Accounting - it's known as the "language of business." It is more than just bookkeeping, auditing and tax preparation. Today's business environment places a greater responsibility on the accounting profession, especially CPAs. In this environment, successful CPAs must bring a broader range of skills to the table, while gaining a better understanding of their clients and offering knowledge, insight and sound counsel.
Business owners want their CPA to guide them in their financial outcome, including the impact on their personal lives. They want us to serve more than just compliance needs and the business of numbers; they want us engaged in understanding the business driving their numbers.
These expectations require us to become more involved, to partner with our clients and to truly evolve as their trusted advisors. While some still view accountants as bean counters, many more are turning to their CPAs for business acumen. The best CPAs understand and embrace this.
Yet, in our fast-paced world, we experience challenging demands on our time and our priorities; with such demand, CPAs can easily become caught up in a mode of project/production focus at the sacrifice of a relationship focus. While both are important, the best CPAs work very hard to give meaning to what they produce; clients reciprocate with confidence and trust, paving the way for a long-term financial partnership.
I am passionate about helping my clients succeed, and I want to earn your trust and respect through a deeper advisory relationship, built upon attentive and professional service, a high standard of integrity, and a solid foundation of knowledge and experience. This is what I do; and it's my ongoing passion and consistency in these things that I believe distinguishes me from many of my competitors.
I believe that exceptional client service is composed of three important attributes, consistently applied:
Attentive, Caring Service
Clients that tend to choose and stay with me are usually looking for a higher level of attentiveness than they're used to getting elsewhere. They want a CPA who will listen and who will be their advocate. They want timely and responsive service. They want a CPA who pays attention to meaningful details, who is mindful of opportunities, and who follows through. They want someone who will take the time to understand their business and financial challenges, who will work with them side by side, and who will deliver sound advice and helpful solutions. They are seeking a long-term financial partner.
Integrity
Clients that tend to choose and stay with me value honesty and will not compromise integrity. In order to become and remain a trusted advisor, in business and in life, we must value our integrity. We owe it to our clients, our employees, our profession, our families, and ourselves. In business, I've seen no good come from "white lies," blurred edges, short cuts, or highly aggressive tax and accounting positions. My clients trust me to look out for them, to protect their confidentiality, and to steer them away from trouble.
Knowledge
Clients that tend to choose and stay with me will not accept mediocrity in their professional advisor. Knowledge is crucial to performance as a CPA. In order to provide relevant and informed counsel, I believe we have a professional responsibility to equip ourselves with up-to-date information, expertise, and technical tools. In the tax and accounting profession, things change frequently. In order to provide accurate and useful advice for my clients, I make a continual and substantial investment of time and money in professional continuing education, computer/office technology, and advanced tax and accounting software and technical resources. These professional habits are indicative of a commitment to excellence.
Favorite Quotes:
"Ability, without dependability, has no value." -Anonymous
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit." -Aristotle
"When the world says, 'Give up,' hope whispers, 'Try it one more time.'" -Anonymous
