Episode 162

What Top Accountants & Firms Need to Truly Serve Clients

Published on: 8th July, 2021
Bobby Lane is a SAGE Global Business Influencer and was voted No 1 in the Top 50 most influential sources of finance news and information on social media by Economia. A chartered accountant with over 25 years’ experience in professional practice, he built the first multi award-winning outsourcing team at SSH before their sale to top UK accounting firm Blick Rothenberg in 2017. As Chief Executive Officer at multi-disciplinary outsourcing practice Factotum, he is an experienced keynote speaker, panellist and expert on all issues facing growing businesses. Bobby regular contributes to many trade and national media titles including The Mirror, The Times and Economia and previously BBC Radio London’s Business Agony Uncle. A former member of The Accountancy Age Advisory Panel, Bobby has a large international network and was formerly a member of the Global Advisory Board of Abacus Worldwide. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and a registered ICAEW Business and Finance Professional. Selected shownotes:
  • What has changed most dramatically in the accounting profession over recent years
  • How accountants can really support their business clients beyond supplying compliance services
  • How clients are driving greater value, skills and advice for the accounting fees they are paying
  • What value truly looks like for accountants who serve their clients in the best possible ways
  • Why technology and automation are just enablers for accountants to help them perform better
  • What questions business owners ask of their accounting advisors that need good answers
  • When it's okay and when it isn't for accountants to claim 'trusted advisor' status
  • Why accounting firms must identify the best people for specific roles vz expecting everyone to be good at everything
  • The different ways accounting professionals can generate new business for their firm
  • How accountants have developed their personal brands on social media in recent years
  • How coachable accountants really are and what appetite they have to develop their skills
  • The biggest mistake accounting firm leaders make in developing their people
  • What some accounting firms have got wrong over the last couple of years
  • Solving the dilemma of having too little time to win new work and do business development
  • A recruitment tip way for accounting firms to acquire more entrepreneurially minded accountants
  • Advice for attracting and developing Gen Z staff for your accounting firm
  • How younger accounting professionals differ and even outshine their older counterparts
  • Why most business set ups are extremely inefficient in sourcing professional services
  • What makes many accountants fail in signposting good contacts for their business clients
  • How a reluctance to change holds many accounting professional back in their career
  • Where covid has actually been good for some business owners
  • The ONE THING the accounting profession needs to do to be successful in the next few years.
Connect with Bobby on LinkedIn
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About the Podcast

Accounting Voices Podcast
Accounting Voices helps people in the accounting world stay relevant visible and vocal. Host Rob Brown interprets trends reshaping the profession and gives listeners insight to build authority influence and a stronger voice in firms and markets.
Accounting Voices, hosted by Rob Brown, helps decision makers and leaders in accounting and finance stay relevant, visible and vocal in a profession being reshaped by technology, private equity, regulation and shifting client expectations. Each episode interprets the trends disrupting accounting and finance such as AI, automation, M&A, talent and the move to advisory and translates them into practical insight that strengthens authority and influence.
Accounting Voices is also a platform for the wider ecosystem of networks, associations, educators, consultants, software vendors and technology experts who serve accountants and finance professionals worldwide. It extends into regular Accounting Voices networking sessions that connect this audience and amplify ideas that move the profession forward. With its international reach and long shelf life the show delivers credibility and commercial value for listeners and sponsors alike. Search for "Accounting Voices" on YouTube for all episodes and connect with Rob Brown on LinkedIn to find out more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/therobbrown

About your host

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Rob Brown

ob Brown is the creator and host of the Accounting Voices Network, a media platform that includes the flagship solo podcast Accounting Voices and the panel shows Accounting M&A and Accounting Tech. He chairs conferences, panels and virtual events worldwide and is recognised as a leading advocate for the accounting profession.

He is an accomplished speaker and authority on trust, reputation, employer brand, talent, succession, executive presence and the forces shaping the future of accounting. Rob is the author of the bestselling book Build Your Reputation (Wiley) and his TEDx talk The Personal Brand of You has been viewed more than 400,000 times.

A former co-founder of the Accounting Influencers Roundtable, Rob now focuses on amplifying the voices of leaders, firms, networks, vendors and influencers across the global accounting ecosystem.

Outside of work he is a stroke survivor, lives with epilepsy, holds a black belt in kickboxing and is based in Nottingham, UK. He plays chess and backgammon, loves orange chocolate and is allergic to grapefruit.