How to Choose a Specialty

Woman's hand pressing words "ASK AN EXPERT"

Considerations that might not have occurred to you.

By Ed Mendlowitz
Call Me Before You Do Anything: The Art of Accounting

Once you decide upon a specialization, you need to go about making yourself an expert. Read, join professional associations, take focused CPE, and try to write articles or give speeches. Accountants who are industry experts become industry thought leaders.

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Some specialties require obtaining designations or certificates of completion that require study and time – an investment you and the firm would have to make. There is no easy path to growing and establishing expertise, but it is a joyful ride.
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Brainstorm for Your Clients

four people talking in office

What helps one might help others.

By Ed Mendlowitz
Call Me Before You Do Anything: The Art of Accounting

We all use the cliché that we give the clients the best we got, but what does it really mean?

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I’ve written about value-added services and efforts we can do on behalf of our clients, but here is a different approach I have used.
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Three Steps to Better Client Communication

What can you anticipate and prepare for?

By Jody Grunden
Building the Virtual CFO Firm in the Cloud

Clients desire transparency. Being transparent with clients and having open, honest communication with them helps build really strong, healthy working relationships. It’s never been so important for us to have open communication channels with our clients at all times no matter what form of communication is being utilized.

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In some organizations, people hide behind their computers if they feel too busy or if they don’t want to face the client because they aren’t able to meet a deadline. We, on the other hand, make it a priority to be available to our clients at all times.
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Client Trust Begins with Onboarding

Smiling businesswoman offering a handshake

How do you want this new relationship to begin?

By Jody Grunden
Building the Virtual CFO Firm in the Cloud

Onboarding is critical when it comes to bringing on new virtual CFO clients. It’s also important to have a smooth onboarding process for clients receiving any other types of services. I want to dive into onboarding in each of our service areas a little bit more.

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I don’t mean to beat a dead horse here, but I simply cannot express enough how important the onboarding process is for establishing extremely solid client relationships. When it comes down to it, relationships are the backbone of our business.
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The Six Stages of 401(k) Audits

green marker checking boxes

Keep the process from dragging on.

By Jody Grunden
Building the Virtual CFO Firm in the Cloud

As with any service area, it’s important to have a solid process in place. Without one, it can be a little bit like the Wild West! The 401(k) audit process involves six stages, which are typically completed within four to eight weeks.

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Once a prospective client confirms they want Summit to complete their audit, we send them the engagement letter and the questionnaires along with the governance planning memo that we’re required to give them.
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