Unlock the potential of advisory - Brad Turville

A lot of business owners are in business to grow and achieve success. However, many don't know how to do that. Accounting firms have the perfect opportunity to guide their business clients to find that success. Brad Turville suggests accountants shift their focus of discussions from compliance tas…

Freeing up a partner's time - Brad Turville

How much time you spend on things that don't really matter or could be done by somebody else? Consultant Brad Turville says partners often find themselves overwhelmed with various tasks and responsibilities, lacking a strategic approach to their time management. Instead, he says, they should focus…

Don't underestimate soft skills - Lynda Steffens

As technology makes accounting processes faster, business advisory services are in greater demand. And that means that 'soft skills' are more important than ever for accounting firms. That's according to Lynda Steffens, founder of The Small Business Project who discusses what those soft skills ent…

Advisory: you're already doing it! - Lynda Steffens

While many accountants are already providing advisory services, there should be a focus on how they are packaged, priced, and positioned, according to Lynda Steffens, founder of The Small Business Project. She says shifting to advisory does not require a complete overhaul but rather a different wa…

Life after accounting - Ray Cummings

No one ever really starts their career with the end in mind. Often, it's not until many decades down the track that people find themselves suddenly on the edge of retirement. Long-time contributor to Business in Focus is chartered accountant Ray Cummings, has been thinking long and hard about the …

How well are you leading your team? - Lynda Steffens

Accounting firms suffer from a lack of leadership, according to consultant Lynda Steffens. Often, they come into their roles from a technical background and don't learn how to lead. If you want more from your team, she says, you need to be the leader they want to follow. She explains what bosses c…

Building your practice in hard times - Brad Turville

Business development is a skill largely untaught, particularly in the accounting profession. But, it's a terribly important skill, particularly these days as we face worsening market conditions and stiffer competition. Consultant Brad Turville discusses how to bring in new clients and increase exi…

AI: The future for accounting starts now - David Smith

Whether we like it or not, artificial intelligence, including ChatGPT, will have a transformative impact on the accounting profession. These tools are like employing a junior accountant, says David Smith of Smithink. Don’t be afraid of it, he insists. Use it, it saves you time, and it’ll provide y…

Are you targeting your ideal client? - Mark Holton

Some clients can be more trouble than they’re worth. They take up too much of your time, they don’t pay on time and some can be downright frustrating to communicate with. Mark Holton of Smithink says you need to create ideal client criteria – so that everyone in your team is on the same page, and …

Latest business advisory trends - James Mason

If business advisory is part of your firm’s offerings, you might be interested to know what other business advisors are doing and whether their approach might work for you, too. James Mason, Managing Director of Mindshop, has researched the latest trends in a report conducted on business advisory …