Episode 149

Essential Career Skills for the Modern Day Accountant

Published on: 8th April, 2021

Mark Jenkins has had over 20 years in Public Practice in New Zealand. In 2014, he sold his firm so that he could focus on his true passion - helping accountants to accelerate small business success. Mark joined forces with Viv Brownrigg, together creating The Gap so that Accounting firms throughout NZ, Australia and the UK can use Business Development content to maximise income without having to re-invent the wheel. Selected shownotes:

  • A throwback to accountants writing cheques and processing bank statements manually to the digital world
  • The challenge for accountants in staying current with technology and maintain learning to serve clients
  • The dangers for accountants of losing relevance with clients and the marketplace
  • The foundational skill accountants need to be 'in the game'
  • The different communication skills accountants should master
  • A great communication technique to set up a conversation about tax or payments
  • Ways for accountants to improve their communication and people skills
  • The four stages of learning using the example of diving a car and then for accountants calling clients
  • The importance for accounting professionals to develop their own communication style
  • Why accountants struggle to master selling skills and what they can do about it
  • Simple ways to find out what clients actually want so accountants can position and sell comfortably
  • The 3 key skills or responsibility required to make partner for accounting
  • professionals
  • OPPSS explained as a process for accountants to make the most of opportunities to bring in new work
  • Why accountants need to develop the ability to speak beyond the numbers and forecasts
  • What business acumen and commercial awareness looks like for accountants and how they can develop it
  • The power of empathy if accountants want to properly relate to their clients
  • Words of wisdom for accounting professionals to help clients better and be as good as they can be.

In his downtime, Mark likes nothing more than getting up at the crack of dawn, pulling out his kayak, catching, filleting and BBQing his catch of the day. Contact him here:

Website

LinkedIn

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Accounting Voices Podcast

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

Profile picture for Rob Brown

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.