an accountant to QuickBooks Online is a simple yet essential process for optimizing your financial management. 

Keep these points in mind:

• Unlike Desktop, QuickBooks Online makes it straightforward to invite an accountant with just a few steps.
• Ensure you have “Primary Admin” access to manage user invitations securely.
• A valid and current email address is necessary when sending an invitation.
• Granting access allows your accountant to help oversee your finances while you retain control over sensitive data.
• The “Accountant User” role provides only the permissions needed for accounting tasks, ensuring your data remains protected.

Now that you know how to add an accountant to QuickBooks Online, you can start making life easier for everyone on your team.

However, don’t you wish you could also give your sales or admin team access to QuickBooks without sharing sensitive financial data? That’s where Method, the #1 QuickBooks CRM, comes in.

While your accountants manage the numbers, your team can use Method to access and update what matters to them—like sales, invoices, and customer details—without seeing confidential information. Plus, Method’s two-way sync with QuickBooks ensures updates happen instantly across both platforms. Check out the video below to learn more!

Ready to give it a go? Try Method free for 14 days—no credit card or contract required.

How to add accountant to QuickBooks Online FAQs

Can you add multiple accountants to QuickBooks Online?

Yes, you can add multiple accountants to QuickBooks Online, but there are some limitations to keep in mind. QuickBooks Online allows you to add up to two accountant users to your account.

Each accountant must be invited individually by entering their unique email address, and they will receive an invitation to accept and gain access. If your business requires more than two accountants, you may need to add additional users with customized roles or upgrade your subscription plan to accommodate broader collaboration needs.

Is there a free accountant on QuickBooks Online?

QuickBooks Online allows you to invite an accountant to access your account at no additional charge, but this only refers to providing access permissions. The actual services provided by the accountant (such as bookkeeping or tax preparation) will come at a cost as determined by the accountant.

Is accounting provided by QuickBooks?

QuickBooks does not offer direct accounting services like bookkeeping or tax filing. Instead, it gives users the tools to handle their own accounting or collaborate with a professional accountant who can access their QuickBooks data. You will typically hire an accountant separately if you need expert accounting services.

The post How to add an accountant to QuickBooks Online: Important steps appeared first on Method.

You know the stereotypes: “boring,” “bean counters,” or “math nerds.” You may even have an image in your mind of the desk-bound pencil-pusher sitting in a dark room poring over people’s taxes.

These images are especially unattractive to the Millennial and Gen Z cohorts, who typically regard the 9-to-5 workday life as a virtual prison sentence.

However, these images could not be further from the truth. In fact, today’s accountants are far more than just number-crunchers — they’re leaders, strategists, technologists, advisors and business specialists.

The accounting industry: (p)art of the deal

Accountants speak the language of business. Businesses in every industry bring accountants to the table for their most serious strategy sessions. These discussions might focus on:

• Developing go-to-market strategies and launch plans
• Adopting innovative technologies
• Expanding operations
• Managing cash flow
• Tackling the fast-moving marketplace
• Complying with regulations, both domestic and international

Accounting firms are increasingly becoming part of overall strategy discussions in all companies. And as this shift occurs, there are three main value-added services that accountants are providing to their clients.

1. Becoming a part-time CFO

Companies of all sizes are realizing the value of having a dedicated Chief Financial Officer (CFO) on board. Your CFO is ideally an experienced professional who combines the qualities of leadership, strategy, and financial acuity with an approved accounting or financial designation.

In some industries, like the investment sector, having a designated CFO is mandatory. Investment firms of all sizes, even those with just 2-3 people, must have a designated CFO approved by the securities regulator.

For growing firms, employing a part-time CFO is a great option for meeting that regulatory requirement while getting an experienced financial leader on board. Large accounting firms have part-time CFO services ready for hire, but smaller groups, including specialized CFO consultancies and independent contractors, are also getting in on the part-time CFO game.

It’s a win-win for both parties. Your growing firm gets an experienced financial leader at the helm, while the accountant gets an executive assignment that could lead to consulting work on taxation, business strategy, technology, and regulatory matters.

2. Driving digital innovation strategies

Innovation and advanced technology lie at the heart of nearly every new business model. They’re also involved in every step towards greater efficiencies and competitive advantages. But these new technologies raise a lot of questions for the businesses trying to implement them:

• What are our options?
• What are the potential costs?
• Can we identify the potential benefits, savings, growth opportunities, and synergies?

Professional accountants are focused on these questions and their implications. As a result, they can help their clients identify the digital innovation solutions that will benefit their businesses.

In some cases, the accounting firms are the ones driving new technology development. For instance, look at large accounting organizations. The Big Four accounting firms are at the forefront of developing blockchain technology. Together, the four firms share a distributed, highly secure network where participants can see and update information in real time.

Those firms also have analysts working on big data projects, using technology and analytics to harness the mass amounts of business and consumer information moving through cyberspace. All in all, accounting professionals who are familiar with collecting, organizing and mining data in their own practices will have seriously attractive services to offer their clients.

At the same time, the accounting practices themselves are not immune to the disruptive impact of technology. As artificial intelligence continues to impact the business world, there is even talk of robo-accountants displacing Certified Professional Accountants.

Luckily, software developers are increasingly realizing the advanced technological nature of the accounting industry and the benefits of connecting accounting software to other apps. By integrating their everyday financial programs with tools like contact management software and workflow software, accountants can create powerful technology ecosystems to help them stay ahead of the curve and better serve their clients.

3. Looking abroad: advising on global business activities

Today’s business environment is globalized. Companies have customers, employees and offices in other countries. Even small companies with 1 or 2 people are using their online presence to reach customers and team members abroad. All of those enterprises encounter similar questions:

• What are the rules for doing business abroad?
• What should we know about hiring people in another country?
• How can we receive or make payments in a foreign currency?
• How do we pay taxes?
• Are we complying with domestic laws?

Accountants are increasingly providing advice on questions like these as part of their practice. This is because there are international rules which have the potential to impact everyone, whether you have a physical presence in that jurisdiction or not.

For example, the European Union’s General Data Privacy Regulation (GDPR), enacted in May 2018, casts an especially wide net, applying not necessarily just to activities within the EU, but rather to the personal information of EU individuals.

If your company is holding data on an EU individual, including a customer, prospect, employee or partner, then you must comply with the regulation. Has an EU individual given you their email address to download an app or a piece of content? If so, then you’re probably affected.

Smart accountants are staying focused on these global trends and ensuring that their clients properly understand the implications of doing business across borders.

