Are You a Priority to Your Accounting Service Provider?

​Sometimes we have people ask us, “If I’m outsourcing my bookkeeping/accounting to an accounting firm, how do I know if my business is a priority to that company?” The chances are that if you’re asking this, you’ve felt like your business wasn’t the most important client in your accounting company’s portfolio of clients.

If you feel like your accounting company isn’t prioritizing your needs, you might be right! 

​It’s possible that your small business is the little fish in your provider’s pond and, as such, isn’t getting the ongoing management and attention to detail it needs. Or it’s possible that your company is the outlier from the rest of your provider’s client base due to its industry, geography, business-type, stage of growth, or some other unique factor. If you’re the odd one out, it may be because your accounting company has less experience with your specific business needs, which can result in getting less customized help or reduced proactive communication. Either of these scenarios can occur for both longstanding clients and new clients alike, which means that if you’re outsourcing your accounting to a provider, it never hurts to reevaluate the relationship periodically to ensure that your company is getting the value it deserves.

We’re here to help you figure out where you stand and give you some advice on what to do about it if it seems like your accounting provider doesn’t care about keeping your business.

What to Look For
How can you objectively determine if your business is a priority to your accounting services provider? Understanding what to look for is key! Keep an eye out for these red flags:

• Incomplete or inaccurate work.
• Late deliverables.
• Slow response times (or no response at all!) when you have a question or an issue.
• A lack of understanding around the specific circumstances or nuances related to your business model or industry.
• Being transferred from one consultant to another regularly.
• Receiving inconsistent or outdated advice.
• Lack of familiarity with your accounting software or methodology.
• Receiving “cookie cutter” recommendations that are not customized for your business’s needs or position.

Of course, some of these red flags could just be an indication that the provider you’re working with is doing sub-par work for all of their clients. However, if your accounting company has a good reputation and other satisfied customers, and you’re noticing any of these warning signs, then it’s more likely that your account is just at the bottom of their list of priorities.

Conversely, there are some key success factors that you will want to be on the lookout for as well. In your working relationship with an accounting services provider be sure you are experiencing:

• Prompt and insightful communications.
• On-time and accurate deliverables.
• Transparency and honesty with the work being done.
• A willingness to help explain things when you have a question in a way that makes them easy to understand.
• Up to date recommendations for your specific business needs.
• Strong collaboration with your accounting/finance staff and/or leadership team.
• Proactive communications regarding changes that could affect your business.

Next Steps
In looking at the lists above, if your company is noticing more red flags than success factors, that’s not a good sign. If you feel like you aren’t being treated like a priority, look for a new provider that has everything you need by checking boxes across factors like:

• Reputation – Satisfied current and former clients and a track record of good customer service and standing by their work.
• Experience & Qualifications – The right educational background, skills, and industry experience to do the job effectively.
• Protection – Sufficient safeguards to reasonably defend your business from loss or damage.
• Communication – An emphasis on collaborative, real-time communication regardless of location.

When you need an accounting service provider that will make you a priority, reach out to us! We have a team of highly experienced professionals that are ready to come alongside your company to provide as much or as little assistance as you’d like. We offer US-based outsourced accounting services to companies looking for part-time accounting and bookkeeping help. Find out why companies across the Pacific Northwest, Colorado, and beyond choose us to do their bookkeeping and accounting work. Contact us today to find out more!