{"id":491,"date":"2006-10-04t18:43:00","date_gmt":"2006-10-04t23:43:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2024-10-01t09:17:34","modified_gmt":"2024-10-01t13:17:34","slug":"what-mick-jagger-can-tell-finance-managers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/\/www.g005e.com\/2006\/10\/04\/what-mick-jagger-can-tell-finance-managers\/","title":{"rendered":"what mick jagger can tell finance managers"},"content":{"rendered":"

‘can’t get no satisfaction?’ cfos reveal what they want from cpa firms. <\/i><\/p>\n

by rick telberg<\/b>
\nfor the finance executive <\/i><\/p>\n

mick jagger isn’t the only one who can’t get no satisfaction. some finance managers can’t either. <\/p>\n

we’re fortunate that most cpas in business and industry don’t get up on a stage and sing about the satisfaction they can’t get. but since they don’t, how are cpas in public accounting supposed to know what satisfies their clients and prospects?<\/p>\n

concerned that corporate financial-types might start tuning their fenders and cranking up lethal sound systems, we’ve been canvassing cpas in business and industry (on the buy-side) about what the cpa firms (on the sell-side) could do to satisfy them more.had mick thought to do the same, he might have learned something interesting and saved himself a lot of trouble.<\/p>\n

so what are cpas in business and industry looking for? here are a few tips:<\/p>\n

1. keep us in the loop<\/b><\/p>\n

“keep the client informed of their progress at all stages (planning to delivery),” said a cfo at a major educational institution. “this will help to ensure that clients do not feel that they have been lost in the shuffle of other work.”<\/p>\n

we got a lot of comments from clients who were looking not just for friendly audits and timely tax returns but for attention, advice, returned phone calls and similar communicative contact. <\/p>\n

2. get creative<\/b><\/p>\n

“client contact throughout the year \u00e2\u20ac\u201d let us know you care,” said bryan overcash, financial officer at global contact services in salisbury, n.c. “proactive tax advice. not just how to stay out of trouble but some actual creative suggestions!”<\/p>\n

3. be useful<\/b><\/p>\n

somebody at the vice-president level in a large company suggested, “listening to clients and responding as to how to keep costs down. come up with ways to keep costs down.”<\/p>\n

we have a feeling those costs aren’t just fuel and overhead but the cost of audits and accounting. we heard many requests for reasonable fees. <\/p>\n

4. communicate<\/b><\/p>\n

who’d ever have thought that “communication” is what it takes to satisfy cpa clients? it was perhaps the most common suggestion. one respondent shouted it in upper-case letters. some used exclamation points. one ceo said it three times in a row. <\/p>\n

“communicate,” said frederick mertes, cpa, currently a financial officer with newborn brothers, inc. in maryland. “provide tax planning advice \u00e2\u20ac\u201d long-term advice. be more proactive in helping business grow and reduce costs. share industry information and cutting-edge tools.”<\/p>\n

communication, of course, doesn’t happen much to people with closed eyes, plugged ears and shut doors.<\/p>\n

5. respond<\/b><\/p>\n

“listen and respond,” said stephen sage, financial officer at kickstart international in san francisco, a pretty big not-for-profit. “treat clients as important, even though fees may be low. once fee is set, quit whining to client about lack of profitability.”<\/p>\n

monte grissom, chief financial officer at jamieson manufacturing in dallas, also suggested keeping the ears peeled. <\/p>\n

6. go for the base hits<\/b><\/p>\n

“listen to what the company is trying to accomplish then help develop real-world solutions,” grissom said. “stop trying to find ways to get inside the company for the purpose of generating fees. listen and bill fairly, the work will always be there \u00e2\u20ac\u201d forget about hitting home runs; singles win a lot more games and make teams work.”<\/p>\n

so there you have it. finance executives can get satisfaction. all it takes is an accounting firm that’s willing to stop, look, listen and call back. no need to get up on a stage and sing a song about it. now, get off of my cloud.<\/p>\n

[first published by the aicpa<\/a>]<\/i><\/p>\n