Method CRM: part of a modern accountant’s toolkit

Today’s accountants need a sophisticated toolkit in order to provide the value-added services their clients require. The good news is that technology solutions like Method CRM are here to make your life simpler.

Method is a cloud client management system that integrates with QuickBooks. As such, the possibilities are twofold: use Method in your own practice to streamline your client relations, or implement it for a client company to help them achieve their own business goals.

Either way, having a complete picture of client and transaction activity makes it easier to tackle the challenges of the modern-day marketplace.

To see how Method CRM can benefit you and your clients, start your free trial today.

Ready to get started?

Sign up for a free trial of Method CRM, rated the #1 CRM for QuickBooks on apps.com.

Includes a free demo and 1 free hour of customization services.

The post More Than Just Number-Crunchers: How Accountants Provide Value-Added Services appeared first on Method.

Savvy accountants will stay focused on these trends and ensure their company or client business properly understands the cross-border implications they’re facing. Here are five key areas for accountants to keep an eye on.

1. Technology

Technology continues to transform the global business marketplace, and one of the big trends in 2018 was blockchain and cryptocurrencies.

The accounting industry is playing a role in turning these technologies into business tools. The Big Four accounting firms, for example, are at the forefront of making blockchain work. Together the four firms share a distributed, highly secure network where participants can see and update information in real time.

It’s easy to see why these technologies are generating such interest. The benefits are widespread: greater transparency and security, along with enhanced accuracy, real-time collaboration, and faster results.

When it comes to cryptocurrencies, some accounting firms are taking steps to differentiate themselves by infusing their practices with expertise. Sure, Bitcoin values dwindled in 2018, but many believe cryptocurrencies have plenty of fight left. Whatever the future holds for cryptocurrencies, it behooves every accounting professional to understand these commodities and how they work.  

Indeed, accountants and tax professionals who familiarize themselves with blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and related tax regulations may hack into a niche practice area. Now is the time to start learning.

2. Cybersecurity

In its 2018 Finance Trends Survey Report, global consulting firm Protiviti found that 71% of respondents and 75% of CFOs identified cybersecurity as one of their biggest concerns for 2019. Similarly, in a 2017 survey of 183 small accounting practices, almost two-thirds said they were concerned about data security in the cloud. Many respondents also noted that their firms do not enforce basic cybersecurity measures such as two-factor authentication and requiring strong passwords.

These concerns are only going to get bigger as accounting firms handle commercial, financial and personal data sets that are growing in complexity, volume and sensitivity. And with much of that data being held in cloud accounting software, there is a huge opportunity for better cybersecurity education and enforcement.

3. Data privacy

A related concern among CFOs and financial leaders is data privacy.  

Their concerns are justified, as 2018 saw a significant number of high-profile data breaches. In April, luxury department stores Saks Fifth Avenue and Lord & Taylor reported five million records breached. Both retailers faced legal battles over the incidents.  

While accounting firms must take precautions to protect the data they hold, accountants must also understand the regulatory side of this issue, including the new regulations introduced by the European Union (EU) and China.

The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) took effect in 2018 and the rule casts a wide net. A company needn’t be located in the EU to be affected by the law. If you’re holding data on an EU individual, including a customer, prospect, employee or partner, then you must comply with the regulation.

At the same time, the China Internet Security Law, commonly called “the Cybersecurity Law,” establishes a broad framework of nearly 300 national standards ranging from information and communications technology (ICT) services to software, routers, switches, and firewalls. Client companies with any type of presence in China are almost certainly affected by the rule.

Looking ahead, California’s draft Consumer Privacy Act (CPA) is scheduled to take effect in 2020; accounting professionals would be wise to look into the implications of this act in the coming months. 

4. Data management

Artificial intelligence (AI) and analytics are disruptive trends in all industries. In the accounting field, there’s even talk of robo-accountants displacing CPAs.

As we move into 2019 and beyond, there will be pressure on accountants to get a handle on the science of big data. What can big data analytics tell us about trends, practices, markets, and strategies?

Accounting professionals who know how to collect, mine and organize data will have seriously attractive services to offer their clients. Consider adding a new technology tool to your firm. Some commercially available software products include:

• Apache Hadoop to store and process your big data
• SPSS to statistically analyze your data
• MATLAB to help with your numerical computing, algorithms, and programs written in other languages

It may seem like overkill to dive deep into new technologies, but remember: the accounting profession may eventually find itself competing with robots. As demand for basic accounting services diminishes, companies of all sizes will still appreciate the insights offered by these analytic capabilities.  

5. Tax regulations

Tax regulations are constantly changing — accountants are used to that part. Looking across the global landscape, however, there are notable changes on the horizon in the US and UK:

• In the US, the 2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) authorized the IRS to crack down on itemized deductions, among other changes. They need the money, so expect them to enforce this rule!
• In the UK, Her Majesty’s services are pushing out their Making Tax Digital (MTD) initiative. These rules will eliminate the once-a-year tax return in favor of quarterly occurrences, as well as set out a vision for a “transformed tax system” by 2020.

Consequently, accountants working with clients who have offices in the US or UK must stay abreast of these changing laws.

————

In many ways, globalization is still in its infancy. In 2019 and beyond, the accounting profession will continue to develop a global perspective by adding expertise, technologies, and in some cases, foreign offices.

As companies continue pursuing opportunities across borders, accountants must continue learning about new trends and finding ways to leverage them for a competitive advantage in the international marketplace.

The post Business Going Global: 5 International Business Trends for Accountants to Watch appeared first on Method.

That’s an understatement. In truth, accounting firms do much more.

In today’s fast-moving, globalized economy, accounting firms are management consultants, technology strategists, financial planners, and HR advisors, in addition to providing traditional accounting services.

A shifting landscape

Like all industries, the accounting industry is constantly shifting. Just consider:

• Client companies have increasingly global operations.
• Technological innovation is driving new models and practices.
• Regulation, tax, and business come from multiple bodies, including national governments, trading blocs like the European Union, and transnational trade agreements.

Accounting firms must stay on top of these challenges. As their clients’ businesses grow, accounting firms are called upon for strategic input at the highest levels. Just consider these questions that a client may ask:

• What are the immediate cost considerations when implementing a new product line?
• Do you foresee any revenue complications when acquiring a competitor?
• What must we consider when expanding into another country?

Moreover, most small-to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) now use accounting software to prepare their own books, often without professional oversight or guidance.

It’s a lot for modern accounting firms to take in.

