Success Insights from a Leading Small Accounting Firm Owner - Accounting Voices Podcast

Episode 43

Success Insights from a Leading Small Accounting Firm Owner

Published on: 28th March, 2019

Mark Telford

Mark Telford is an award-winning Chartered Accountant who works with ambitious business owners to help them achieve their goals, most importantly personal goals. He also coaches other accountants who are looking to start or grow a small practice run on their terms, to fit around their lifestyle.

An experienced Finance Director. Mark spent 16 years working in industry and commerce, 12 years in senior board level financial and commercial positions of large organisations. He founded Telfords Chartered Accountants to ensure that many small businesses were getting the business support and advice they needed from their accountant. Shownotes:

  • Why the accountancy profession is an exciting place to be
  • What makes technology exciting and how accountants can embrace it to maximise the opportunities it brings
  • How best to differentiate your accounting firm from your competition and stand out from the crowd
  • Why external expertise and coaching can be a life changing experience
  • The key questions to ask in order to find the right mentor and avoid falling prey to snake oil salesmen
  • Debunking the compliance vs. advisory myth and why there isn’t a ‘magic bridge’ to becoming an advisory accounting firm

Mark Telford on the BD Academy Accounting Influencers podcast with Rob Brown

'Accountants who just do compliance only offer the bare minimum. The best ones help clients achieve their personal goals' says @kent_accountant #accounting #accountex #AccountingTop100 #accountinginsight

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  • How to avoid being a ‘technology magpie’ and start building technology stacks that improve your accountancy firm and your client’s lives
  • Why the big accountancy firms’ move into cloud based technology is a great opportunity for smaller firms
  • The challenges faced by accounting firms of all sizes if they want to grow
  • How you can change your clients’ mind and behaviours to enhance your relationships
  • Defining value – work less hours, make more money, spend more time with the family or be less stressed
  • Why developing an accountants peer group can deliver significant personal and professional benefits
  • The three things that really work for successful accountancy firms and the opportunities it creates for them
  • The art of referrals and recommendations to help your accountancy practice attract new clients
  • A really powerful five word question to explore and deepen relationships.

Mark Telford on the BD Academy Accounting Influencers podcast with Rob Brown

When Mark isn’t working, he enjoy swimming, running, camping/activity holidays and keeping his (5 acre) ‘garden’ under control. To learn more about Mark, visit www.telfordsaccountants.com or contact him:

Phone (44) 01303 813159

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/marktelford/

Twitter: @kent_accountant

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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.