Episode 120

How Clients Can Educate Accountants: Susan Bryant

Published on: 17th June, 2022

Episode 120. In today's interview, "How Clients Can Educate Accountants: Susan Bryant"

Susan Bryant is a CPA with a vision to help business owners achieve their dreams. She has been voted Top 50 Women in Accounting and works with the MB Group leading lead the Accounting Services team. Her favorite roles are being the architect of accounting processes, an M&A advisor and tax strategist. Susan’s passion is transforming the lives of business owners by bringing order to the finance function and alleviating stress around taxes through proper and timely planning.

Key takeaways from this episode include:

》shout out to Susan's previous interview on what makes a good accounting client https://bit.ly/38F7rdn

》what accountants should do to ensure their clients step up to be better clients

》top tips for accountants to manage the expectations of their client

》what makes the good accountants great in terms of going beyond compliance for their clients

》what turns a good accounting client into a great one - the dynamics of a great client-accountant relationship

》the importance of accounting clients treating their advisors as partners rather than mere suppliers of a service

》when accounting advice becomes more emotional and and relationship based for clients

》how very few business owners have a good knowledge of what their accountant actually does

》examples of questions accountants can ask their clients to improve their relationship and service

》the questions and topics business owners should be bringing up with their accounting advisors

》whether clients can and even should focus on making their accountants better advisors

》the options for accounting firm clients who are not happy with what their professional advisors are doing

》how coachable accountants and CPAs are as a breed and why few are interested in developing

》the importance for business owners to be clear on what they want from their accountant and vice versa

》the key elements of the discovery call for accountants and prospective clients

》what business owners should be asking a potential new accounting advisor before hiring them

》the kind of things that make business owners switch CPA firms or accounting advisors (and what doesn't)

》the biggest thing accountants and the accounting profession needs to work on to improve the sector's image

》what it means for accountants to actively help their clients to fulfil their dreams

》the need for accountants and CPAs to have their own dreams and visions so they transform themselves

》the difference between incremental change and significant transformation for accountants and their clients

Outside work, you'll find Susan whipping up new dishes in the kitchen, shopping at the mall with her teenage daughters, planning (in excruciating accountant-like detail) her next vacation and, if it's Christmas-time, glued to the Hallmark Channel. 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanbryantcpa

https://twitter.com/MBGroupSusanB

https://www.mbgcpa.com

Check out Susan's previous interview on the show:

Accountants - Make Good Clients Great: Susan Bryant

https://bit.ly/38F7rdn

NOTE TO LISTENERS:

The Accounting Influencers Podcast is a daily radio-style show with four segments coming out every Monday which are repeated on the other 4 weekdays as standalone episodes, plus a bonus 'from the client's perspective' episode on Saturdays. On Sundays, listeners get a short min trailer for the coming week's episodes.

Every Tuesday the show gives you a relevant news topic from the accounting and fintech world with a direct application to accountants, CPAs and bookkeepers. Great to stay informed and build your commercial acumen.

Every Wednesday and Friday, we feature an uncut interview with top authors, leaders, thinkers and performers in the accounting and fintech world.

Every Thursday the show gives you a practical 'here's what works' tips concerning a key challenge, need or strategy for accountants, CPAs and bookkeepers. Great to stay current and keep your skills topped up.

Finally, every Saturday gives listeners a bonus episode which focuses on the buyers of accounting services - the clients themselves. In particular how they feel, react to and experience their interactions with accountants. That includes why they buy or don't buy, why they move or stay and why they think how they think about you, your firm, your prices and your offerings.

Martin and Rob love to hear from the show's 26,000 unique listeners in 150 countries around the world. If you like the show and listen to multiple episodes, we'd really appreciate your appreciation with a review or rating. As most of our listeners tune in via Apple podcasts...

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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.