Leveraging technology for growth

Accounting firms and client companies should understand that when it comes to growth — introducing new product lines, new teams, or expansion plans — the first step should be to invest in a comprehensive solution for collaboration. A sophisticated Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform is a highly effective tool for keeping everyone connected and informing both day-to-day and long-term decisions that will drive success.

Let’s look at some of the CRM features that accounting firms can leverage to drive their clients’ business growth.

Seamless QuickBooks sync

This is your important starting point. If your client’s business uses QuickBooks, then the power of Method CRM takes effect instantly.

There is no data migration and no double data entry. Instead, Method CRM is a unique solution that syncs automatically and seamlessly with QuickBooks, allowing you and your client to focus on your areas of expertise.

Comprehensive picture

When accountancies provide analysis and advice on growth plans, they need more than just the spreadsheet numbers.

In fact, they need the entire business picture broken down by:

• Industry
• Region
• Timeline
• Company size
• Among other factors.

And that’s where an effective accounting CRM comes in — by providing a comprehensive view of the client’s customers, transactions, and prospective sales.

Detailed insight

The big picture helps accounting firms get a high-level understanding of where a business is headed, but deeper insight on specific deals or relationships makes a difference too.

A good business advisor will find a tool that provides that level of detail as well.

Luckily, a CRM serves as a single source of truth by compiling each customer’s notes and purchase history into one centralized system.

New tools for ongoing success

Accounting firms are increasingly becoming full-service business advisors, playing a key role in the trajectory of growing companies.

Going from number crunchers to corporate strategists is a big shift.

Doing it well requires a comprehensive system that both accountants and their clients can leverage to:

• Streamline operations
• Manage customer data
• Analyze sales and revenue.

For QuickBooks users, Method CRM provides that capability.

See how a CRM can help modern accounting firms drive client growth with a free trial of Method.

The post How accounting firms can use CRM software to drive business growth appeared first on Method.

In order to work as a CPA in the United States, you must complete a certain amount of formal continuing education. This ongoing pursuit of knowledge is a necessary part of maintaining your CPA license. According to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), these Continuing Professional Education requirements help CPAs “maintain their professional competence and provide quality professional services”.

Below, we’ll take a closer look at what the CPE requirements are and how you can meet them, as well as some other strategies for lifelong learning as an accountant.

What Are CPE Requirements and What Purpose Do They Serve?

For anyone who is unfamiliar with this intrinsic part of CPA licensing, the requirements referred to here are the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) standards. These mandatory educational standards are determined and published jointly by the AICPA and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA). They are intended to ensure that working CPAs continue to learn and grow within their profession. Each year, CPAs must complete a certain number of CPE hours in order to maintain their licenses.

Many CPAs find the continuing education aspect of their career to be very worthwhile. There are many different ways to earn CPE hours, allowing for diverse educational opportunities. But in order to pursue these opportunities strategically, you must have a thorough understanding of your specific CPE requirements.

Diversity in CPE Requirements

The CPE standards determined by the AICPA and NASBA serve as a framework for all CPE programs. However, not all CPE programs are identical. It is the responsibility of each individual CPA to make sure they meet all CPE requirements that apply to them. These requirements will depend on:

●      The state in which you work.

●      The professional roles you hold.

●      The professional organizations that govern CPAs in your area.

●      The memberships you hold with relevant associations.

For example, each state has its own rules for how many general CPE hours must be completed per reporting period. This number typically ranges from 40 to 120 hours. For states with multi-year reporting periods, there may also be a minimum number of hours to be completed per year. Beyond the general hours, some states have additional requirements for training in ethics as well as other subject areas like auditing.

To avoid stress and confusion come license renewal time, CPAs should regularly review their continuing education requirements and make a plan for how they will meet them.

How Do CPAs Meet Their CPE Requirements?

On the heels of all the technical information above, it may be a relief to learn that there are actually a lot of different and interesting ways that CPAs can fulfill their educational requirements. This education is tracked in the form of earned CPE hours. This is a simple way to measure how much progress you have made toward meeting your requirements and advancing your professional expertise.

Conferences

Major accounting conferences provide an excellent opportunity to start earning your CPE hours. These events attract a diverse lineup of industry leaders and offer plenty of talks to suit every interest and schedule. The Quickbooks Connect series of conferences are hugely popular among accountants, with events in San Jose, London, Sydney and Toronto. The AICPA also puts on a variety of in-person and online conferences that allow you to earn CPE hours.

In-Person Classes and Workshops

Another excellent way to earn CPE hours is by attending classes or training courses with other CPAs. This type of interactive learning can be hugely beneficial for everyone who participates. The best way to get started is to seek out the CPA association for your state and see what kinds of training opportunities are available. For individuals who aren’t able to travel around the country for large conferences, these local courses and seminars offer a more convenient and less overwhelming alternative.

Online Seminars and Courses

This is an increasingly popular option for many CPAs who don’t have enough local opportunities to meet their CPE requirements. You may not get all the benefits of a live lecture or classroom environment, but you will have significantly greater options in regards to what you need or want to focus on. MasterCPE offers a number of great online courses for CPAs, which you can browse by category or number of CPE hours. Another big advantage to online learning is having the ability to download materials and study on your own timeline.

Ideas for Unofficial Continuing Education

In addition to officially approved CPE offerings, there are plenty of “unofficial” continuing education opportunities for accountants. By taking the time to seek out knowledge beyond the formal requirements, you can further advance your professional growth. This type of unstructured learning can also serve as a powerful reinforcement to your CPE hours, giving you a greater perspective on how your work as a CPA fits into the financial services industry. Here are some great unofficial educational resources for accountants.

Podcasts

If you’re not already a podcast addict, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. There are good (or even great!) podcasts about just about anything you can imagine — including certified public accounting. Seek out a few shows that appeal to you and turn your daily commute into a productive learning experience.

Books

It doesn’t matter if they’re physical copies or audio downloads — any books written by CPAs or about the accounting profession are bound to contain some useful information. Whether you want to supplement what you’ve learned from a conference or gain an entirely new perspective on your industry, it’s hard to go wrong with this good old-fashioned educational resource.

Technology Forums and App Stores

Do you have an interest in technology? Put it to good use by researching new apps that could be useful for your firm or your clients’ businesses. Modern accountants are starting to move beyond just accounting, instead positioning themselves as all-around business consultants. By adopting new tools that work seamlessly with your favorite accounting software, you can deliver more value to your clients. For example, Method:CRM is a QuickBooks-integrated CRM that CPAs can use to streamline processes in their clients’ businesses as well as in their own practices.

