With the new tax year already in progress, accountancy firms have a prime opportunity to modernise how they operate, especially in terms of managing tax information and documents. Around this time in the tax season, your clients face daunting deadlines that can be stressful, and mistakes or delays add to this stress – as well as the risk of errors and penalties. As you are no doubt already aware, the Spring Budget introduced several changes this year, including updates to the National Living Wage (NLW) and National Minimum Wage (NMW), which your clients must navigate carefully, and your team m ..read more

Paper-based and traditional methods of document management are outdated, insecure and inefficient. Traditional methods mean that documents like customer orders, evaluation feedback, membership forms and satisfaction surveys get “lost in the post” – as a manager, it’s hard to keep track of information and where it’s gone. They prevent your team from completing work on time and in good order. The best talent in the accounting profession is also looking for firms that harness and use technology to their advantage, so relying on outdated methods seriously hampers your recruitment processes. In fac ..read more

Traditionally, the auditing process required auditors to be physically present at client sites, poring over financial records and processes in person. Obviously, this approach involves significant time and logistical efforts on your part. By relying on traditional auditing methods, your firm is restricted by geography to only your immediate area of influence. The further afield your audit team travels, the more it costs, so you are likely only harnessing a small proportion of the possible clients that you could capture. By constantly exposing your team to travel, or sending them away external ..read more

  Tech stacking is the process of combining different technology tools and software to create a comprehensive system that supports your firm’s operations. The goal should be to select and integrate these technologies, so they work seamlessly together. Essentially, it's about building a custom toolbox of digital solutions tailored to meet the specific needs of your team.  A well-integrated tech stack offers numerous advantages. It can transform general accounting tasks from time-consuming chores into streamlined, efficient processes. For many businesses, it’s the way forward. Tech sta ..read more

We think congratulations are in order. This tax year, there were over 11 million Self-Assessment tax returns filed to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). All that hard work, late nights, digging through paperwork and badgering customers really paid off. However, many of you had a more miserable experience than is necessary. Why? Because your personal tax process remains stubbornly anchored in the past. Despite the digital age transforming almost every aspect of our lives, from how we shop to how we bank, the personal tax filing systems of numerous accountancy firms seem to lag woefully behind. Th ..read more

For accountants, prompt client response times are essential for success and profitability. Clients expect timely communication, and the ability to deliver quick responses on your end can significantly impact client satisfaction and contribute to business growth. Personal income tax client response time requires special attention because every accounting firm knows how the hustle and bustle of tax time can overload even the most experienced teams. By implementing the tactics below, you can improve your client response times, ensure exceptional service delivery, and increase your bottom line. Wi ..read more

If you’re an accountant who still uses email as your primary method of contact and collecting information from clients, we get it. Email is familiar to both you and the businesses you serve. It’s also convenient, and everyone knows how to use it. But we’re here to tell you that your clients would like to (politely) ask you to STOP. Why? Because clients are concerned about the security of their sensitive financial information. And they have good reason to be, as you’ll find out later in this article. For now, though, keep reading to learn why you should think carefully before hitting that send ..read more

If you’ve ever said… “I know we talked about that at one point—was it in an email somewhere?” “Give me some time to locate that document. I’ll get back to you soon!” “Why did we decide to do this? Does anyone remember?” … or anything even remotely like these utterances, you’re struggling with communication tracking—whether you realize it or not! Communicating with clients is a must in any service-based business. But many professionals consider accounting client communication unique, which makes tracking it all the more important. What’s so special about accounting client communication? Account ..read more

The work of a CPA involves a lot more than preparing tax returns and providing financial advice—engaging with clients can be its own full-time job! That full-time job comes with its own set of challenges: You can never find what you need when you need it. Clients take eons to respond (and when they finally do, they’ve sent the wrong document). The ball gets dropped when you hand off work to other team members. These age-old problems are nothing new for experienced accountants. But there is a modern solution that helps mitigate them, and it's simple: You need an accounting client workspace. Cli ..read more

For accountants, one of the most critical aspects of running a successful firm is managing client financial files. The ability to efficiently organize and navigate through these files directly impacts the quality and accuracy of your services. In other words, mastering document management for client financial information can significantly enhance both your team’s productivity and your client satisfaction ratings. This article explores the various strategies and tools CPAs, tax preparers, and other finance professionals use to streamline how they organize client files for personal tax returns ..read more