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Where Intuit Is at with Accountants

Why vendors need to start with “why.”

Ted Callahan, Intuit director of accountant partnership and strategy: “An industry transforming itself.”

 

By Seth Fineberg

Unless you’ve been under a rock in the accounting profession, you know that Intuit—makers of some of the most widely used tax and accounting products on the U.S. market—has caused quite a stir within the profession in recent weeks, making some wonder where they stand with the software giant.

MORE: History Could Help Accountant-Vendor Relations | Accounting Needs a ‘Rethink’ Not a ‘Rebrand’ | Big Change Comes with Deep Reflection | Three Ways to Raise the Bar for Your Business
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For quick review, a growing number of accountants that use of the company’s QuickBooks Online product have had to consider how to pass on rising costs of using the product, on top of where they stand with the company and its seemingly competing QuickBooks Live service. Then, more recently, Intuit began running national TV ads promoting its TurboTax Live service with the message of “break up with your accountant.”

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PRO Member Exclusive

History Could Help Accountant-Vendor Relations

older woman showing young woman something on office computer screen

Think about where you want your business to be.

By Seth Fineberg

The phrase “history is the greatest teacher” can be applied in many ways, but to me it does not ring truer than when thinking of the current state of accountant-vendor relations. In short, it’s not all that good.

MORE: Accounting Needs a ‘Rethink’ Not a ‘Rebrand’ | Big Change Comes with Deep Reflection | Three Ways to Raise the Bar for Your Business
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The accounting profession has evolved to the point to where there is a tool for every task, and the choices have never been more plentiful or the process of selecting one more challenging. At the same time, having overseen this profession as long as I have, the thing that’s been clear is the risks of tying so much of what you do to one vendor.
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OUTLOOK & ANALYSIS

Partners: Your Middle Managers Are Getting Squeezed

Staff just don’t feel comfortable asking for things that help their mental and physical well-being.

Client pressure: 84 percent can work from home at least sometimes. However, only 44 percent say the firm has their back with difficult clients.

By Seth Fineberg
Accountants Forward

Crabtree

This may seem mysterious, but when it comes to ensuring job satisfaction and retaining staff, firm leaders should pay closer attention to middle management/mid-career staff and their connection to employees and the work itself, according to a survey conducted by Tri-Merit Group co-founder Randy Crabtree, HB Publishing & Marketing Company founder Hank Berkowitz, and myself at Accountants Forward.

MORE Staffing here | MORE Surveys and Research here | MORE Seth Fineberg here

“Everything about putting your people first leads to increasing the satisfaction of those who work in the profession,” says Crabtree. “Things like firms having your back, supporting their growth or getting to know who the people you work with are matters greatly.” He added, “When you have a good variety of work to do and find you enjoy that work, you won’t mind working the extra hours at times either.”

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OUTLOOK & ANALYSIS

The Power of Community in Accounting

nine businesspeople talking at conference social hour

When you can’t figure it out on your own.

By Seth Fineberg
At Large

Accounting may have long been considered a community of professionals, yet not many have felt the true sense of what that means or have bothered to take advantage of it. Moreover, there’s been no greater need to recognize and utilize community in accounting than now.

MORE: Does Firm Culture Still Matter? | Accounting Needs a ‘Rethink’ Not a ‘Rebrand’ | Big Change Comes with Deep Reflection | 3 Ways to Raise the Bar for Your Business | Make It ‘Productive Season’
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As the profession moves its way through yet another point of inflection, one not likely seen for decades, the list of factors impacting how accountants work and why they do what they do is growing:

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INNOVATION & CHANGE MANAGEMENT

Does Firm Culture Still Matter?

A well-defined firm culture is key to building an irresistible employer brand.

By Seth Fineberg
At Large

Who you are and what you stand for as a firm can mean many things, but if you aren’t explicit about what you are about, you may as well say nothing.

MORE: Seth Fineberg

I know this is a bold statement, but over the years, I’ve heard the term “firm culture” tossed around so freely that I daresay, when pressed, that firm leaders will be challenged to have a legitimate answer when asked what it actually is.
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