Regardless of where you practice or what your personal CPE requirements are, it’s important to remember that you have chosen a profession that encourages lifelong learning. Luckily, there are plenty of opportunities for CPAs to pursue both official and unofficial ongoing education. Whether or not you’re earning credit, continuously pursuing new ideas is a great way to approach a career that you intend to have for a lifetime.

The post How to Pursue Continuing Education as a Certified Public Accountant appeared first on Method.

Last week, Method’s Rodrigo Fernandez sat down with renowned author, consultant, business coach, and speaker Joe Woodard for an interview. As the CEO of Woodard Events, LLC, Woodard leads a team whose vision is to transform small business by educating and empowering small business advisors in the accounting industry. He’s also a long-time Method partner with ample experience in leveraging technology to revolutionize small business operations.

During the conversation, Woodard shared his view on the role of the “transformative advisor”: the financial professional who proactively coaches their clients on how to improve, and whose success is measured by how those clients change their behavior to increase their wealth.

Woodard also provided great insight into how advisors can use emerging technologies (such as Method) to achieve these outcomes for their clients.

“This is where Woodard Consulting was one of the pioneers in working with Method. We would go in at an operational level, very intensive level, and we would enhance [clients’] workflows. […] And we would find then that companies could scale.”

To hear more from Joe Woodard, check out the video and transcript of the interview below.

Video Transcript

Rodrigo Fernandez (RF): Hey everyone, Rodrigo here with Method and I’m sitting down with Joe Woodard, CEO of Woodard Consulting and the creator of Scaling New Heights, a staple in the accounting industry. Joe, thank you so much for joining me.

Joe Woodard (JW): It’s great to be here with you.

RF: So I’m new to the industry and I’ve been doing a lot of research. And I stumbled upon a concept that I think you coined, which is the “transformative advisor” role. Talk to me a little about what that means.

JW: Yeah, well, we themed our conference “The Transformative Advisor” and we were frankly surprised nobody else was using that term. We thought it was just gonna be out there and we just happened to call our show that theme. And when I saw that after Googling it that no one was using the term, then I knew we had an opportunity to go to sort of coining the phrase.

But we had a problem out there — you know, why aren’t more people referring to advisors as transformative? You see everywhere “trusted advisor” — but see, I don’t like the word “trusted advisor.” It’s not that it’s a bad term; it’s just not a specific term. You have passive trust and you have active trust. Passive trust is trusting say, an accountant not to reveal my private information, or trusting my accountant to file my tax return on time, trusting my accountant to reconcile my bank accounts accurately.

RF: It’s very transactional.

JW: It’s very transactional, that’s exactly right. And there could also be an element of trusted that’s transformational, but we don’t know which type you were referring to. And I’ve used the term “trusted advisor” for years with accountants and I will challenge them to become one. And the response I get back, either in their body language or their verbal languages: “I’m already that, tell me what to do next.” And what they really mean is, “I’m a passive trusted advisor.”

So this term doesn’t allow for you to be passive. To be transformative, you must be proactive. You must be a coach, you must be monitoring what your clients are doing and you must be informing the client on what they need to do better. That’s the critical difference.

RF: So as I’m reading it, what I really liked was the concept of how you measure the success of a transformative advisor. And you say that it’s by the behavior of the customer; if by what the transformative advisor suggests, the customer then gains wealth.

JW: That’s correct. So you hone in on a couple of points there. One point is how you measure the success of the transformative advisor. The measurements of success of an accounting firm are all about me. What is my realized bill rate, if you’re still using time sheets out there? You know, what is my effective bill rate, if you’re measuring it based off of payroll? How have efficiencies increased my profit margin? What kind of tax products am I using and what’s the cost to revenue ratio of my tax software investment?

And I’m not saying not to do those, though — it’s important to have those kinds of measurements. But they’re all about “me, me, me, me; my behavior, my behavior, my behavior.” I’m saying add to those measurements: the client’s behavior.

So if I’m a transformative advisor, the only measurement of transformation is, “how did my client change their behavior to increase their wealth, to increase their efficiencies?” Be measuring their cost to benefit ratios on different investments they’re making, measure their risk ratio to benefit, measure their financial benchmarking as compared to others in their industry. Create alerts around their cash flow — AR terms. If they’re in inventory, inventory terms. Anything that will be wealth-generating: if you monitor it, coach to it, and have a change of behavior on the part of the client — that’s key.

RF: Excellent. Now what type of mindset do you do you need to make that transition? You mentioned that some professionals already call themselves transformative. But yet as you approach them, they’re missing a couple of things. What are they really missing? What type of mindset do they need for that?

JW: So first there must be an identity shift. And this isn’t always a popular message, but it’s one that I’m going to be consistent about all the way through the rest of my career. Don’t call yourself a bookkeeper. Don’t call yourself a tax preparer. Don’t call yourself, in some cases, even “comma CPA.” Because all of those things are noble professions and they’re noble designations — I mean, I wish I had myself a CPA, it’s sort of on my bucket list to go get those initials.

But the moment that we begin to brand ourselves around a specific service within the accounting profession, we’ve limited the client’s perception of what we can bring in terms of value. And unfortunately “CPA,” though a trusted designation, is also a determined designation. They predetermined your role and it’s very hard to break out of that role.

So instead it starts with identity; that’s the mind shift. Call yourself what you’re going to do. it could be business coach, if you want to get fancy about it. Could be fractional CFO or outsourced CFO, though some non-CPAs shy away from that term. It could be outsourced director of business development. There’s so many broader but yet specific terms you could use.

And then still provide bookkeeping and tax, still provide assurance services if you wish to do so — business valuation and all those other things that CPAs do. But you’re doing those as a means to the end. And the end is to coach the client into increases in wealth.

RF: Now Joe, when you say increases in, wealth does that mean financial wealth?

JW: It does mean financial wealth. So obviously the first thing we should do is get profits up, getting all the way down to net income up. So analyze GNA, because it’s the fastest levers we can pull to create a financial ROI for the investment they’re making in us.

But don’t stop there. And as accounting professionals, it’s going to be very tempting to stop there. Increasing the top of the line revenues is still a financial impact and we can do that through helping our clients to market better, to brand better, to provide better pricing around their services.

They probably are not large enough to have their own pricing officer like a chief revenue officer in-house, so provide that outsourced role. And just like we challenge as thought leaders, accountants to value price and to price commensurate with the wealth we’re generating, get them to do the same thing with their customers. And then through brand differentiation, they can break through all the price anchors that take place in whatever their field is and they can start to increase wealth that way.

