Your Advisory Offering Needs a Focus Statement

The CAAS-Chasm is the distance between what you are doing and how it impacts your clients.

By Hitendra Patil

One in two accountants stated that advisory services is the top new growth opportunity for their firm. According to the CPA Trendlines Accountants Outlook 2024 research, many accountants also expressed that advisory is the most attractive (profitable) opportunity.

But there is a catch.

It requires accountants to cross the CAAS-Chasm.

Posted on May 10, 2026

Hitendra Patil

About the Author

Hitendra Patil is one of the profession's leading authorities on accounting technology, accounting firm innovation, and client accounting and advisory services (CAS and CAAS).

He is among the Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting, the Top 10 Accounting Influencers to Follow on Social Media, and the Top 100 Accounting Social Media Leaderboard.

Patil is the best-selling author of

True Advisor®
Definitive Success Guide for Client Advisory Services
Step-by-step operating guide for CPA firms building, pricing, and scaling advisory services that clients value—and pay for.

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The Definitive Success Guide to Client Accounting Services

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and
Accountaneur:
The Entrepreneurial Accountant

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He is the creator of the TRUE Advisor^® Framework, a step-by-step system designed to help accountants build, price, and scale advisory services that clients truly value.

Hitendra is the CEO of Accountaneur, LLC, a specialized consulting firm that advises CPA firms, fintech companies serving accountants, and outsourcing providers on growth, advisory positioning, and technology integration. With over two decades dedicated exclusively to the accounting profession, his leadership has spanned accounting, tax, payroll, SaaS, AI, and offshore delivery models.

A best-selling author, his previous works, “The Definitive Success Guide to Client Accounting Services (CAS)” and “Accountaneur^®: The Entrepreneurial Accountant,” have reached professionals in over 18 countries. He is recognized as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting, Top 10 Accounting Influencers to Follow on social media, and among the Top 100 Accounting Thought Leaders.

Hitendra is a sought-after speaker, featured contributor to leading accounting media, and a trusted advisor to firm leaders navigating the shift from compliance to high-impact advisory. His work is known for blending clear strategy with practical action and always putting accountants at the center of value creation.

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