But there are other softer ways. You can increase a client’s wealth if you just change their culture. Enhance their peace of mind. In some cases, you can even make their domestic life better. I love telling a story about a guy named Joe who’s a CPA, or he works for a CPA firm, and he is a tax preparer, he’s a QuickBooks consultant. And he saved one of his client’s marriages by changing the way that they value their inventory.

Because the wife who didn’t want to work had gotten commandeered into the company to take all this costing, all these cost models they had to create for a particular supplier. And she was doing all this work in Excel and Joe said “no, if you’ll just change this to this in QuickBooks” — and I won’t get into all the specifics — “QuickBooks will give you those reports internally.” And the guy came back about a year later or so and said, “You saved my marriage. You didn’t just save my company about 30 hours a week; you saved my marriage.”

And so then that comes into all this pricing challenge because we don’t have crystal balls, right? So how would Joe possibly have known all the impact of that? But Joe could determine “save the company 30 hours per week.” And that efficiency, though maybe it may take a while for it to hit the bottom line, especially if that employee is now back home and it’s not really increased well for the customer, there was the soft benefit of domestic harmonization, work-life harmonization and overall scalability for the company as they increase their distributions.

We need to be looking at the long range with our clients. And this is where, as you know, Woodard Consulting was one of the pioneers in working with Method. We would go in at an operational level, very intensive level, and we would enhance their workflows. And then we would take their custom process, their proprietary process, and we would run it through Method for collaboration and in some cases, many cases, automation, and even field deployments and productions. And we would find then that companies could scale.

Our premium example, flagship example, is a company that’s scaled from a 30 million dollar company to a 40 million dollar company without any increase in cost of production. So we generated $10,000 in clear wealth generation, but we did it as operational advisors. We didn’t do it as financial advisors.

RF: So let’s talk about the intersection of technology and the transformative advisor. And there’s this concept that technology, of course, improves operational efficiencies, which of course creates wealth. What are some other ways that emerging technology can increase that?

JW: So I was talking in my Method example about the sort of front lines, the field services, the production, and the management of the company’s operations. But that back office is the first place to start because it’s the accountant’s warm spot. We know how to run a back office. We are more familiar with the technologies involved in that. It’s many of the ones that are on the show floor here at QuickBooks Connect and also at my show, Scaling New Heights.

So we know them. And when the client doesn’t want to outsource their bookkeeping to us, first step is to automate their bookkeeping in-house and create those efficiencies. And through doing that, we create more accurate, real-time, and manageable financial data, and that gives us the building blocks for our coaching, all right.

So start there — it’s your comfort zone. But then niche. And by niching, you can become a specialist in a particular vertical solution, whether it’s an ERP solution, inventory controls, your point of sale, medical billing. To find that technology that you can specialize in and then layer that operational technology consulting to it.

Make sure that what you’re putting in on the front end talks to the back end, whether you’re outsourcing the bookkeeping and it’s your back end, or if it’s their back end. Because you want to try to get to, say, 80% automation of bookkeeping process, and you won’t get there if the front end doesn’t tie to the back

Now I’m gonna go back to Method for a minute, because even though I am a big proponent of niche, anytime you’re doing the bookkeeping, tax or accounting work, niche is always by industry. But what our consulting created [was] a niche that wasn’t by industry. We were come-all takers when it came to embracing a small to medium-sized business client. We’d take anybody. Our niche was around Method.

So you can create an entire practice niche around the deployment of a particular solution. And in Method’s case, its benefit was it wasn’t vertical. We could deploy it at any business at any time. We always had a bit of a learning curve if we were new to the model, but we were doing it so specific to that client, so proprietary to that client, that we could just immerse ourselves in there, become business process workflows experts and then build into Method. So specialization could take place at a vertical level by industry or by product, when you have a product as wide-reaching as Method.

RF: So as many people know, [with] Method our go-to-market strategy is the CRM portion. But Method beyond the CRM is a no-code platform where you can build pretty much any business workflow and extend the CRM. And by that, also extend your accounting software. In our case, we’re built exclusively for QuickBooks. Share with me some of your experience with our no-code platform.

JW: Yeah, well, I’ve had a lot of experiences with it. And our favorite kind of client was a client on some sort of proprietary or legacy code system. And we would come in, not programmers. To this day, I don’t know how to write one line of code; I can do some SQL strings. I don’t know how to write one line of code; I couldn’t do an API code if my life depended on it — I always outsource the API.

But I would go into a client that was using, say, Linux or, you know, some old DOS-based program that they had somebody build for them in the 1980s or 90s. And we would completely rebuild that program in Method, without me having to write one line of code.

Now these guys back in the 80s and 90s paid six figures back then to have people do Linux coding because they were building custom software. So they already had a talk about a positive price anchor; they had a price point in their mind that was six figures twenty years ago. So we would come in saying, “Well, you know, times have changed; it’s gonna be a little bit more expensive to rewrite a program now, but these are the benefits in us doing it.”

And we didn’t call it a no-code program; in a configuration platform versus the code, because the code will never go legacy. And so we would sell it based on that. We would charge, say, 50 to 75 percent more than they paid back in the 1990s and we would do it in 20 percent of the time. It’s a fantastic model.

RF: That’s amazing, that’s amazing. So, talking about Method and its role in this journey of the ProAdvisor and the accountant into the mentality of a transformative advisor, what do you advise them as a way of leveraging Method as a core piece of that journey?

JW: Alright, so I’m gonna answer your question by telling you a story. The very first time I ever encountered Method, I went up to your booth at a show, at another person’s show, and I asked, “what do you guys do?” And it was Paul Jackson working the booth, the CEO and founder of Method, because there were like five guys in Method at the time. And Paul looked back at me and said, not in a coy way, but just an accurate way: “whatever you want it to do.”

Alright, so I’ll answer your question now by saying, Method will do whatever you want it to do. And I mean almost without limitation. So what I would say to any accountant without fully understanding Method, without being certified on Method, without having gone all the way down the rabbit hole on what Method can do — because it’s vast what it can do — I would say this. Anytime your client — if I’m speaking to an accounting professional — anytime your client can’t accomplish what they want to accomplish with something off-the-shelf, deploy Method.

And you will find that’s almost always the case. So Method could serve as a process gap-filler between other solutions, including integration because it has an API. It can serve as a process gap-filler without integration. It can serve as a highly proprietary custom solution for micro-verticals that don’t have a good QuickBooks-integrated solution, and those are plentiful right?

And remember: as the accountant, you don’t have to do what Woodard Consulting did. You don’t have to go in and completely revamp a Linux system for a six-figure engagement because that may not be your model. What you have to do is identify the need. Keep in your mind that almost without exception — I’m not being hyperbolic — if they have a need for software and it doesn’t exist as a micro process or a macro process, just go to Method’s website and start chatting with them. Because it’s 99.9% that Method can solve the problem. And do so at a very low developmental curve as compared to custom software.

RF: Excellent. Joe, thank you. Let’s talk about Woodard Consulting. You seem to be all over the place. There’s a lot of things going on on your end. I’m loving the TV show and all of the different webinars and resources. What’s next on your roadmap? What’s at your heel right now?

JW: Well, we’re gonna lean into the things we already have in our portfolio. So you mentioned the tech makeover reality show. And you can go watch that at www.woodard.com. Check it out: it’s cable television-level reality TV show, but it’s really a video case study of us transforming small businesses with technology. So I would encourage anybody watching this interview to go to www.woodard.com and check that out.

We’re gonna lean into webinars with even more strength and you’re gonna see a revamp of that. We’ve got our podcast. And we’re gonna make Scaling New Heights always bigger and better, bigger and better. The only new thing we’ve launched and the only new thing we will launch over 12 months is an online version of Scaling New Heights, in a virtual platform, state-of-the-art video game kind of interface where you walk around and go to a virtual exhibit hall and a virtual lobby. You have three tracks of training to choose from. You have world-renowned keynote presenters.

So we’re giving everybody a taste of what they would get at Scaling New Heights on-site, for those that want an incremental Scaling experience and for those that can’t make the premise show. And there’s even a free option if you just want to come and listen to the keynotes.

RF: Excellent. And they can register now?

JW: Yes, so registration is open at www.scalingnewheights.com.

RF: Amazing. So Joe, thank you so much for your time. You are an incredible Method partner and we really value you. Thank you.

JW: Well, it’s been great to be here, thank you.

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Want more #QBConnect content? Check out our full coverage of QuickBooks Connect San Jose 2018!

The post The Role of the Transformative Advisor: An Interview With Joe Woodard [Video] appeared first on Method.

“They’re making money, but they’re not managing money — and we are in the managing money business,” says Mariette Martinez, speaking to accounting professionals at QuickBooks Connect. As an accountant, tax pro and small business strategist, Martinez is visibly passionate about helping self-employed individuals achieve their business goals through better financial management.

She also immediately dispels the stereotype that the self-employed market can’t or won’t pay for accounting services: “If they see the value that you’re bringing, they will pay for it. The self-employed have been my solo market for the last five years.”

Understanding the gig economy

Other accounting professionals would be wise to follow Martinez’s lead. Nearly 40% of the U.S. workforce now participates in the gig economy, which includes freelancers, independent contractors, contingent workers, and even on-demand workers like Uber and Lyft drivers. And that percentage is only expected to grow, making this the perfect time for accountants to learn how to serve this market.

When assessing a self-employed client’s needs, Martinez advises her colleagues to keep an open mind and avoid jumping in with cookie-cutter solutions. While some entrepreneurs may be content to keep their side hustle on the side, others may be looking to grow and scale. These individual goals need to be taken into consideration.

“The purpose of truly listening to and connecting with the self-employed is not to respond back with perfect answers — but to give you, their trusted advisor, the opportunity to explore and discover the best possible solutions together.”

Assessing the needs of the self-employed

Of course, those who are self-employed tend to share some common pain points. These include cash flow issues, tax struggles, mixing business and personal finances, messy or non-existent mileage tracking, and the dreaded “shoebox dilemma” — a disorganized collection of records and receipts that may or may not live in an actual shoebox.

Beyond these obvious struggles, there are plenty of other details to pay attention to during that initial conversation. Everything from the client’s sales process and customer payment methods to their financial reporting and tax compliance will be relevant to how you proceed as their financial advisor.

QuickBooks Self-Employed: a simple solution

Once you truly understand your client’s struggles and goals, Martinez recommends presenting simple, scalable solutions that will deliver value and save them time. She points out that for the self-employed, “their time is literally their money — so when you start talking about saving, they love that.”

Delivering the right solutions for each client requires a deep understanding of the available options. In other words: just because an individual is self-employed, it doesn’t mean you should default to QuickBooks Self-Employed. Instead, Martinez implores her fellow accounting professionals to do their research about the different versions of QuickBooks: “We need to make our colleagues accountable for becoming technically aware of what’s out there.”

That being said, QuickBooks Self-Employed is a great option for many self-employed clients. Martinez highlights three features in particular that make life easier for those working in the gig economy:

• Real-time, automated bank and credit card feeds.
• Easy categorization of business and personal expenses. Martinez is a stickler for this point when it comes to working with the self-employed: “You want to be kind about it, but you also want to be firm about it.”
• The ability to prepare for tax time early.

Better yet, accountants can collaborate with their QuickBooks Self-Employed clients through QuickBooks Online Accountant. This makes it easier to hold clients accountable to their financial plan.

Delivering the right solutions to the right clients

Just as the gig economy is incredibly diverse, so too are the service offerings that accountants can provide. Martinez suggests three simple and scalable business models.

In the “Soft Touch” model, you provide quarterly bookkeeping as well as tax prep services. This model helps accountants empower their self-employed clients to take control of their own finances.

In the “Trusted Advisor” model, you meet with clients monthly and provide year-round bookkeeping and tax prep services. In this scenario, your clients are constantly held accountable and can get ahead of the game.

In the “One-to-Many” model, you position yourself as an expert on the self-employed market by providing a high volume of one service or digital product. “This is my absolute favorite model,” says Martinez. She offers plenty of ideas for reaching your target audience, including webinars, workshops, templates, blogs, podcasts, and videos.

Building lasting partnerships

Many self-employed individuals avoid working with financial advisors because they don’t think the advisors will be on their side. Martinez wants to dispel that notion: “I want to be your accountability partner. I want you to look forward to having a meeting with me at the end of the year.”

She encourages other accountants to identify which subsets of the gig economy they are most passionate about. For instance, as a mother herself, Martinez loves working with stay-at-home moms and other women.

But no matter which groups you focus on, the key is to get excited about what your clients do. In doing so, accounting professionals will be well-positioned to not only help their clients’ businesses flourish, but to find satisfaction in their own work as well.

Want more #QBConnect content? Check out our full coverage of QuickBooks Connect San Jose 2018!

The post Working With the Gig Economy: Mariette Martinez at QuickBooks Connect appeared first on Method.

Of course, finding new accounting or bookkeeping leads can be a challenge, especially if you’re used to relying on client referrals. To help you mix things up, we’ve compiled this list of lead generation tips for accounting firms. Put these tips into practice and you may be pleasantly surprised by the amount of new, high-quality business you’re able to drum up.

1. Focus Your Lead Generation Efforts

Far too many accounting firms take a generalist approach when it comes to targeting new clients. However, most clients in search of an accountant are going to be looking for a very specific set of services. If you can target your lead generation efforts to focus on specific industries or specific problems that your firm is able to address, you’ll have an easier time convincing potential clients to hand over their contact information.

Depending on the services you offer and the type of clients you want to attract, you can create any number of targeted campaigns to achieve your desired results. Each campaign should have its own dedicated marketing materials, such as blog posts, emails, or pay-per-click ads.

For example, you might create one campaign aimed at small business owners in the restaurant industry who need payroll services and a separate campaign targeting self-employed individuals who need help with their taxes. The goal is to let your prospective clients know that you understand (and can help with) their specific pain points.

2. Create Effective Landing Pages

On the whole, digital marketing is an area that is underutilized by accounting firms. However, putting together compelling landing pages remains one of the most effective ways for businesses of all kinds to generate new leads.

Ideally, you want to create landing pages that excite visitors about the benefits of your services. You should also encourage visitors to take a specific action while on the page, such as filling out a contact form. Offer a clear incentive for visitors to provide you with their information, whether that’s a follow-up phone call or a special discount upon signing on with your firm.

Once you have your landing pages in place, use targeted advertising through services like Google Ads to target your ideal clients and drive them to the relevant pages. Keeping the previous point in mind, develop specific ads and landing pages for each type of client you want to attract. This classic lead generation strategy may not be new or groundbreaking, but it’s still one of the most effective ones out there, particularly given that many accounting firms fail to take advantage of it.

3. Engage in Content Marketing

In addition to using paid ads to drive traffic to your landing pages, you should also make use of organic forms of digital marketing. Content marketing is one such example. This type of marketing involves creating and distributing relevant content to your target audience, with the ultimate goal of bringing in new business.

Accounting firms are well-positioned to take advantage of content marketing. After all, most small business owners aren’t accounting experts, but they need to learn more about managing their finances. This leads them to search online for helpful resources. If you can provide those resources in the form of blog posts, you’ll attract plenty of visitors to your website. These visitors can then be directed to your landing pages and contact forms.

What you write about will depend on the time of year and your firm’s expertise. For example, you could write about how to prepare for tax season, commonly overlooked deductions for small businesses, how to find the right accounting firm and more. The possible topics are nearly limitless – as are the possible rewards of effective content marketing when it comes to attracting traffic and generating new leads.

4. Build a Presence for Your Firm on LinkedIn 

Social media marketing is an incredibly effective way for companies to generate new leads. But if you have limited time to devote to social media, choose your platforms wisely. As a B2B company, your accounting firm will likely have an easier time reaching its target clients on LinkedIn (a highly business-oriented platform) than it will on, say, Instagram.

Create a detailed LinkedIn profile for your firm and start connecting directly with small business owners. You can also incorporate LinkedIn into other aspects of your lead generation strategy. For example, you’ll want to develop a regular posting schedule to drive your LinkedIn audience to your blog posts. You can also make use of paid advertising on LinkedIn (in the same way you would use Google Ads or Facebook Ads) to drive prospective clients to your highly targeted landing pages.

5. Give Something Away

Giving away freebies is a common method used by businesses to convince visitors to hand over their contact information. After all, people love free stuff! However, this tactic isn’t often employed by accounting firms…for obvious reasons. Compared to a product-based company that can offer free samples, it’s a little more difficult for an accounting firm to come up with a relevant freebie to draw in potential clients.

If you get a little creative, though, there are plenty of ways for your firm to entice website visitors. In exchange for signing up for your mailing list or submitting your web-to-lead form, you can offer these leads access to an exclusive blog post or webinar, a downloadable resource like an ebook, preferred pricing on certain services and more.

Don’t be afraid to test different strategies to see what gets results. Once you have a well-received offer, promote it frequently: on your landing pages, on your blog, and on social media.

6. Make Use of Lead Management Software

There’s no denying that once you ramp up your lead generation strategy, it can be difficult to keep your prospective clients organized. This is especially true if you’re targeting different groups for different types of services. The last thing you want is to miss a follow-up or send the wrong message to the wrong person. But with so many prospects in your pipeline, simple spreadsheets are no longer going to cut it.

Lead management software goes hand-in-hand with the lead generation strategies described above. For instance, using a contact form that syncs directly to your software allows you to easily capture web leads from your landing pages. Meanwhile, automated reminders ensure that you never forget to follow up with potential clients. By streamlining repetitive tasks, you can convert more of your leads to paying clients with less time and effort required.

Conclusion

Don’t rely on referrals alone. In order to grow your accounting firm’s client base, it’s important to develop a multi-faceted lead generation strategy. By following the six tips outlined above, you can start generating high-quality leads that ultimately become loyal, paying clients.

The post 6 Lead Generation Tips for Accounting Firms appeared first on Method.

The answer is simple: they must expand their service offerings to deliver greater value to their clients. One way to achieve this is by combining accounting software with other business apps. By building a powerful app ecosystem, accountants can move beyond accounting to become multifaceted business consultants.

Join Method CRM at QuickBooks Connect San Jose for a fireside chat on “The Technology Empowered Accountant: Building a Profitable Technology Stack.” As the CRM industry leader for QuickBooks integration, Method has always helped accountants deliver innovative tech solutions to their clients. And with our stellar lineup of featured guests, this is a discussion you won’t want to miss.

Details

When: November 6, 2018 at 1:00 pm PT

Where: QuickBooks Connect San Jose (location TBA) and Facebook Live

Host: Rodrigo Fernandez, Method CRM

Click here to join the Facebook Event!

Featured guests

Brad Celmainis

Brad Celmainis is a high-energy finance professional with a history of making things happen. He is a QuickBooks Online Platinum ProAdvisor, an Intuit Certified Desktop ProAdvisor, and the founder of Brad Celmainis Accounting Solutions. Brad manages the Calgary Accounting and Finance Network, the largest Calgary-centric accounting and finance group on LinkedIn. He is Co-Organizer of the most popular small business Meetup group in Calgary, the Calgary Business Professionals Group, as well as an active member of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce and an avid supporter of Small Business Week.

Robin Hall

Robin Hall is the driving force behind VARC Solutions.  An Intuit Advisory Board member and one of the original Intuit Solution Providers, she is a sought-after instructor and speaker for venues such as Scaling New Heights, the Intuit Solution Provider Conference, CNN Radio and Radio Free QuickBooks. In addition to being an Intuit Solution Provider, Robin is also a Quick Base Solution Provider.  She developed VARC Solutions’ signature product using Quick Base, NAN Practice Manager, a CRM designed specifically for Intuit ProAdvisors, Intuit Solution Providers, CPAs and others in the accounting profession.

Laura Redmond

Laura Redmond is the founder of Redmond Accounting Inc, a firm committed to technology supporting collaborative, mobile working environments. She is the co-founder of Cloud Consultancy LLC and the co-creator of AERO Workflow Management app. Laura is the co-author of Intuit’s award-winning QuickBooks Online certification training program, as well as a national trainer and member of Intuit’s esteemed Trainer/Writer Network. She was named a Top 10 ProAdvisor for Leading QuickBooks Online Practice in 2014 and Redmond Accounting Inc was named a Top 20 Firm of the Future in 2015.

Heather Satterley

Heather is the founder of Satterley Training & Consulting, LLC – a Rhode Island-based consulting firm focused on helping accounting professionals learn and master the QuickBooks ecosystem. She is an Advanced Certified ProAdvisor, a member of the exclusive Intuit Trainer/Writer Network, and is an enrolled agent licensed to practice before the IRS. Heather is also co-host of “The QB ‘Appy Hour with Liz and Heather” monthly webinar series. She was named the Top QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor in 2017 and Top 100 ProAdvisor from 2014 – 2018 by Insightful Accountant.

The post You’re invited: Fireside chat at QuickBooks Connect San Jose appeared first on Method.

Whether you’re managing the finances for your own business or a client’s, the key to your success is organization. Unfortunately, accounting and bookkeeping courses don’t place as much emphasis on organization skills as they do on accounting principles and software. So if you don’t already have a knack for keeping things in order, how can you acquire one?

Arguably, there is no “perfect” organization strategy that will work for everyone in every role. Because organization is so closely tied to personal habits and productivity, what keeps one person on track might drive another person to distraction. However, there are a few general guidelines that everyone can follow to keep their workflows in order. Even if organization doesn’t come naturally to you, here are five tips to help accountants and bookkeepers to stay organized at work.

1. Manage Client Relationships

Be honest: have you ever thought to yourself “I could get so much more work done if only these clients wouldn’t take up my all my time?” It’s funny because it’s true…but you also know that without those clients, you wouldn’t have a business. And if your business is growing, you know this means bringing on more clients, which means more meetings and more phone calls.

Knowing how to effectively manage client relationships is a key organizational tactic for accountants and bookkeepers. Using CRM software is a great way to achieve this. A CRM gives you a complete view of each client’s history, allowing you to answer their questions and serve them more efficiently. Logging the details of each meeting makes it easier to pick up where you left off, while tracking customized client preferences allows you to provide personalized service. Your clients can also take advantage of self-service portals linked to the CRM to update information, pay invoices and submit support requests. This lets you develop a more consistent schedule for client communication, rather than being constantly on call.

2. Integrate Your Software Programs

Using CRM software is a great start for managing client relationships, but these relationships aren’t limited to pre-scheduled meetings and phone calls. When a client shoots you a “quick email” with questions, sometimes it’s easiest to answer them right away. But how are you supposed to track these conversations effectively if you receive an onslaught of messages each day?

Not to worry! To keep your email communication organized and accessible, look for CRM software that integrates with common email providers like Gmail and Outlook. CRM email add-ons are simple tools that prevent you from having to flip between your messages and your CRM. Instead, you can save the details of an email conversation directly to your CRM from your email inbox. Not only does this save you time on double data entry, it makes it easier to maintain organized records of your interactions with each client.

3. Optimize Your Workspace Organization

You knew this one was coming. Digital organization is great, but physical organization still plays a big role in your workplace productivity. Maybe you’re working in a corner office, or maybe you’re running your bookkeeping or accounting practice from your kitchen table. Either way, there are some tried and true methods for creating an organized workspace. Here are a few ideas to consider implementing:

• An L-shaped (or U-shaped) desk puts more essential items and files within reach.
• Keep clutter to a minimum. Infrequently used items should go in drawers or on shelves behind or above your main workspace.
• Use organizers to separate small items stored in drawers. Don’t be the accountant who’s always hunting around for a pen or a calculator.
• Use a combination of vertical and horizontal file folder organizers to maximize your available storage space.
• Save your eyesight! Use a combination of overhead and task lighting.
• Double or even triple computer monitors save time and minimize confusion caused by switching between programs (like your accounting software and your CRM).

4. Develop a Streamlined Workflow

If you’re an experienced accountant or bookkeeper, you probably already have a general workflow in place. However, your productivity can easily be thrown out of whack when a new stack of paperwork lands on your desk. This is especially true for professionals who now rely mainly on digital systems. If you’re struggling to keep paper documents organized, here are some tips to try:

• Thermal paper receipts should be scanned and digitally filed in the appropriate client folders, as they will fade over time.
• Standard paper receipts can either be scanned or stapled and filed with the relevant paperwork.
• Although you’re likely using accounting and CRM software, you should still have a paper folder for each client to store any incidental documents they may give you. You can then transfer the information into your software when you have time.
• Some people like to keep an old-school phone message pad on their desk to jot down notes during client calls. If this applies to you, don’t let those notes get lost! Set aside a block of time once or twice a day to log these call details in your CRM.

5. Schedule Your Day Ahead of Time

Nothing’s worse than getting to the end of your workday and wondering if you even accomplished anything. Unfortunately, this can easily happen if you don’t plan your schedule ahead of time.

At the end of each day, take a few minutes to compile a list of things you want to tackle the following day. For accountants and bookkeepers working in structured office environments, you may be able to create a detailed hourly schedule. For those working for themselves or from home, you may need to leave more room for unexpected interruptions or tasks. At the very least, aim to identify one task that you’ll deal with first thing in the morning. By starting the day off on a productive note, you’ll set yourself up to accomplish other items on your to-do list.

Getting your work done is good, but there’s a huge sense of satisfaction in getting it done in an organized fashion. In addition, staying organized at work helps you provide your clients with better service, maintain a less stressful work environment, and comfortably scale your business. Test out different tools and tips until you find what works for you!

The post Organization tips for accountants and bookkeepers appeared first on Method.